Page 67 - WHO'S WHO OF DUDLEY ROTARY

and after his period in Malaya, during which he played rugby and cricket for the Pengam Club.
Then for three seasons, 1934 to 1936, he played county cricket for Hertfordshire. Whilst at
Duport he played both cricket and football for the Vono works teams (Vono being a sister
company of Duport Foundries) and was described as ‘perhaps the best centre-half to play in
Black Country football’.

206 Charles Alfred CRATHORN (1905-1981) (Inducted 6.9.1937; resigned 16.6.1941.) Cinema
Theatres / Cinema Management. He was Manager of the Odeon Theatre,
Dudley from 1937 to 1942. This was not merely a cinema but during the
early years of the War staged Sunday evening band concerts, often
featuring nationally known performers and orchestras. He was also
Midland Area Administrator for Odeon Theatres Ltd.
He grew up in Small Heath, Birmingham and was in the entertainment
business from his 17th birthday, first on the dance side and then cinema
management. In his 20s he was manager of Erdington Picture House; and
then the Astoria, Aston Cross; followed by general manager of Dent
Enterprises that operated the Grand Theatre, Tamworth; The Royal, Dordon; and the Savoy,
Kings Norton. In 1934 he joined the Odeon organisation as first manager of the new Odeon
Cinema, Blackheath. The same year, when Halesowen was granted its Charter, he was organiser
of all the sports and sideshow celebrations. From Blackheath he moved to Dudley Odeon, then
after 5 years became manager of the Odeon, Perry Barr. A year later he moved to southeast
London and set himself up as a theatrical agent and also formed his own company - Ace Cinemas
Limited - proprietors of the Ace Cinema in Walmer (east Kent) and another of the same name at
Queenborough (north Kent), but both closed within a few years. His career reverted back to
dancing, and he became a personality in the field of ballroom dancing as Master of Ceremonies
at the Orchid Ballroom, Purley and many other ballrooms and competions throughout the south
of England, assisted by his first wife, stage name Joan. From 1953, with second wife Sylvia as
‘dance hostess’, he became the celebrated compere of the weekly BBC radio programme ‘Those
Were the Days’ featuring old time and sequence dancing. He was also a cinema owner, bingo
hall proprietor and Managing Director of Bromley Social Club. In 1970 he and his wife were tied
up and robbed at gunpoint in their home by four intruders dressed as policemen. The following
year he lost a High Court libel action against Beaverbrook Newspapers for an article in the Daily
Express after he had challenged local teenage gang leaders to a fight. He lived at various
addresses in Kent before retiring to Saltdean near Brighton.

207 Herbert Harry CARTWRIGHT (1883-1967) (Inducted 6.9.1937; President
1942-43; Rotary District No.6 Chairman 1948-49; made an Honorary
Member May 1961; died in May 1967 whilst still a member.) Elementary
Education. Headmaster of the Rosland Secondary School in Bean Road,
Kate’s Hill. He retired in 1946 after 47 years in the teaching profession.
He grew up at Harts Hill, Dudley and, at the age of only 16, started as a
pupil teacher in the local elementary school. Remaining there until 1903
he then spent two years at Cheltenham College, returning to Harts Hill
School and later going to Holly Hall Junior School. In 1908 he moved to the
Higher Elementary School, which became the Sir Gilbert Claughton Grammar School, as a science
master. His teaching career was interrupted for three years during the First World War when
he served in the Royal Navy as a warrant officer Schoolmaster, chiefly in the Near East. He
returned to teaching in Dudley, and in 1927 was appointed headmaster of Kates Hill Council
School. He was made headmaster of Rosland Senior School when it opened in 1932 and
remained there until his retirement. He was Secretary of the Dudley Teachers’ Association for
many years from 1920 and President in 1946. During the 1930s he was a member of Dudley
Education Committee, a Governor of Birmingham University and a National Union of Teachers’