Page 108 - WHO'S WHO OF DUDLEY ROTARY

344 John Jervis VIRR (1916-2004) (Inducted 28.2.1955; left c.1961.) Hardware Retailing. Managing
Director and later Chairman of E C Theedam Ltd, ironmongers, engineers' merchants and mining
equipment suppliers, of High Street, Dudley in succession to his father Frank Theedam Virr (club
member #31). He trained as an accountant. During the Second World War he served in the
Royal Artillery, rising to the rank of Captain, but relinquished his commission in December 1945
‘on account of disability’. This did not stop him being a keen amateur rally driver and owner of
historic racing cars: his collection included a Talbot 105, two Bugattis and two Ferraris. In his
20s he played rugby for Dudley-Kingswinford. He was a Conservative member of Dudley Council
for ten years from 1949, with a special interest in the arts. He lived at Hackman’s Gate,
Belbroughton, until 1961 when he moved to his parents’ former home at Pedmore.

345 Stanley JONES (1907-1985) (Inducted 18.4.1955; President 1969-70; died
26.9.1985 whilst still a member.) Gas industry-Divisional. He was
Divisional General Manager of the Wolverhampton & District division of
West Midlands Gas Board, based at Bath Street, Dudley from at least 1955.
Before that he was supposedly in charge of the Tipton gas undertaking. He
was a native of South Wales and worked in Gloucester, Wakefield, and
maybe elsewhere, before coming to the Black Country. As chairman of
the Rotary Club of Dudley Housing Association 1973-1983 Stanley was the
driving force behind Rotary House, a group of 50 retirement flats for older
people at Middlepark Road, Russells Hall. Phase I was opened in 1977 and Phase II in 1982. A
plaque with a relief sculpture of Stanley was subsequently fixed at Rotary House to mark his
efforts.

346 Frank Augustus COX (1890-1956) (Inducted 18.4.1955 but died just a year later, on 7.4.1956,
whilst still a member.) Safe Manufacturer. He was proprietor of Stephen Cox & Son Limited,
manufacturers of fire-resistant cabinets, strong room doors, and floor and wall safes, at Dudley
Road Works, Sedgley. The firm was founded by his father in 1890 and continued until 1982.
Frank must have joined the business straight from school and became sole proprietor after his
father’s death in 1939. He lived in Sedgley throughout his life.

347 Raymond (‘Ray’) BALDWIN (1913-2003) (Inducted 18.4.1955; left c.1975, apparently on retiring
away from the district.) Dental Surgeon. Originally from Derby he studied at Birmingham
University, qualifying in 1935, then started to practise in Quinton. By 1939 he had moved to
Dudley and opened a surgery in Castle Street. Thereafter he changed premises several times:
to the High Street and Dixons Green, then Stone Street, and eventually from the early 1960s to
addresses in Wolverhampton Street. During the last War he served as a temporary Captain in
the Army Dental Corps. His lived in Dudley, Penn and Wall Heath before retiring to Budleigh
Salterton, Devon.

348 Robert (‘Bob’) Mackay BARRON (1904-1992) (Previously a member 1935-42; rejoined
18.4.1955; left in 1980.) General medical practitioner. See previous entry (member #182) for a
more detailed description. He moved to Hereford about 1977 and left the club on retiring from
medical practice.

349 Enoch (‘Tommy’) TOMLINSON (1917-2006) (Inducted 12.9.1955; left October 1970.) Men's
Clothing Manufacturing. (Additional Active Member). A co-director with Percy Hill (member
#330) in the firm of W Hill & Co. (Dudley) Ltd, King Street, Dudley, trading as ‘Pathfinder’,
responsible for administration, including wages, stock control and supplies. He trained as a
teacher in Dudley, then started as an assistant master at Stonefield Senior Boys’ School, Bilston,
in 1938. He was called up for War Service and seems to have served in the RAF Training Branch