The Search Goes On

He sang in the Choir, an excellent tenor but he insisted on singing everywhere else. He was always singing. You would hear his voice all over Gresham House. On the landing, in the dorms and of course in the shower, he never stopped singing. If you haven’t guessed yet, it is of course the indomitable Robert Balfour. “ Shut up Balfour “ “ Put a Sock in it Balfour “ only encouraged him. Ear plugs where the only serious deterrent.

Martin G emailed me some months ago and told me that the said Mr Balfour had last been heard of — probably literally — in Australia and more to the point in the outback of NSW – very appropriate - and could I trace him. OMA had not heard from him in years.

Using the power of the Australian White pages, I searched for, Balfour, Robert, in NSW.
Nine results came up. Several were in the main cities but two were in “ the Bush “. 

One outstanding contender was, 18 Edward Ave, Pottsville! an investigative phone call found a Robert Balfour but sadly this one did not sing, has never sung and indeed told me he had a “ really crook voice “ (Australian /English really bad voice).

More phone calls did not unearth the infamous Singing Robert Balfour. 

So, the search continues in the far reaches of outback Australia. New strategy could include large poster offering a reward if you have a noisy singing neighbour – too broad a net. Perhaps to narrow it down I could specify his name, past history and of course his exceptional scholastic background. These posters could then be sent to all choral societies in Australia. 

But then again - he may be at the Opera House - the search goes on.

Anna Godfrey.

Members may like to know that Anna Godfrey, who is now 93 years, old wishes to be remembered to all those who knew her. She is now rather frail but mentally alert and overwhelmed when she has news of the school and of "her boys"

When gunman Harry Leone pulled a pillow-case over his head and entered a doughnut shop in California with the intention of robbing it, one small flaw in his plan became immediately evident - he had neglected to cut eyeholes in his makeshift hood. One of the patrons recognized Leone when he raised the pillow-case to see what he was doing and police apprehended him a short while later.