Issue 51— October 2002
In Memoriam
Colin Bennett-Colin, who drowned in the canal, came to live on a narrowboat five years ago. Colin brought a certain flair and flamboyance to the canal community. Born in Biggin Hill, he had reached the age he wanted: 'three score years and ten'. Many people from the canal community attended his funeral at the 'canal church', St. Barnabas, on September 3.Gladys Couling-Gladys was born in Sherbourne, Dorset in 1906 but the family moved to Oxford when she was five years old, settling finally in Jericho. She attended St. Barnabas School where during singing lessons the teacher would say: "Be quiet Gladys so we can hear the others!" Gladys always had a distinctive voice. She worked first at Cape's drapery store in Walton Street and then the Co-op drapery store in George Street. She met Harold Couling from Summertown and they were married in 1930. They settled in Canal Street where they brought up their two children, Peter and Margaret. Harold died in 1983. Earlier this year, following a stroke and a fall Gladys died in the John Radcliffe Hospital. Gladys often told her family: "I've had a long and happy life and wouldn't change a thing".
Gordon Mowbray-Gordon who lived in Wellington Street died in August having faced his final illness very bravely. He loved to travel and knowing that he was terminally ill, he chose to visit Iona and other places in Scotland only a few months before his death. Our sympathy to his family.
Gordon Woodward-Gordon was born in Jericho in 1918. He was raised in one of our two-up, two-down houses and was a choirboy at St. Barnabas. Gordon often told the story of how the house was so small that that he and his twin brother Anthony (Jericho's former cobbler) had to go next door to sleep. Gordon worked in the electricity industry all his life but his most significant contribution to the city was his 1960-83 period as a councillor for South Ward which culminated in him becoming Lord Mayor. He also helped build the links with Bonn and Leiden. But he never turned his back on Jericho and supported many Oxford charities. On one occasion he took the role of Father Christmas at St. Barnabas School and, discovering they were 35 presents short, raced around local shops in full costume, gathering up the necessary presents. Gordon died in the John Radcliffe surrounded by his wife Dorothy and his family and friends.
