Some Notable Cufflins / Cufflings

Michael J Cufflin O.B.E. 1933-1998
        Tributes paid to ‘one of city’s great politicians’ Conservatives have paid tribute to former Lord Mayor Michael Cufflin, who died on Monday aged 65.
        Mr Cufflin, chairman of Leicester Conservative Federation and a former Knighton councillor, died suddenly at his home in Burlington Road. City Conservatives today paid tribute to Mr Cufflin, saying he was a kind and popular ambassador for the party.
        Lord Mayor Councillor John Mugglestone said: "Michael was one of the greatest politicians Leicester ever had. I have lost a friend and so has Leicester."
        Conservative federation agent Jim McCabe said: "I remember him for his kindness. He was an excellent Lord Mayor and his wife Sue gave him great support throughout his life."
        Deputy Tory leader, Councillor Michael Johnson, said: "Michael worked hard for the Conservative cause in Leicester on the council and elsewhere." Mr Cufflin was born in Leicester and worked as a stockbroker in his home city and London. He was elected as city councillor for Knighton in 1964 and was leader of the Conservative group from 1973 until he became Lord Mayor in 1984.
        A member of the Rotary Club, he was also a member of the Leicester Tigers Club and a director of Leicester YMCA.
        He leaves a wife, Susan, and four grown-up children - Joanna, Oliver, Lucy and Edward.
        A funeral service will be held at Leicester Cathedral at 11.30am on Friday.
Source: Leicester Mercury

See: Leicester City Council Tribute

Bernard Cuffling
        Bernard Cuffling Actor - Born in London, England, Cuffling began his stage career there in 1970 before moving to Canada. His extensive stage work includes roles in numerous Canadian productions, including "Nicholas Nickelby"; "Lettice and Lovage", "Dancing at Lughnasa"; "Sleuth"; "Driving Miss Daisy", and "Noises Off." Cuffling has also directed productions of "Hay Fever," "California Suite" and "Charley's Aunt."
        Cuffling is a distinguished actor who has been featured in numerous television movies, series, and feature films. Most recently, he appeared in the mini series Titanic, and was also featured in the television movies Little Match Girl; Assault and Matrimony; and The Man Who Wouldn't Die. He had a recurring role in the popular series Booker, and has guest-starred in episodes of Highlander; RR Starbuck; MacGyver; Top of the Hill and Doorways to the Unknown. Cuffling also co-starred in the feature films "The Fifth Season" and "The Resurrected."

Harry Cuffling
        Petty Officer Harry Cuffling was a 22 year old aboard HMS Dorsetshire which, on the 27th May 1941, was engaged in an eight day battle to sink the crippled battleship 'The Bismarck' - the pride of the German Navy. The following is a report of the 60th anniversary commemorating the event, which was held at the Imperial War museum on 22 May 2001.

        A German serviceman who survived the sinking of the battleship, the Bismarck, in World War II has joined British veterans commemorating the anniversary.
        Heinz Steeg met more than 100 war veterans at London's Imperial War museum to mark the 60th anniversary of one of the war's most dramatic sea battles.
        The sinking of the Bismarck, in the Atlantic Ocean on 27 May 1941 - following an eight-day pursuit - marked a turning point in the war.
        Launched in 1939 with a displacement of 50,000 tonnes when fully laden, a top speed of 30 knots and several batteries of heavy guns, the Bismarck was seen as the most formidable battleship of its time. She was sunk after making a dash into the Atlantic to resume attacks on allied supply convoys and sinking British battleship HMS Hood with the loss of 1,416 crew.

'Band of brothers'         All but 115 of the Bismarck's 2,200 crew perished in the encounter.
        Bismarck petty officer Mr Steeg told BBC News: "We couldn't fight on any more.
        "We had no shells left and no ammunition, so what we did was blow the ship up ourselves."
        Harry Cuffling, 82, from the Isle of Wight, was one of the men who dragged Mr Steeg on board the cruiser, the Dorsetshire.
        "It was a case of dragging Heinz up the side then pushing him away from the area and taking him down below deck. He and the rest of them were in a very cold and confused state.
        Mr Steeg said he would always be grateful to the British sailors.
        "There is never any great feeling of joy or celebration when a ship is sunk, because a ship is a beautiful thing.
        "But I remain thankful that the men of the Dorsetshire could come to my aid," he said.
        George Bell, 77, who was a 17-year-old captain's messenger on board the Dorsetshire, described how he watched the Bismarck capsize after it had been struck by three of the ship's torpedoes.
        "I remember seeing her turn over completely. All you could see was her huge keel lying in the water before it went under.
        I saw men running down the quarter deck and jumping into the sea like lemmings to get away from the horrors in the boat Sir Ludovic Kennedy "We all felt it was a very important moment. The Bismarck's only job was to get out into the Atlantic and destroy shipping and we had to stop it."
        Tuesday's gathering is expected to be the last of its kind as, with even the younger veterans in their late 70s, many of the ships' associations are being disbanded.
        Sir Ludovic Kennedy, a sub lieutenant on HMS Tartar during the battle and author of one of the most detailed accounts of the sinking of the Bismarck, was guest of honour at the reunion.
        He paid tribute to his "band of brothers" saying the naval engagement was one of the most "memorable, important and dramatic events" of the war.
        Sir Ludovic added that one of his most vivid memories was seeing the German sailors leaping from the stricken battleship as it was consumed by an "inferno of fire".
        "I saw men running down the quarter deck and jumping into the sea like lemmings to get away from the horrors in the boat."
        At midday two buglers from the Band of the Royal Marines sounded the Last Post in memory of all those who lost their lives in the action.