Woolverstone Hall School - Rugby Project - by Jerry Page

Seasons 1951/52 to 1976/77

After leaving Woolverstone, I dreamt that any boys I might have in the years ahead, may have an opportunity of going to this fine school. I now have three sons but, alas, the chance has gone. I do not have any daughters, so I cannot send anyone to the school and I do not live close enough to the school even to think about having any more children, in the hope they may be female - foiled again! !

What was it about Woolverstone that made it so special? The magnificent surroundings, for me and doubtless many others, played a significant part with so much open land and picturesque views. To think the alternative would probably have been a grey, drab, dingy and gloomy cramped school in London. How fortunate I am, and grateful for the marvellous opportunity my parents provided for me - or did they really want to get rid of me for most of the year??!!

Another plus was the blend of colleagues from different walks of life albeit the school was principally a London based educational establishment. There can be no doubt the masters played a major role in our development, although we may not all have seen eye to eye at times. Who can forget, for example, the eccentric, yet brilliantly effective techniques of Mr Thornbery, whose memory, as proved at the December 2001 soiree, remains indisputably razor sharp. How about Pete Sadler, with his extremely relaxed style or the likes of Messrs Shakeshaft, Hyde, Skailes, Goetzee, Clayton and Ramsey.

One aspect which I always found incredible, was the phenomenally successful record, over the years, of the school's rugby teams. Why were we so good? Did we really need the aggressive outlet to beat anyone who dared challenge us, on such a regular basis?

This project aims to show how successful we were. I had hoped to complete the story from the school's inception in 1951 to closure in 1990, but sadly results from 1977 are not recorded as diligently as they were each year in Janus (although in fact there are a few gaps in some of these publications). As we know, 1977 was a period of great change at Woolverstone Hall. The picture is therefore somewhat incomplete but covers the first season 1951/52 to season 1976/77 i.e. as much as possible. I am quite happy that there is sufficient detail available to give an accurate feel for the fine results so consistently achieved.

My time at the school was from September 1965 to July 1972 and what made a deep impression on me at the outset was watching, as a 'newgie' the first 1st XV game shortly after my arrival at the school against the Ipswich Magpies. This was, as far as I recall, an early evening game soon after the term started and I remember vividly our team taking to Church Field in a fairly relaxed manner, whereas the Magpies displayed the tribalistic ritual, whilst running in single file up the path from Johnstone's House to Church Field, of 'zigger zagger, zigger zagger, ra ra ra!!'. It seemed I was about to witness a spectacle of gladiatorial proportions. I was mesmerised and hugely impressed that the 1st XV beat the invading marauders who were duly dispatched six miles back up the river. Riveting stuff and the 11 XV immediately assumed God-like status with me, ensuring I watched virtually all 1st XV games in my seven years at Woolverstone.

Another impressive ritual was the annual 'Stonehenge' rugby played by the first form which was an innovative way of introducing youngsters to the sport. Perhaps this was a very useful way of nurturing Neanderthal tendencies within us

I was not blessed with sporting ability (or academic ability for that matter) and was able, as I did not play for my age group, to enjoy some excellent games over the years and marvel at the skills of some truly outstanding players. Naturally, for any Woolverstonian, the question of which was the most successful team in the school's history is bound to arise. We all tend to believe we belonged to the best year of all - the WHOBA web site bears witness to several claims for this title from different generations. It does look as though there is a winner in terms of games won but there are many factors to bear in mind and there is no question that there are a whole host of teams who can claim to be the best. I emphasise that this project does miss some crucial years, 1977 to 1990 when I have no idea how successful we were, although it is clear there were some highly talented players and, of course the name Martin Offiah comes to mind as a player of this era. Who knows, perhaps I may eventually be able to expand this project to encompass the lost years if I manage to obtain the results in due course. This I will endeavour to do when time permits.

At the end of this project there are tables for each season showing the results of all the teams (where they are given, for sadly there are some gaps).