TRIBUTES TO FORMER BRIGG GRAMMAR SCHOOL VETERANS

The funeral of well-known Brigg man Tony Binns, pictured, who died recently aged 82, was held in Scunthorpe yesterday (Tuesday, July 14).
When he was a youngster, Tony's family was one of the first to move onto the town's newly-created Newlands housing estate.
He was educated at Brigg Grammar School and went on to serve in the Royal Navy, travelling widely abroad and in the UK while journeying to naval bases far and wide, including northern Scotland.
Later, while on 'Civvy Street' Tony, pictured above, worked in the Scunthorpe steel industry for many years up to retirement, aged 60.
He was a buyer - a management role - arranging essential supplies of raw materials like iron ore and coal, including shipments through Immingham.
Tony started with Lysaght's Normanby Park Works and ended his service in the British Steel era.
He took a keen interest in railways of all kinds, including modelling, and liked keeping aquarium fish. He was also skilled at solving crossword puzzles - for which he won some prizes.
At weekends, plain-speaking Tony liked to chat with friends over an evening drink or two at the Yarborough Hunt pub, on Bridge Street.
Rather than the Navy's famous rum ration, he opted for gin and tonic; the famous Plymouth variety reminded him of his days in the Senior Service.
Tony would often be seen around Brigg on his bike or walking his devoted pet dog, Charlie.
At yesterday's funeral at Woodlands Crematorium - organised by Co-operative Funeralcare of Queen Street, Brigg - donations were welcomed in Tony's memory for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).
Hymns at the service included the one synonymous with the Royal Navy - For Those in Peril On the Sea.
Another ex-Brigg Grammar School pupil (Briggensian) also died recently, aged 83.
Geoff Parratt, once of Melton Ross, rose through the ranks to become a senior detective with the Metropolitan Police at Scotland Yard, investigating many murders. He solved more than 80 - said to have been a UK record.
Latterly a detective chief superintendent, Geoff died at his home in Essex, where he had lived for many years.
Read more about him through this link to an interesting article that appeared in the Briggensian Magazine during 1992. Scroll down to 'News of Old Briggensians' or search for Geoff Parratt...