‘Autosol’ makes metal shine but still at night ghosts squeak and grind
Perchance dear Henry ‘tis just a dream that wanders round your mind…
Last November’s edition of this magazine signed off with a poem “The K-lanking K-nights of K-nebworth” which was cryptically signed “Jon SG3 (with kind permission of Hon. Henry Cobbold)”. I have met readers who – thrown by the mysterious moniker – assumed this happy verse was written by me. I have told them they must be amongst the very few in the village who do not recognise the inimitable style of the delightful John Catt.
John was tickled by an old column of mine in which I describe how we solved a problem of how to polish our suits of amour at Knebworth House by using ‘Autosol’ from Halfords. A great problem solver himself, John and I spent many a Wednesday evening together between 2004 and 2007 identifying problems as part of the Knebworth Parish Plan Team. I don’t believe John was ever cowed by a problem (and I marvelled at the delight he took in tabulating the complex results and formulas needed to interpret our community surveys!), but above all else I was impressed by John’s philosophy of always considering for a moment if he could be wrong. More often than not John was not wrong – but I have always thought that a great way to approach and solve a problem.
Our village lost a great problem solver when John passed away in July, and we will miss him greatly. Those dream(s) that wander round (my) mind, dear John, will I suspect be made merry by the sound of your hearty laughter – if I do ever meet a ghostly knight who walk(s) old Knebworth’s halls, I fully expect it to be you!
Henry Lytton Cobbold
www.knebworthhouse.com