A Micro-Gathering!

In the late-afternoon of Sunday 20th. September 2015 three ex-Arnoldians met up at the Ibis Hotel, Thornleigh.
They were (seen above, L to R) myself (Bruce Kennewell), John Inglis and Bob Deahm.

I was making a very brief trip (overnight) to Sydney to attend the funeral of my 102 year-old uncle and had contacted both Bob and John to see if we could meet whilst I was in Sydney.

We spent an enjoyable three or so hours reminiscing and catching up, particularly with John as we hadn't seen him since 2005.

We must do this again next year.

VALE - Garth Brook

In 1964 Garth and I attended Sydney Tech - just up the road, near Railway Square, from Chippendale.

We were both doing the Electrical Trades course as Electrical Mechanics and over the next couple of years we both worked on modernisations, repairs and maintenance - Buckinghams, Grace Building, Tomassetti House are a few locations that readily come to mind and we had some of the most enjoyable times of our working lives.

As apprentices we worked under the guidance and supervision of either a qualified "sparky" or one in the last year of their apprenticeship and, as such, we both worked under people such as Dave Rutter, Brian Baxter, Bobby Coates and Helmut Nehls and alongside other tradies and assistants including George Farham, Ken Rousham, Ray Johnson and others whose names elude me.

In 1967 I took a different career path to Garth and went into the Engineering Dept. as a trainee draftsman. I can't remember when Garth left the company and headed west to Perth but it couldn't have been much later. He worked with Grant Elevators, I know that much, but for how long and with what other businesses, I don't know.

We met up again at the Arnold reunion in 2005 and reminisced about the old days - as did everyone else - but if he was in bad health at that time he gave little or no indication of it.

It wasn't until last year that I heard from Garth again; he phoned me to see if I could give any information regarding the use of asbestos in the manufacture of the fireproof landing doors back then and he also contacted John Inglis about the same subject.

It was at that time I learned that he had mesothelioma and wasn't expected to see another year out.

We exchanged emails several times after that initial conversation and the last one I had from him was late last November.

Sadly, Garth passed away in July, on the 26th. and my condolences go to his wife, Doris, and family.

VALE - Warren Watt

It is with regret that I pass on advice received from Sandra yesterday to the extent that Warren passed away at 6:35 AM Sunday 12th. of April 2015.

Warren had been very ill for some time (see earlier posting) and last Tuesday (7th. April) he suffered a massive stroke which left him in a semi-coma.

Sandra and Warren had been married for just over 52 years.

Warren (along with Clive Smith) was one of my bosses when I first went into the drawing office back in 1966/67 and we had a great working relationship right up to the time that he left Arnold's to go out on his own.
I did some drawing work for he and Sandra when they formed an architectural drafting business and Sandra was by his side not only as a wife but also as a partner (in the old sense of the word) from then until now.

I am sure that I speak for all of us who knew Warren from the "old days" when I offer sincere condolences to Sandra and her family.

How I will always think of Warren Bruce Watt - looking up the racing form on a Friday morning.