Derek F Lawden (Aston 1930)

Aston has had its share of Professors, in addition to Sir Leonard Parsons. Derek Lawden was Professor of Mathematics at Canterbury (New Zealand) and Aston Universities.

Described by L G Brandon as 'one of Aston's three brightest mathematicians', his twin sons (Gregor and Michael) came to Aston in 1952.

Photograph: Massey University, New Zealand

Ronald Magill (1920 - 2007) (Aston 1932)

TV actor, best known for his portrayal - as shown here - of 'Amos Brearley' in Yorkshire TV's 'Emmerdale Farm'.

The elder of two Aston brothers, he came to the school's centenary celebrations in 1983 and sat unobtrusively, near me, in Aston parish church for the service of thanksgiving. Ronald, a bachelor, died in September 2007, aged 87.

Photograph: www.emmerdale.biz/emmerdale/profiles

Sir Edward Downes (Aston 1935)

Distinguished conductor, with an international career and reputation. Awarded the CBE in 1986 and knighted in 1991 - Aston's tenth and most recent.

It was a great pleasure to meet Sir Edward in May 2006, after he had conducted the CBSO in Symphony Hall, Birmingham. An octogenarian, his vigour after a two hour concert was impressive - as was his recall of people, events and places at both Aston and Ashby.

Photograph: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

Rt. Revd. R G G Foley (Aston 1936)

Bishop of Reading, 1982 - 1989, when appointments to that Diocese were less controversial than they are now!

Photograph: The Times

Sir Maurice Shock (Aston 1937)

Served in Intelligence 1945 - 48
Vice Chancellor, Leicester University 1977-87
Rector, Lincoln College, Oxford 1987-94
Knighted in 1988 'for services to education'

Professor of Child Psychology, Gloucester University.

Emeritus Professor and Research Associate, Department of Chemical and Process Engineering at Canterbury University, New Zealand.

Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand.

Photograph: University of Canterbury

School Captain 1952/3, and England Schoolboy Rugby International, Barry became Professor of Metallurgy and Head of Department at the Technical University of Clausthal in Germany.

George Pearce (Aston 1947)

Sometime Pro-Vice-Chancellor and lecturer in Physics, Aston University.

Derek Wakelin (Aston 1949)

Derek Wakelin recently retired as Professor in the School of Biology at Nottingham University.

I remember Derek as a very kindly soul. His students will have benefited greatly from this gentle man.

R T 'Bob' Withers (1938-2007) (Aston 1949)

Professor of Sports Science at Flinders University, Australia.

John G Gardiner (Aston 1950)

John is Professor of Electronic Engineering and Director of the Wireless Technologies CIC (whatever that stands for!) at Bradford University.

John's birthday is exactly the same as mine, so I remember him particularly clearly, as I do his sense of humour.

Photograph: Fast Firmware Technology Ltd.

Jym K Scott (Aston 1950)

Jym was Professor of Anaesthesiology at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada until 2001.

Of Scottish descent (there's a surprise!) Jym once lent me his kilt for a Harry Lauder song I was singing in a Scout 'Gang Show'!

He now winters in Mexico, and autumns in Europe!

Photograph: Taken at York's Wood Camp Site, Birmingham in the 1950s.

Howard Wearing (Aston 1951)

A Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Howard is one of that country's most eminent plant biologists.

But for me he will always be one of the 'Three little maids' in the school's 1952 production of The Mikado.

Photograph: Horticulture New Zealand

Derek Fisher (Aston 1952)

Another of Aston's professors, Derek became Professor of Biochemistry at Brunel University's Institute for Bioengineering in 2002 after retiring from the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine in London University as Reader in Biochemistry. He had taught Biochemistry and Cell Biology to Medical students for over 30 years.

Chris Henney (Aston 1952)

A professor before he became co-founder of Immunex in Washington (state), USA.

Photograph: Dendreon Corporation

Richard C Jones (Aston 1952)

Professor of Infectious Diseases, Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Liverpool.