1936-1937 ANECDOTES

Mr E F Simpkins elected Life member after 25 years as Honorary Secretary.

Ralph Banks appointed Captain of the Colts.

Norman Matthews accepted the post of Club Captain.

It was particularly appropriate that he should be honoured, as he had frequently deputised when Gerrard was away on International duties. He had been singularly unfortunate in not gaining a Cap.  He had in fact, ‘packed-up’ the season before last, and in true Club spirit, had responded to the call for his return. He was an inspiring leader and coach, and the honour was so well merited, and so long overdue.

Bath Chronicle 29/8/1936 carried an optimistic prospect for the coming games. Youngsters had been ‘blooded’ during the previous, formative season, and they should now prosper under the leadership of Norman Matthews. Gerrard was fighting fit again, and there was promise of good performances.

Three newcomers had shown interest:- Alan Griffiths, full-back from Cardiff and Penarth, I Williams, centre, from Swansea, and Eddie Bevan, an outside-half from Llanelly.

DEVON AND CORNWALL TOUR 1936

GOSSIP OF THE WEEK:

“What will 37 musical instruments sound like in Penzance to-night? As 36 cannot play them properly, not very grand. That is what is going to happen when the Bath team and party arrives on their Cornish tour.

The Mayor of Penzance will meet them. It is hoped he is musical.

Cyril Bailey has been appointed bandmaster and musical director. Tastes differ, but the party are hoping that the Cornish folk will enjoy the music.

There is no programme. Everybody will play what he likes as they march from the station, which should sound very much like hot jazz-very hot!

The Bath party will be more or less freeman of Penzance while they are there. They will have the entrée to the new open air jubilee swimming baths and be hon. Members of the Mounts Bay Club.

A little football will be played in between this sight-seeing and fun-making.”

A FISHY YARN

It was not all rugby for the Tourists, as they found time boating, swimming and …..fishing.

The intrepid travellers claimed a Club record of a different kind, after allegedly ‘acquiring’, perhaps – not landing,  a 600lb ‘monster of the deep’. (Described as a whale – swordfish cross) Harry Slade apparently hired a lorry and cavorted around the area, where it was on show for 6d a look at the Falmouth ground. Rumour has it, that they raised 4/-.They even contemplated hanging it on the crossbar. At the end of the day, some thought it had departed on the night train to Bath; after all – ‘Kipper’ Hancock was a fishmonger!

However, careful investigation has revealed, first –  that it was probably a hammerhead shark. Yes, they hired a flat-back lorry to move it around. Yes, it was on show at 6d a time. Yes, Harry Slade organised it.

No – it did not go back to Bath on the night train!

Truth is, it smelt so strongly by 5pm, that the entrepreneurial tourists had to pay the same local lorry driver to take their exhibit away!

Bath Chronicle 5^th December 1936

The Best Try?

There had been a number of readers’ letters volunteering their opinion as to the best try witnessed at any Bath game.

The Davies-Tanner tries for Swansea were instanced. “Dick James’s race from the full-back position in his own 25 to the Camborne line in the tour of 1934 must be recalled, even if he did not touch the ball down himself.”

That try for Harlequins at Bath this season bore the mark of genius.

Norman Matthews sturdy gallop of 35 yards at Clifton a month ago will live long in the mind.

How Hancock jumped the full-back at Bristol is often talked about, but that was before my time. It is very intriguing talking about the past. But, at the moment, it is the future with which I am chiefly concerned.”

Further contributions included an article written by “E” (Probably Eddie Simpkins). He extolled the performances of S G U Considine, whom he considered to have been the best outside player ever to have played for Bath.

He instanced a try at Pontypool. Harry Richardson had barged through the centre and cut a splendid opening for ‘Consi.’ This was when Considine was at his very peak and in the running for his ‘Cap.’

“I shall never forget how the Pontypool crowd rose to him.”

Another beauty of his was at Richmond, with his brother ‘H W H’ playing against us. It was a brilliant individual effort, starting in our own 25, when he ran clear away to ground the ball under the posts.

Another ‘cracker’ was against Bristol on the Rec., when Len Corbett and Reg Pickles collided, after both missing him.

Apart from S.G. U., he remembered A F Kitching: “What a wing he was! It was against Pontypool, and many of your readers will remember how he went clean through the middle of their team with that wonderful swerve of his.”

Another correspondent recalled an 1890’s match on Boxing Day at Henrietta Park, between Bath and Jesus and Clare Wanderers, Oxford. “Then Williamson, a wing threequarter, ran two-thirds of the field and scored a glorious try. I seem to hear that applause now! Forgive the age of this match, but it was a good try.”

Yet another letter favoured Kitching’s try against Pontypool, for speed;

second, Considine’s try after being partly tackled three times;

third, and perhaps the most brilliant effort I ever saw, was B H Belson’s dribbling the ball the whole length of the field and scoring;

fourth, the little scrum half who dived between Buckingham’s legs on the line and scored, cannot remember his name.

“The Rugby pitch was then on the Pulteney Road side. I have several remarkable memories on that side of the ground-of Gamlen’s tackle of two men at once, Leo Magger and another; of Tommy Parham’s two tries against Gloucester County v Somerset, one in each half. Hughes, the Gloucester back, could not be blamed for Parham’s first score, but the second try Parham beat Hughes to a frazzle.”

“Parham broke away on the blind side of the scrum and was running down the touch-line. Hughes, standing on the goal line, was clapping the sides of his hips as much as to say, Come on Parham, I am waiting.” But to the consternation of himself and the crowed, Parham gave the ‘dummy’ and all was over. Hughes didn’t touch him, and the crowd yelled with laughter.”

“Mr Joe Long (I ought to say Mayor Long) scored three tries against Keble College, which included Leslie Baker and Jones, the two best centres in England at that time. My cousin, Fred Wheeler of Cwmbran, South Wales was staying with me at the time. He played in this game at centre to Joe Long, and it was his brilliant play that made Long’s scores possible. Leslie Baker said the tackle Wheeler gave him was the most daring he had ever experienced.”

Bath and Wilts Chronicle and Herald 10/12/1936 – Headline:-

DUKE OF YORK OUR NEW KING

“Long to Reign Over Us.”

KING EDWARD V111 ABDICATES

GOSSIP OF THE WEEK

“Davies of Bath and Styles of Richmond were injured. They only had to walk over the other side of the road into the hospital.

Thoughtful to build a hospital outside a football ground. Saves ambulance fees.”

A new policeman rugby player has joined the Bath force. Davies is his name. No need to mention his nationality.”

2/1/1937

GOSSIP OF THE WEEK

News that former scrum-half, Harry Vowles spent Christmas in Paulton Hospital. He had contracted Scarlet Fever, which in those days, necessitated isolation. “Just the luck of the game” as he would say.

Article Bath Chronicle and Herald 16/1/1937 (Extract)

A MONUMENTAL KICK

“Who can kick a Rugby ball clean over the top of the Monument in Monument Field, Combe Down?” “This query is prompted, not by the after-effects of an attack of the ‘flu’ on my part, but by a letter seriously written to the ‘Chronicle and Herald’ by Mr. Ernie Williams, a quondam Bath player, who once saw a Prior Park College boy perform the feat. ‘Lots of other players,’ he added, ‘have tried and failed.’ The letter at once aroused my curiosity.

I tried to inveigle ‘Old Crock’ into going up to the Down and try, and I would act as a judge, and, if needs be, hold any stakes. But, to my surprise, he told me he was no kicker, not even in the palmy days of his Rugby for Bath and Somerset.

I do not know the height of the Monument- I have not seen it at close quarters for years, but I doubt if there is a present day Rugby player who could not do it.

For two I would suggest R A Gerrard and G Foster. Kenneth Foss I thought about, but he kicks with too low a trajectory. I should like, however, to see one or all of these try it one of these quiet afternoons, for the field is deserted, and if one faltered there would be no crowd to sigh for the ‘good old days.”

THE GOOD OLD DAYS

“Which reminds me that we hear a great deal about the good old days of Rugby. Were they really so good? Perhaps it is the old story of the rose-tinted spectacles through which we peer into the past. I saw England and Wales play at Leicester away back in 1908 (or earlier), and it would be as easy to conjure up a similar ineffaceable picture-of great names, the people one met, the crowd, the cheering.

But was it any better than the internationals at Twickenham today? The young people who said it will in 40 years time, be giving the people of their day the same highly-coloured pictures that we so often hear.”

Continuing with comparisons with the past: “Were the stand-off halves better or worse than Roy Harris? If they were better, they were very good. Were the lions of foregone days better

or worse than R A Gerrard? I wonder. Rugby is good enough for me in these days, if it be played like Bath have shown they can play it today.

And the zenith has not yet been reached. That will come next season, or it may be the season after. Meanwhile, with temporary set backs here and there, inevitable in all forms of sport, we shall continue to see an up-grade team.”

GOSSIP OF THE WEEK

With Peter Moon joining the Reserve of Officers, R.A.F., Bath will have two flying men in their ranks, Flying Officer Robinson being the other.

GOSSIP OF THE WEEK

Reported that Rugby League had been looking at Roy Harris. A Scout was reportedly carrying a £500 cheque in the hope that he could attract Bath’s schoolmaster player.

PLAYER MISBEHAVIOUR!

Following alleged misbehaviour of Bath players at Stapleton Road Station, S G U Considine to investigate and reply to the G.W.R. Proceedings had been threatened and Hon. Sec. to write to the player pointing out the seriousness of the complaint arising out of the disturbance.

Supporters’ Club to be advised that the Club had been running at a loss for several seasons, and asking them if they could suggest or do anything to improve the financial position.

MANCOM 24/5/1937

Financial problems

It was agreed that the only way to meet the financial position of the Club at the Bank, was by guarantors and the following volunteered to stand as guarantors for the sum of £50 each: Dr. Scott Reid, Messrs S L Amor, A J Taylor, F C Wills, A Lock, H Slade and J T Piper. Mr Chaddock assured the meeting that guarantors would only be required until October 1937.

Supporters’ Club to be invited to fill all stewards’ positions at home matches except at the turnstiles.

Each player to be issued with a set of kit and to be responsible for same.

Only one Committee man on away games at Club expense.

Players expenses to be investigated with a view to economy.

On 26^th June 1937, the Bath Chronicle reported that a resolution proposed by the Bristol Club and seconded by Bath, had been defeated. It had called for discontinuation of the broadcasting of Internationals or other matches under the control of the R.F.U.

The West Country Clubs’ concern was that reduction in attendances on these occasions, was having an adverse affect on Club finances. For the R.F.U. General Hill pointed out that under the Rules, this was a matter solely for the R.F.U. to consider and the Resolution was technically out of order. Nevertheless he was prepared to facilitate discussion. Hostility to the resolution was overwhelming.