"After his Commanding Officer (Lt.Col. E E D Henderson) had been mortally wounded in leading a counter-attack, Lt. Phillips went out under the most intense fire to his assistance, and eventually, with the help of a comrade, succeeded in bringing him back to our lines ..... His Commanding Officer lay wounded in the open, and as the counter-attack had succeeded, he turned all his energies on getting him in. He showed sustained courage in its very highest form, and throughout he had but little chance of ever getting back alive." (25th January 1917 near Kut, Mesopotamia)

Though not AOEs, two members of staff at Aston during my time were holders of the Military Cross: 'Buggy' Mayers and 'Fergie' Tye. I have been unable to find 'Fergie's' citation, but he received the Military Medal (as a Private) in March 1918 for action at Meteven, and the Military Cross (as a Temporary, later permanent, Lieutenant) in the King's Birthday Honours of May 1919 - both with the Middlesex Regiment.

Sir William A Brockington CBE (1871 - 1959) (Aston 1883)

One of the first intake to the school, he was Director of Education for Leicestershire from 1903-1947. A college in Enderby is named in his honour.

He was the first of many members of his family to go to Aston: there was still one there in my day.

Sir Edgar T Britten RD RNR (1874 - 1936) (Aston 1886)

Starting out as ship's boy on a windjammer, he became Commodore of the Cunard White Star Line. He was Captain of RMS Queen Mary on her maiden and second, record breaking, voyages shortly before his death in 1936. Possibly Aston's first (in 1934), but by no means last, Knight he was buried 'at sea' - off the Isle of Wight.

Photograph: From Sir Edgar's autobiography "A Million Ocean Miles", a copy of which has been placed in the Aston Authors' Collection

Sir Leonard Parsons FRS (1879 - 1950) (Aston 1891)

Probably the school's first (and only?) Fellow of the Royal Society, Sir Leonard was an expert in paediatric medicine and worked at Birmingham University Medical School. His name on the honours boards was one of the first to be pointed out to us new boys. He died at the end of my first term at Aston.

Colonel Sir Harold Charles Templar-Smith K.B.E. ( -1970) (Aston 1902)

Chairman, Gas Council. OBE 1952-60.

Honorary Doctor of Law, Leeds University 1959

Hubert Hothersall, Mayor of Sutton 1949 (1898-1963) (Aston 1909)

Bert was a teacher at Aston throughout my time, and had just completed his year as Mayor of Sutton when I arrived at the school. As was the practice of those days he was made an Alderman of the Royal Town shortly thereafter.

Photo by kind permission of Sutton Coldfield Reference Library, Birmingham

Lord Mayors of Birmingham

When Joseph Balmer (Aston 1913, knighted 1965) was elected Lord Mayor of Birmingham in May, 1954 we were reminded that he wasn't the first AOE to reach that position.

Photo: Birmingham Post and Mail Ltd.

Sir Ernest Canning (Aston 1887), a Birmingham industrialist, had also filled that office in 1937, though from the 'other' party!

Photograph by kind permission of Birmingham Central Library (Local Studies Department)

Sir Neville Bosworth CBE (Aston 1929) was Lord Mayor of Birmingham in 1969-70.

Aston's third Lord Mayor of Birmingham.

Norman L 'Pinkie' Green, Mayor of Solihull 1977 (Aston 1924)

'Pinkie' was a stalwart of the AOE RFC in his day. A lover of all sports, a sports centre in Solihull is named in his honour.

Eric S Pemberton, Mayor of Solihull 1994 (Aston 1941)

After a varied and fascinating career, not without its triumphs and tragedies, Eric now lives in retirement on the Lincolnshire Wolds, but maintains a town house in Solihull for what he calls 'medical reasons'!

Sir Ivan A R Stedeford GBE (1897 - 1975) (Aston 1911)

During my time at Aston Sir Ivan became Chief Executive of Tube Investments Ltd.

He chaired the committee which led to the infamous 'Beeching Plan', though he was strongly opposed to what eventually transpired. My contemporary John Bowles was a keen branch line man - I would have loved to have heard his views on this!

Photograph by kind permission of Nick Royle - Sir Ivan's grandson

Major-General David J Muil, CB OBE LDS (1898 - 1982) (Aston 1911)

A World War I subaltern (London Scottish, Royal Warwicks. and Royal Flying Corps) who later qualified as a dentist (at London, Newcastle or a Scottish University). He joined the Royal Army Dental Corps in 1923 and rose to become, in 1955, Director of the Army Dental Service and Honorary Dental Surgeon to HM The Queen.

He is thought to be the highest ranking military AOE.

(I am indebted to Major (Retd.) Vincent Ward of the Army Medical Services Museum at Aldershot, for providing the information which enabled me to identify - on the flimsiest of evidence provided by Brian Roberts! - the Director concerned. John Bradford (1945) tracked down his honours.)

Walter E Allen (1911-1995) (Aston 1922)

A writer, journalist and lecturer.

In his 1959 novel "All in a Lifetime" he describes what Frank Jones confirmed as life at Aston in Joseph Temperley's time. This had been recounted to him by his father (G or C H Allen) who was one of the first to attend the school, even before the buildings in Frederick Road had been erected!

Henry Reed (1914 - 1986) (Aston 1925)

Author, playwright and translator. Perhaps his most famous piece is his wartime poem 'The Naming of Parts'.

Photograph: Birmingham University

George D Painter, OBE (1914 - 2005) (Aston 1925)

Son of Aston English master G C Painter, writer (first biographer of Marcel Proust) and British Museum official, 1938-74.

Photograph: Daily Telegraph

Laurence W Baker (1917 - 2007) (Aston 1929)

A Quaker and an architect, Laurie left England at the end of World War II for India where, at Gandhi's suggestion, he worked in the rural areas. He developed a unique blend of building design which was far ahead of its time.

Many honours were bestowed on him, including the Padmashree, India's highest civilan award. Back 'home' he received obituaries in 'The Times' and 'Daily Telegraph'.

Photograph: 'The Peninsula', Qatar

Ted Allbeury (1917 - 2005) (Aston 1930)

Served in Intelligence during World War II, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, which experience gave him the raw material for 40 best selling thrillers.

He once spoke at the Annual Reunion Dinner with great affection for his old school. On another visit he recounted with glee Joe Manton's prediction to his mother that he would 'end up on the scrap heap of life' - this to Chas as he sat on the bonnet of his Jag in Frederick Road!

Photograph: Radio 390