Helen Backshell (nee
Cordingley) is the sister of the late Rex and Colin Cordingley of Cordingley Surfboards
fame.
June 2003 Colin, Helen and Rex Cordingley in Darwin. Cordingley family pic.
Helen Backshell – My brothers made plywood boards in our parent’s backyard at Mosman Park before starting Cordingley Surfboards in Hay Street Subiaco in 1962.
Bill Oddy used to manage a men’s suits and clothing shop in Bon Marche
Arcade in Barrack street and Surf City at Scarborough for Cordingleys. He would
call into the surf factory to see the boys and get stock and was all clean
and tidy. My brother Rex called him ‘Mr Clean’ because everyone else was
covered in glass and dust and resin”.
The video features interviews with Rex Cordingley, Jennie Cordingley (Colin’s wife), Helen Backshell and WA surf industry pioneer Tom Blaxell. It was filmed by two graduates from Edith Cowan University Media as an assignment for their final exams.
Bill
Oddy – Remember
the ”TIE” story like it was yesterday….the whole factory thought that one
hilarious…meanwhile they all copped a few barbs from me as to their total lack
of fashion sense or appearance, especially Rex, but it did little good!!
Rex
(bless him), in the doco, never let on how many times I had to collect him from
the Vic Hotel, just up the road in Hay Street, after he had called it a day at
the factory following knocking off consistently at midday on countless
occasions….I was always worrying about his wellbeing to no avail and the board
production, but he was always there when needed, a gentleman and a lot of fun!!
One
of the more memorable occasions was when I had just arrived back from Sydney to
take up management of the business, when without any prior notice, Rex fronted
up with a brand new Volvo sedan at the front of the shop and threw the keys to
me and said ‘hope you like your new company car”….I am still amazed at the
gesture to this day!!
Still
miss him and Col!!
This is a collection of 1970s Bill ‘Mr Clean’ Oddy images.
1970 Yallingup Aust Day State Titles presentation by Rex & Colin Cordingley with Bill Oddy. Ric Chan pic Kath King and David Moss front left. 1974 Margaret River WASRA State Titles Judging panel. Ric Chan pic L-R Michael Keiller, Bill Oddy, Steve Cockburn & Bob Monkman. 1977 Trigg. Bill Oddy at Hang Ten WASRA School Boys Surfing Championships. Ric Chan pic. 2015 Bill Oddy snow skiing Jackson Hole mountain USA. Bill Oddy pic.
Thanks to the Cordingley
family for sharing Rex’s Mr Clean story.
Coming soon Rex and Colin Cordingley – Cordingley Surfboards
Helen Backshell (nee Cordingley) is the sister of the late Rex and Colin Cordingley of Cordingley Surfboards fame.
Helen Backshell – My brothers made plywood boards in our parent’s backyard at Mosman Park before starting Cordingley Surfboards in Hay Street Subiaco in 1962.
Bill Oddy used to manage a men’s suits and clothing shop in Bon Marche Arcade in Barrack street and Surf City at Scarborough for Cordingleys. He would call into the surf factory to see the boys and get stock and was all clean and tidy. My brother Rex called him ‘Mr Clean’ because everyone else was covered in glass and dust and resin”.
Click on CORDINGLEY SURF DOCUMENTARY 2019 (Run time 5:35mins) to hear Rex tell a funny story about ‘Mr Clean’.
The video features interviews with Rex Cordingley, Jennie Cordingley (Colin’s wife), Helen Backshell and WA surf industry pioneer Tom Blaxell. It was filmed by two graduates from Edith Cowan University Media as an assignment for their final exams.
Bill Oddy – Remember the ”TIE” story like it was yesterday….the whole factory thought that one hilarious…meanwhile they all copped a few barbs from me as to their total lack of fashion sense or appearance, especially Rex, but it did little good!!
Rex (bless him), in the doco, never let on how many times I had to collect him from the Vic Hotel, just up the road in Hay Street, after he had called it a day at the factory following knocking off consistently at midday on countless occasions….I was always worrying about his wellbeing to no avail and the board production, but he was always there when needed, a gentleman and a lot of fun!!
One of the more memorable occasions was when I had just arrived back from Sydney to take up management of the business, when without any prior notice, Rex fronted up with a brand new Volvo sedan at the front of the shop and threw the keys to me and said ‘hope you like your new company car”….I am still amazed at the gesture to this day!!
Still miss him and Col!!
This is a collection of 1970s Bill ‘Mr Clean’ Oddy images.
Kath King and David Moss front left.
L-R Michael Keiller, Bill Oddy, Steve Cockburn & Bob Monkman.
Thanks to the Cordingley family for sharing Rex’s Mr Clean story.
Coming soon Rex and Colin Cordingley – Cordingley Surfboards
————————————————————-
Share this:
Like this: