Full story behind society restoration

However, the reference to the society’s headquarters La Maison being restored in the 1960s “with the help of the young people involved and their parents” does not tell the full story.

While some of us members volunteered to strip the old house and help with the decorating, the building work was actually carried out by my father’s company, John T Rhodes Ltd of Althorpe Street, on a not-for-profit basis.

Jack Rhodes was born in poverty in Bradford, conscripted into the mines as a wartime Bevin Boy and moved to Leamington in 1958. He set up a successful construction company which built many local landmarks including the Loft Theatre, Dale St Methodist church, Kenilworth Methodist church and St Alban’s House in Warwick Street.

Leamington was good to him and he tried to put something back into the community with a number of pro bono projects. These included the swimming pool at Leamington College for Boys and the Anglo-French Headquarters.

Jack Rhodes died 20 years ago this month aged just 66. - Peter Rhodes, Castle Road, Kenilworth.