1937-1938 ANECDOTES

ANECDOTES 1937-1938
MANCOM 11/8/1937
Committee accepted invitation to play Weston-super-Mare, on gate sharing terms, on the occasion of their Charter of Incorporation Day – 16th September 1937. (Kick-off 6-15pm.) The game was not listed in the official fixtures, although a strong Bath XV, including Buse, Bartlett, Robinson and Gay, journeyed to the Seasiders.
Harold Crane to be non-playing captain of Colts XV and Lambridge Meadows rented on usual terms for Colts section.
Agreed that admission to the North Stand be included in the 15/6 paid for Enclosure ticket, and that 6d Transfer tickets from the Popular side be issued making the charge for admission to this stand to be 1/2d.
Agreed that Supporters Club will steward the ground, with the exception of the turnstiles. It was estimated that this would save the Club some £100 a season.

MANCOM 23/8/1937
A letter received from Arnold Ridley expressing his great regret that it had been agreed to play a match with Weston-super-Mare.

NO BALLS AT ALL
25/8/1937 Reports that training had commenced and R A Gerrard was certainly putting the players through their paces: “but never a ball did they see.
These were locked up, to come out later after sprinting work is done and exercises have rendered the limbs supple.
Gerrard appointed Charles (“Pick Up Thee Musket”) Gough as his drill sergeant. Charlie was unsparing.””
GAY HANDS IN HIS KIT
Bath Chronicle 13th November carried the surprise news that W F Gay had decided to give up his Rugby. He had cried off from the Portsmouth game a week previously and did not make himself available to Somerset.
He had often turned out under considerable inconvenience. His policeman’s career frequently involved night duty. Away games were particularly difficult. He had often turned out for Bath directly following a night shift, and ended the day – going straight back to work.
He had been a great asset to Bath and Somerset and all concerned were saddened, but understood the reason for his decision.

GERRARD WEDS.
The Bath Chronicle Friday 19/11/1937, devoted the greater part of their front page coverage to the Wedding of Mr. R A Gerrard to Miss Molly Taylor, daughter of Mr. A J Taylor, F.R.I.B.A, at St. Mary’s Church, Bathwick that day. The previous season’s England Captain, H G Owen-Smith acted as Best Man. There was a glittering array of 400 guests including Rugby celebrities – Bath’s own S G U Considine, and D Crichton-Miller (now Headmaster at Taunton School).
As befitting the family’s architectural profession, and encompassing her International Rugby playing husband’s achievements, the design for the wedding cake was unique: “The tiers were not circular, but rectangular, and the top was modelled to convey a complete representation of the Twickenham Rugby ground, complete with grandstands and goalposts. The tiers all bore devices either Heraldic in character, or depicting interments used by architects. Weighing a hundred-weight and a half the cake was made by the Red House to the bride’s own design.”

OF HARRIS
Harris made a number of Characteristic dashes:
“What is the secret of his running? In the first place it is something quicker than the other fellow; in the second it is a combination of altered direction and altered pace. Anyhow, his effort, which was applauded by a crowd that had increased a good deal since a poor start, nearly brought a score.”
Into the second half with no score: Time was running out and Bath, amid considerable excitement, pressed with no end of vitality. Moon has certainly put some real ‘devil’ into the pack in the loose. Then with five minutes to go, Harris was a casualty – a leg injury apparently.
In the last minutes of the game Bartlett ran from half-way and scored the winning try.”

MANCOM 13/12/1937
Grants to Junior Clubs to be considered, only at end of season.
Congratulations to R A Gerrard on selection for England Trial.
Ivor Lewis sent off at Southampton.
1/1/37 BATH V RICHMOND
The visitors pressed hard from the start, which produced a spectacular try by Johnston in the ninth minute, for Beazley to convert. The Londoners’ form and fitness was evident and soon produced a second try, scored by centre, Wreford. Their forwards were impressive in the tight and were tearaways in the loose. Matthews and Moon stood up to them pluckily. Harris and Bartlett featured in impressive forays, but the Richmond defence was holding firm. However, it was Bartlett who won a kick and chase to touch down for Bath’s try towards the end of the first half. In the second half, Bath had few chances to close the five point gap. Foster’s late penalty attempt went sadly awry.
“I doubt if one in a hundred people who witnessed the Bath and Richmond match recognised the player who turned out for the visitors five minutes from the start. Richmond were a player short, one of the forwards, and were lucky to find a substitute on the field. This was none other than Bert Dolman* , the Avon full-back, who has assisted Bath on several occasions. It was the first time he had ever played in the pack.
Dolman went to the Henry Hall Dance at Bristol and did not get home till 4a.m.; he had a heavy lunch and went down to be a mere watcher at the Bath match. But the visitors were only 14 and George Gray prevailed upon him to turn out. He did so, played well, enjoyed it, and earned the gratitude of Richmond. But as I say, few people knew who he was.”
(Bert Dolman*{First Hon. Secretary of Bath Old Players’ Association} – son of Dick Dolman, and father of David Dolman [Bath, Somerset and Western Counties 1967])
WELL DONE REF!
The referee, Mr. F G Phillips of Pontardulais had an excellent match, which moved Bath Committee man, Mr. F C Wills to go straight to the post-match dressing room to congratulate him on his handling of affairs. Mr. Phillips was very appreciative and said that Bath were the first English side to thank him on the conduct of a game. In direct contrast, there was growing dissatisfaction at the general standard of play, and falling off of support for many of the Bath games.

TOO MUCH PARTISAN SPIRIT
‘LESS IDOL WORSHIP’
Some outspoken criticisms were aired regarding falling attendances on the Rec.
The Reverend A Dann, Vicar of St. Marks, had started the ball rolling. He instanced a poor attitude of the supporters who were becoming excessively partisan. He held that criticism of the referee was beginning at an early stage of the games. They displayed little or no appreciation of good play by the opposing side and were generally unsporting in their attitude.
There should be less regard to ‘idol’ worship and bias. In his opinion, this partisanship was killing the sport.
On the field, the remedy laid with playing the game ‘in the true spirit of rugby.’
Other distractions were listed as – the pictures (cinema going), the football pools. The wireless, and inertia.
The sports correspondent added that the game was not spectacular enough, with too much kicking by the midfield triangle. He could see no end to the “ebb-tide of interest” without some action to produce an improved handling game. ‘Star performers’ in the likes of Considine or Vincent Coates were sadly missed in the game at that time.
The bottom line appeared to be – “Cut out kicking.”

COMBINATION CLUBS
The match programme emphasised that the Bath Club was most anxious to foster friendly relationships with Junior Rugby. They invited Club secretaries to recommend aspiring players, who might be suitable to have a run out with the United XV.

‘ BUZZER’ BUSE BATS OUT
Herbert Buse decided to finish his Rugby for this season, in order to prepare for his new engagement with Somerset County Cricket Club. He first played for Bath, against Devonport Services on January 11th 1930. Up to this time, Buse had made 137 appearances for Bath, 125 at full-back and 12 at centre.
S.O.S. at Services game.
There were a number of player injuries and the ambulance men were kept busy to the very end. Soon after Bath’s Robinson had been removed, there was a final S.O.S. for attention from the popular side – this time a spectator had fainted! Whether this was from the excitement of a win, is not recorded.

Back on the declining support –
An irregular supporter had written to agree with the Rev. Dann: “I am driven away by the aggressive and unsportsmanlike behaviour of a small section of the spectators, chiefly in the Central stand and adjoining gangways, though there are imitators in other parts of the ground. An inane chorus of: “Play the game, Ref.?” “Where are your eyes Ref.?” “Forward” “Off-side” and so on ad nauseum. “Before now I have left the ground vowing I would never attend another match on the Rec.”

OLD PLAYERS
Len Corbett proposed an ‘Old Crocks’ game – Bath v Bristol. He had enjoyed a recent gathering of the Bristol Old Players’ Society, and it was a pity that there was not a similar association in Bath. ‘Consi’ had been willing, but there had been little support up to that time. ‘Cash’ was reported to be very keen to play in any Old Crocks match! (But he could never give up playing anyway!)
MANCOM 14/3/1938
Agreed that proceeds of 7 a side, go to Royal United Hospital.
Following a claim for damages from the G.W.R., it was resolved that in future, all damage must be paid for by the actual culprits or failing this the whole team to be held responsible. A notice to be posted in the dressing room.

MANCOM 14/3/1938
Agreed that proceeds of 7 a side, go to Royal United Hospital.
Following a claim for damages from the G.W.R., it was resolved that in future, all damage must be paid for by the actual culprits or failing this the whole team to be held responsible. A notice to be posted in the dressing room.

MANCOM 28/3/1938
Flowerpot stands could be hired out for not less than one guinea. County Cricket to be charged two guineas. Rotary Club and Corsham R.E.’s permitted to use stands.
Nominations for Captain to be put to player ballot. Nominees – Foss, Harris and Wood.
Thanks accorded to P Moon who had stood in as Captain, and news of Gerrard’s resignation as Captain and player.

The Six Best
“I have received the following from Mr. A E Lay, of Bristol: ‘The best six ever in the old days when I can remember, were Vincent Coates, Kitching, Chaddock, ‘Cast,’ Norman Blake and Bert Comm. More recently the six would be ‘Consi,’ Richardson (the best centre ever), W H Sheppard, Vowles, Hope and Norman Matthews.”

The 7th April game v Weston-super-Mare was not included in these figures.
It had been a lean year in playing terms, but despite a £150 reduction in gate receipts, the Club showed a surplus of £33.
Although gratifying in this respect, it was emphasised that there would have to be a further tightening up of expenditure.
The team had been handicapped during the season, by injuries to several key players. There as a call for more support for the United XV matches, otherwise less attractive fixtures would have to be substituted.
UNFORGETTABLE STALWARTS
About this time, player care was in the hands of two Club stalwarts:-

The honorary masseur was Ron Ludlow, nicknamed “Lobby Lud,” was the man with the ‘magic hands.’ He was rarely seen without a cigarette hanging out of the side of his mouth. A great man with the ‘horse liniment!

The 1st XV jerseys, shorts, socks and boots, were the responsibility of ex player, Albie Hatherill, who also supervised the humping of the heavy kit to the Up or Down platform, for the Away matches.
He cleaned, re-studded, packed or cubby-holed all the boots.
The Ground was looked after by that lovely man Sid Dando:

“The groundsman did his job and a lot more, with hardly a grumble and little publicity. But when Sid died, how he was missed!”
(Extract:- Bob Stratton columns 23rd February 1963)

CLUB CHARACTERS
A few of the many characters at that time were:-
Joint Honorary Secretary Eddie Simpkins, frequently the centre of clean, good natured fun;
J Townsend Piper, Joint Honorary Secretary, in office from 1890 to 1940, and omnipresent in so many team photographs;
Cyril ‘Bailbrook’ Bailey – a natural comedian and a wonderful man to have on tour. Of course, he had his serious side, but quite a character. One of the sta