Further to the photograph of the School House Junior House Team in 1963 included in the January 2025 Bulletin, Rob Astin (SH 62-66) has sent John West (SH 61-64) another photo with a further challenge to name and date the occasion and players.  John thinks it is of the Senior House semi final of the same year, but he has a few questions which OSBs might like to answer if they can.

“Is this late 1963 on Wallside where K. Bursell kicked us to victory? I can't figure out who is throwing the ball in, it would normally be the hooker, but Curry would be hooker and there he is first in line, so is it one of the props? RCB Astin is at scrum half. 'Fred' Lord second in line. 'Jumbo' Glenday behind him. The boy with his face hidden I don't know. From the body language I would have said David Farrell, but as I think I can see him behind Forster it can't be him. Can anyone help? I think the guy in the scrum cap is Hurst, but I can't identify the back marker. Bill Fox would be the referee. On the Hostel side I'm embarrassed to say that I can't remember if red hoops were North or South! J. Roberts, hooker. David Cade scrum half but the second in the line I don't know. I recognise the third in the line's face but can't put a name to him. I think he had reddish hair which is vaguely seen in the photo. I think the one in the scrum cap is Brandwood. That's it I'm afraid. 11/21 must try harder!”

Rob was pleased to see his previous photo in the Bulletin and replied to John as follows: “I see we made the latest edition! It will be interesting to see if there is any reaction from those in the photo. Very sadly, I also see that Michael Jamison died last year which, for some reason, really shocked me. I can still see him, hands on hip, after scoring a try against Durham, a match I found myself involved in as TMG (T.M. Gascoigne) cried off with an illness on the morning of the game. He was a very good centre and formed an excellent partnership with the elder Bursell in the centre for the 1st XV. Makes you realise how vulnerable we all are now as we see our contemporaries fall by the wayside. I think you have remembered a lot more than myself over the recent rugby photograph and indeed I do think it was that match that Bill Fox constantly penalised myself and Nic Curry for scrum feed infringements. It was FS who played in the red hoops, FN in dark blue hoops if I remember correctly. The only other thought I had about the players was, isn’t that David ‘Curly’ Farrell almost at the back?”

 

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