Known only to the Registrar General as Charles Frederick Hudson, forty two generations of Aston schoolboys - and most of their masters - called him 'Chas' (to the uninitiated, pronounced 'Chaz'!).

'Chas' in Egypt, 1918

This photograph was given to me in September, 2007 by Les Woodhall (Aston 1951), shortly after it had been sent to him by Herr Manfred Lillinger (German language assistant at Aston 1958-9). Herr Lillinger, by this time almost an octogenarian, is still in touch with Les, and lives in Rotenburg an der Fulda, Germany. It had been been given to him by Fred Fenton - pupil (1938) and senior physics master at Aston (1949-81) - who had photographed the original. I am delighted to pay tribute to all three, that this treasure should have at last 'come home'.

In 1975 L G Brandon wrote an article about 'Chas' for the AEA Magazine. This started and ended with an appeal to AOEs to send in their memories of him. As far as I know, nobody ever did. So I am re-launching that appeal now, and will start it off by printing in full what our old headmaster wrote.

Memories of 'Chas' by:

If you would like to add your memories of 'Chas' please email me.

In 1957 'Chas' appeared on the cover of the 'School Record', by an unknown artist: