1919-1920 ANECDOTES

ANECDOTES 1919-1920

CHRONICLE REPORT 24/5/1919
A new Constitution was adopted for the revival of SOMERSET RUGBY UNION, and a game versus Bath and District fixed for 8th November 1919.
The County Union was in an unusual position as regards continuity, as their Notice explained: “As no subscriptions have been received since 1915, strictly speaking, in accordance with our rules, we have no members to summon to a general meeting. I am therefore requesting two representatives from each of our old affiliated clubs, together with the last elected committee of management to be present.”
The Clubs represented included Bath, Bridgwater, Knowle, Taunton, Wellington, Weston-super-Mare and North Petherton.

Comments relating to BATH CHRONICLE 6/9/1919
A PROMISING OUTLOOK
In moves towards full revival of Rugby activities, a fresh ten-year lease of the Recreation Ground had been secured, and although one or two clubs had not survived, a provisional fixture list was in place.
Reluctantly the price of a season ticket had to increase from 6/- to 12/-. Under the new lease, the capitation charge payable to the Recreation Ground Company had been doubled, and a further 1/6 went to the Government in Entertainment Tax. The net additional revenue to the Club was only 3/6. Ladies season tickets were increased to 5/- with even more reluctance, but “Necessitas non habet legem.”
Bath had lined up an imposing fixture list. “Many Clubs have been forced to give up the long distance matches owing to the all round advance in expenses. The Bath Club will need all the support available to enable it to carry on as of old.”
The first home match with Torquay scheduled for the 13th September had been cancelled, as the Devon club would not travel. It was fortunate Penylan were able to fill the gap. They had previously obliged in Bath, for they had no ground of their own.

THE COMING SEASON
“As in the old days so in 1919-20 I hope to deal shortly with players, sides, and points of interest. Although I do not seek for problems to discuss, I shall, as usual, be glad to receive correspondence from interested readers on any points they would like ventilated. All I ask is that correspondents write in a friendly, courteous spirit, even if they differ from any conclusions I may have come to friendly controversy is the breath of life to most of us, but I dislike carping criticism, and never indulge in it myself. Rugbyites do not get to work very early, they do not want a season beginning in August and ending in May, with only two months, June and July, free from the game, and although in the provinces there are some good matches in September, in town the real thing does not begin until October. I learn that there is a real revival of interest in the handling code, and many likely young recruits are coming on. The one difficulty which will hard-hit amateur clubs with but small revenue is the terrible cost of railway travel. This may mean a restricted series of out-matches for some clubs, and a lessening of interest, but the bigger organisations will hardly be touched at all, although it may lead to a closer check on expenditure being maintained.”
CHANGES IN COMMITTEE
Messrs W Cleall, G Grey, H Bowen and W Speed were co-opted to Committee in place of Alf Cleall and Leo Hatherill (both killed in action in France), and Messrs R R Stephenson and A F Marshman (both resigned).
CHRONICLE COMMENT
OLD BOYS CLUBS?
“It was suggested that Old Boys of the different schools should be included up to a certain age. This no doubt would be capital, but I am afraid would amount to the schoolboys being pushed out.
Why can’t an Old Boys Club be formed in Bath? In Bristol we find St. Mary’s Old Boys, Old Redcliffians, St. Nicholas’ Old Boys, St. Thomas Old Boys, St. Leonard’s Old Boys, Old Colstonians , and I daresay others.”

He’s my bruvver!
“The Bath Club is a very brotherly affair this season.
There are the Hopes and Considine, and Richardson and Coles.”

BATH CHRONICLE
Mr Archibald Hope was sailing from Liverpool to return to his home in Vancouver. His imminent departure was commemorated with a smoking concert held at the Red House, New Bond Street. A full musical programme was arranged, with the presence of the “Elite Entertainers.”
In response to a toast to his health, Mr. Hope spoke of his fondness for Rugby: “explaining that he had removed from Saskatchewan to Vancouver, a distance of 2,000 miles, because he read in the papers that Vancouver possessed nine Rugby clubs. But when he got there the war began, and out of the nine teams exactly four men were left, all the others going overseas.” Along with his brother Philip, he had been most happy at Bath and he would greatly miss playing on the Rec. The assembled company wished their friend ‘Godspeed,’ “and hoped he would be a support to the old game abroad. An upright Englishman did credit wherever he was.” (Loud cheers)
“The departing player and the chairman were enthusiastically toasted and ‘For he’s a jolly good fellow,’ and ‘Auld Lang Syne,’ brought a joyous and fraternal evening to a close.”

BRISTOL V BATH 1919
Len Corbett’s Injury
Following this game, a report in the Bristol Times and Mirror contained strongly worded allegations of Bath rough play.
“He (Len Corbett) was brought down after he had parted with the ball-which was a foul in itself-and thus had his right leg badly twisted-one of the dirtiest pieces of work seen on a football ground for a long time.”
Bath officials felt that the allegation was unfounded. Mr. Dolman, Somerset Rugby Union, who refereed one half, and then witnessed the remainder of the game, repudiated the allegations: “He would not have tolerated such play, but as a matter of fact he saw no incident from beginning to end that could be described as unnecessarily rough play.” A letter from Tommy Vile confirmed that the Corbett injury was the result of a perfectly fair tackle. So there the matter rested.

CLIFF WALWIN’S TRAGIC DEATH ON THE REC.

Described as the Saddest Event in the History of the Club.

27/12/1919 v Cross Keys. Home. Drawn 0-0. Selected team:- Whittaker, P Hope, N Coates, H Richardson, Woodward, Vowles, Considine, Royal, Russell, Considine, Hodges, Gregory, Locke, Pope, Richardson.
N.B. In fact, Cliff Walwin played in this match, possibly replacing Whittaker, but with tragic results.

Walwyn was fairly tackled by Cross Keys player George Greenslade (a miner), and sustained a blow to the kidneys. He was carried to the pavilion in a great deal of pain and taken to his home in Grosvenor and examined by Dr. Lindsay of No.1 The Circus. With fear of internal bleeding, he was taken to the Church Street Nursing Home where Mr. Forbes Fraser was called into consultation and an operation performed. Unfortunately after a brief revival, at 11pm his pulse weakened and he tragically died from the injury at 12.05 on Sunday 28th December 1919. Coroner Frederick Shum certified – ‘Accidental death from shock + Collapse through internal injury whilst playing Football.’
George Greenslade was also injured in the collision and was on his back for several months.

It was most pleasurable that our research re-discovered the undoubted popularity of Cliff Walwin both as a player and as a well known local personality, and for this reason, we devote further time to some of the many tributes.

D.R.Gent writing in The Sunday Times: “A more genuine sportsman never played for Bath or any other club. He was not quite a first class player but he was a first class sportsman, a man the club could always rely upon to turn out, even at the last minute, and every minute of the game he was heart and soul for his side. What admirable fellows these are; always at their club’s disposal, consistently good in their play, and ever clean in their tactics. They are to be found in every club- its backbone, really. They do not get the plaudits of the crowd or Press, like the ‘stars’, by their worth is appreciated by the players, officials and all who understand the stuff of which the torch-bearers of the traditions of Rugby are made. Of such was Walwin.”

The late Eddie Simpkins contributed in the Bath Herald: “…….
No player was ever more popular with the crowd, or with the players. His cheery smile while entering the gate, to the officials, then again as he entered the dressing room, to the players, will live among us for ever. No one, either, has done more for the welfare of the club off the field.”

In Bristol Sports News: “…The last day of 1919 saw the grave close over one of the finest sportsmen Bath ever possessed. Clifford Walwin may not have attained the fame that other Bath Rugby footballers have acquired, but by all who knew him he was regarded as the pattern of a true Christian gentleman. His was a charming personality. No one ever heard him utter an unkind word and he had a smile for all. Business claims prevented him from playing so regularly for Bath as he wished to do; but no one was keener. He stayed in Bath rather than go to his native Gloucester for Christmas, because there was a chance of a game. With what tragic results.”

In addition to the family mourners, representatives from Boots, Bath Pharmaceutical Association, the Somerset Red Cross VAD, local organisations etc., the congregation at Walcot Wesleyan Church read like a ‘who’s who’ of the region’s rugby fraternity and the extensive list of attendees contained so many instantly recognisable Bath family names.

Out of historical rugby interest, this record is confined to official representatives of the Bath Club and players: –
Capt. Vincent H Coates MC, Messrs. A H W Taylor, G A Roberts, C C Wills, J T Piper, E F Simpkins, F J Cashnella, W T Davis, A Hatherill, A J Bennett, A Ford, W Cleall, G Gray, H W Considine, S G U Considine, C Lock and E S Cambridge.
Additionally, Bath Players – Messrs. E J Hodges, C E Carruthers, T Fry, J Fry, C Tucker, S Horwood, F D Stickler, J Richardson, R Richardson, F Russell, L V Burt, W Wilkins, H Vowles, S Vowles, F Smith and T Hanney (Trainer)

The “Last Post” sounded at his Lansdown graveside was but a fitting farewell to this outstanding young gentleman. All Rugby teams in the city refrained from playing the following Saturday as a mark of respect for this:……”clean and manly sportsman.”

“The break at Newton Abbot for luncheon on the journey to the seaside was much appreciated but it was not so nice afterwards to find the train at Paignton so full up that the only way to reach the destination was to get into the guard’s van.
Mr. Frost of Plymouth, who was the referee last Saturday, enforces the new idea that when the ball is thrown in from touch it must go over the head of the forward nearest the line.
Because Harry Vowles did not do this in the first Line-out at Paignton he whistled and gave the ball to the home scrum worker.
The decision aroused much discussion, but there is little doubt about it being a good idea.”

new idea that when the ball is thrown in from touch it must go over the head of the forward nearest the line.
Because Harry Vowles did not do this in the first Line-out at Paignton he whistled and gave the ball to the home scrum worker.
The decision aroused much discussion, but there is little doubt about it being a good idea.”

5/5/1920 “SMOKER” TERMINATES SUCCESSFUL SEASON.
Held at the Red House on 4th May, it was a fitting wind up to the departing season. The Mayor, a Club member, presided over a large gathering of players, officials, referees, and rugby people generally. The usual formalities and toasts to attendant organisations were observed, and a musical programme was enjoyed by all. The evening concluded with the singing of ‘Auld Lang Syne,’ and the National Anthem.