Organised by Old Edmundian Jeremy Janion, the lunch was attended by OE's, friends, current students & staff, all sharing their personal memories and stories of Msgr Miles, a very special man. A huge rugby fan, it was a fitting tribute that Jeremy (himself an ex England & Beford player) brought with him his friend 'Budge' Rogers OBE, who played for England, the British Lions and Bedford.  

A recording of a tribute by Jan Godfrey, a dear friend of Mgsr Miles, on her Magic Mellow Radio show on the morning of the lunch. The link for the recording is here: Fran Godfrey Radio

Monsignor Miles

Monsignor Fred Miles was in Douglass House between 1939 and 1944, and then Allen Hall until 1950 when he was ordained priest at the College.  He was also a member of staff and had a legendary reputation as a centre three-quarter. From the first it was evident that the keynote of Fr Miles's teaching would be a policy of "thorough". Everything that he did, and his activities ranged wide, was done efficiently, whether it was marking preps, coaching rugger, mastering the bass line in the choir or training altar-servers. From 1949–1966 Fr Miles coached the 1st XV ; never to be put off by lack of success due to a dearth of promising material, he maintained his enthusiasm to the end and inspired it in the boys. In the summer he transferred that enthusiasm first to junior cricket and in 1964, to tennis. When he took over the task of instructing altar servers he insisted on the highest standards and he can be said to have established a tradition, in this respect, which will live on. In 1960 Fr Miles took over Challoner House and showed the same industry and conscientiousness in this activity as in others. In December 1966 he was appointed Secretary to His Eminence the Cardinal (Heenan).

He served as a Governor of St Edmund’s between 1984 and 1989.  Mgr Miles was a Patron of The Edmundian Association and was a regular attender at St Edmund’s Sunday and the 40s-50s-60s Reunions until recent years. He published his light-hearted memories entitled Milestones in 2007.  Sadly, Monsignor Miles died on Monday 6th April 2020.

Rest in Peace Monsignor Miles