1953-1954 ANECDOTES

MANCOM 5/7/1954
Congratulations extended to Ray Douglas upon gaining the Military Cross.
Membership Tariff:-
Gent’s Reserved Stand 50/-
Lady’s Reserved Stand 30/-
Gent’s unreserved stand 2 guineas
Lady’s unreserved stand 1 guinea
Schoolboys –same as Ladies.
Ground and Enclosure 30/- (Including North Stand)
Ground Admission 1/-, plus 6d to Enclosure, plus 6d to North Stand.
Admission to unreserved West Stand 3/-.
Lady Helpers to be issued with a ticket on payment of one guinea.
1001 numbered seats to be installed in West Stand, with adequate room for Press.
Pre-season training was on Tuesdays and Thursdays, involving road work and Physical Training, under the supervision of Alf Ball, who was a P.T.I. instructor in the Army.

MANCOM 23/8/1954
Thanks given to Norman Halse and his helpers for timber work done on the Flowerpot Stands.
Mrs Cryer was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks for her gift of flags for the goal posts.
Application made for Training to start September 7th.

MANCOM 6/9/1954
The question of Players’ Expenses was left in the hands of the Selection Committee, with Management Committee retaining right to review.
West Stand opening planned for 2nd October 1954. President and Secretary of the R.F.U. invited, along with I J Pitman M.P.
* W.C.Ramsey, President of the R.F.U. present to officially open the West Stand on 2nd October 1954, the day of the Llanelli match.
The match programme contained his exhortation: “that all players will carefully read the new laws and remember that no alterations in the laws can be effective unless players are prepared to play the game in the true spirit of Rugby Football.” He reminded the reader that,
1. A game like a country belongs to those who stand by its laws and what they really mean.
Rugby Football is a game for gentlemen in all classes, but never for a bad sportsman

It was Alec Lewis’s last appearance for Bath, and he signed out with a penalty goal. It was the only game that skipper John Roberts missed during the whole of that season. St Mary’s great servant and England centre Louis Cannell played at centre

Curly Quote
Curly Halse turned out for the United, two years after his retirement: “After 10 minutes I felt as if I’d never given up.”

Sports Chronicle 30th October 1954 reported on the winding up of the Supporters’ Club, and the handing over of the balance in hand of £100. Among those present was Mr. George Brint, who was present when the Supporters’ Club was founded.

News that former Club Captain Alan Todd, had found a place in the London Scottish 1st XV, and had previously turned out for Harlequins Wanderers and a number of junior London clubs.
Twenty one year old, former Bath centre, Peter Stevens from Aberavon, reported to be Captain of the Caerleon College side.

MANCOM 8/11/1954
Confirmation of the decision to disband Supporters’ Club and hand over assets to the Bath Club. The Bath Committee very much deplored this decision and agreed that any money so handed over should be put aside in the hope that the Supporters’ Club may be resuscitated in the near future.
Alf Ball tendered his resignation as ‘Trainer-cum-baggage man’ due to domestic reasons. He had been a popular figure for six or seven years, and his presence was sadly missed by officials and players alike.

‘CARPS’ CARPS.
It is recalled that Kendall-Carpenter did not relish playing in this game, and by half-time he told the skipper he had had enough. He actually asked John Roberts to call it off; the skipper was unable to accede to his request!

TOUCH JUDGE GETS A BLACK EYE
Team Secretary and touch-judge, Jack Arnold suffered a ‘shiner’ at the Gloucester match. No, it wasn’t an irate
‘Shed’ supporter: “Jack, watching the flight of the ball into touch, bumped into Roy Collins, hence the injury. Jack considers Kingsholm must be his unlucky ground. The last time he played there he was kicked in the eye.”

MANCOM 13/12/1954
Messrs Marsh, Sheppard and Wilkins appointed baggage men to the 1st, United and A XV’s respectively.
Mr. Norman Halse to be responsible for the ordering and maintenance of medical supplies.
The three fifteen’s captains co-opted to Grounds Committee. Any decision on match cancellation of transfer to alternative venues, to be in the hands of Grounds Committee

Ken Wilcox decided to hang his boots up.
The Committee expressed its thanks to Alf Ball, who had rendered splendid service as baggage man. He had been popular with everyone and who would be difficult to replace.
Congratulations to Pat Hill of the ‘A’s, who was to captain Somerset Colts v Minehead Barbarians.

MANCOM 21/2/1955
Recommendation that the Club be closed down between May 11th – 21st during the staging of the “Battle of Trafalgar” pageant. The Clubhouse, Flowerpot stands and the loudspeakers to be made available for the sum of £50. (Players asked to act as oarsmen , but had to decline as they were away on French Tour))

Contemporary comment – A GRAND OLD MAN OF RUGBY
Mr Tommy Davis who is now 83, has long been connected with Rugby at Bath, and he holds a record which few, if any, can emulate.

Last Saturday’s game at Bristol was the 126th official encounter between the two clubs, and Mr. Davis who is still as keen as ever about the game, has seen 125 of them.
The only one he missed was in the middle 20’s, when he was ill in bed, he told me at the Memorial Ground last week. When he heard that Bath had won that match, he said, he felt like getting up and celebrating immediately.

MANCOM 7/3/1955
Re Proposed purchase of the Recreation Grounds by Bath City Council.
The Recreation Ground Company sent a copy of a letter from the Town Clerk stating: “I shall be glad if you will accept this letter as an assurance on behalf of the Corporation that there is no intention on the Corporation’s part if the purchase is completed, to restrict or interfere with the rights and privileges enjoyed by the Bath F.C. under their existing lease of part of the Recreation Ground.”

Angus Meek (destined to eventually be a Club Captain and President) played his last game before joining the army for National Service. To commemorate the occasion, United skipper Bob Ball invited Angus to take the kick-off.

MANCOM 28/3/1955
The terms of the Club’s Lease had been examined, and it was quite clear that the Club was entitled to retain possession, subject to continued compliance with the covenants and conditions contained in the lease until September 1982.
Committee agreed that in view of excellent service rendered as Captain of the ‘A; XV, Mr. Fred Carey be presented with a club badge.
Programme commented on falling gates attributed to televising of International matches.

MANCOM 28/3/1955
The terms of the Club’s Lease had been examined, and it was quite clear that the Club was entitled to retain possession, subject to continued compliance with the covenants and conditions contained in the lease until September 1982.
Committee agreed that in view of excellent service rendered as Captain of the ‘A; XV, Mr. Fred Carey be presented with a club badge.
Programme commented on falling gates attributed to televising of International matches.

Football Herald 2nd April 1955
Fred Carey, the popular captain of Bath ‘A’s had been singularly honoured with the presentation of a Club Badge. It was in recognition of his work both as a Committeeman, but also his dedication to bringing on youngsters through the Third XV. No one would have begrudged him the award.

Another newcomer to Bath was G Dawe, a young centre who played for the United against Newport H.S.O.B.
He is a Cornishman from Redruth. He was recommended by Kendall-Carpenter, and looked a useful acquisition for Bath.

MANCOM 4/4/1955
It was agreed to inform the Recreation Ground Company of several points to be considered before any decision on purchase of the Ground.
Mr. Crane to ask the Council the price offered.
The Club sought solicitor’s advice on:-
1. Whether under the landlord and Tennant’s Act we shall be able to demand (an extension) a further lease at the termination of the present one
2. Whether it would be advisable to surrender the present lease and take over a new one for 99 years.
3. Whether the Club should press for an option of a new lease from the termination of the existing one.

MANCOM 13/4/1955
A letter received from Somerset R.F.U. confirmed their support for any Club request for an R.F.U. loan.
A letter from Cartwright Taylor & Corpe stated:-
1. If the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954 was still in force in 1982, a new lease could be demanded.
2. The question of surrender of the then present lease and getting another for 99 years depended on whether the landlord would agree.
3. The Club’s powers under the Landlord & Tenant Act only provided for a period of 14 years after the expiration of the then present lease.
4. An option to renew at the end of the present lease would not seem worthwhile.

Mr Arnold Ridley deputed to attend the R.F.U. Annual meeting on July 1st.

IN MEMORIUM
At 6pm on the evening of the 25th April 1955, the Archdeacon of Bath held a short service to dedicate a wall plaque placed on the wall of the Clubhouse to the memory of the many rugby players of Bath and District who fell in two great wars.

That week, Guy Addenbrooke (formerly Swansea and a Welsh Trialist) and Jim Vaissiere had signified their intention to retire.
Later, Addenbrooke “sportingly” agreed to Captain the United XV during the following season