1957-1958 ANECDOTES

1957-1958 AECDOTES
MANCOM 6/6/1957
Major Lance Wardle, acting for the Club, explained the legal position reference the sale of Lambridge Meadows. Resolved:-
1. That the Club offer to purchase Major Longrigg’s shares and any question of the final purchase be left to a further Committee Meeting.
Major Longrigg to be informed that the Club intend to use Lambridge during the 1957/58 season, and that an offer of approximately £4000 be made for the ground.
2. Major Wardle instructed to get the opinion of Queens Council if necessary.

Mr J W P Roberts again elected as Club Captain.

MANCOM 21/6/1957
The Hon. Sec. was instructed to inform the Bath Combination that a small sum of money was available to Bath Junior Clubs on application, and proof of necessity. Each application to be treated on its merits.

AGM 28/6/1957
E F and H J Simpkins elected to act as Joint Honorary Secretaries.
Blazer Badges awarded to:- F Book, P Dart, J Dolman, I Balding, F Harrison, D Silk, I Smart, T Stones and J Wood.

MANCOM 5/7/1957
Captain S L Amor thanked for gift of 15 guineas to be used towards purchase of shorts for the 1st XV. This followed previous comment on the poor state of the playing kit. A sub-committee of Messrs. Ball, Halse, Roberts and Vassiere, was formed to inspect and report back before the start of the season.
Selection Committee:- W Bascombe, J Arnold, N Halse, W V Smith, J Vassiere.
Mr. N (Curly) Halse was again made O/C Medical Supplies.

MANCOM 22/7/1957
Major Wardle informed that the Club did not wish to make a formal offer for the Horse Show Ground, but wished to be kept informed if any other offers made.
The Chairman reported that a certain Vice President had asked permission to wear the Club tie, and that the privilege be extended to all Vice Presidents with three years service. Committee’s decision was that the privilege could not be extended.
Oldfield Old Boys had asked for financial help, and request passed over to the Memorial Committee, who had power to act.
Agreed that paid stewards should be employed on all gates in turn.

MANCOM 29/7/1957
Admission charges revised to 1st XV Ground 1/6, Enclosure 2/-, West Stand 3/-.
United XV Ground 1/-, Enclosure 1/-. West Stand Transfers 6d.
Old Players season tickets 1 guinea. Special entrance for Old Age Pensioners.

17th August 1957. News that John Dingle was re-joining Bath from Bristol. His impact on line-out play was to be immediate. Unfortunately, his playing career was cut short through injury.
Announcements that David Bogie, Cambridge, had joined Bath. Pat Hill was back from National Service, Brian Davis had stepped up from Old Edwardians. Full-back Barry Richards had re-joined and was in training. Roy Farnham had joined from Avonvale. Fred Book was again available, and was unquestionably the most improved forward of the previous season. John Wood had left to join Cheltenham Club.

7/9/1957 v North and West Wilts, Home, Won 26-14. B Richards, F Harrison (T), A Guest, R Farnham, J Dolman (T & 4g & 1pg), B Weston, P Dart, J Roberts, D Bogie, F Thomas, J Dingle, J Tomlinson, R Blackmore (T), B Peasley (Tx2). Be-sporting their new jerseys and shorts, it was largely a ‘dress rehearsal’ for the new season.

MANCOM 9/9/1957
A price quotation of £7 for 3 Goal Poles received from Forestry Commission.
It was noted that the polishing of the George Roberts Memorial Clock was well in hand.
Grant of £20 made to Oldfield Old Boys R F C.
BACK ROW PROWESS?
“The ease with which the Services outside-half Jones was allowed to dictate the pattern of play cannot be wholly attributed to his brilliance.
His tactical brain worked overtime and his elusive running on the day in a class of its own, but still the Bath defence must be blamed for not making every effort to curb the man who can almost be said to have beaten Bath single handed.
The principle reason in the past why Bath have been able to hold and very often eclipse sides very much more superior on paper has been the excellence of the side’s back-row players.
Alec Lewis, Kendall-Carpenter and Ian Beer are better known examples of this Bath speciality-a speciality which has more bearing than any other aspect of modern football, many believe.
The back row can obliterate half-back pairings, starve penetrating centres of possession and virtually prevent wingers from taking an active part in the game.
That had often been the Bath secret of success; it is not a criticism of play, but more a commendation of the correct tactics with limited resources in attacking departments.”
(Ian Todd – Football Herald & Chronicle 28th September 1957)
ON THE TELLY
A B.B.C. West televised film was the first to be taken by a Regional cameraman. The honour fell to Bath’s own Bill Morris, and would run for half of the five minutes TV coverage, with commentary by Tom Salmon.

Combe Down selected youngster Brendan Perry at fly half. It was obvious that he had inherited a share of the ability of his late father Idris Perry, a Combe Down stalwart. Brendan went on to win England Caps at all schools levels, became a long serving Bath player, Club President, Life Member, and father of Matt Perry of England fame. Idris’s pride would have been boundless!

MANCOM 23/9/1957
BBC offered donation of 10 guineas for the privilege of filming the Devonport Services game.
Agreed, Financial assistance be given to Bath Ex-Schools XV. (5 guineas donated)

The side possibly benefited from playwright Arnold Ridley’s detailed pre-match briefing – a service he was pleased to provide for any Bath visit to a London Club. “And when it was all over there are usually ‘a few notes on the game’ for Mr. Jack Arnold, the team secretary.”
Add to this the availability of centre stall seats for ‘The Ghost Train, ‘ Arnold Ridley never wavered in his loyalty and support in the Bath Club’s affairs.

Following this, his last game, long serving forward John Dingle announced that on medical advice, he was forced to retire from rugby. He first played for Bath in the 1946-47 season and had played 130 games for the 1st XV. John had suffered two head injuries, leaving him concussed and with split vision, which had kept him out of the game for nearly 18 months.
NEWS CHRONICLE 5th October 1957
Club stalwart John Roberts had moved to live in Box. His Wiltshire qualification was immediately recognised, and at the age of 36, he gained his first County Cap for Dorset & Wilts, under the captaincy of Ian Beer.
Ian Balding was in a bit of a rush, getting to this Thursday evening game. At 4 p.m. he had been riding ‘The Quiet Man’ at Wincanton. Ian wasted no time, and brought his mount in, for a winner at 100-8! The previous year, Ian had been successful with the same horse at Aintree.
MANCOM 21/10/1957
It was reported that a professional soccer player had been training on the Rec., and using Club facilities. It was agreed to discourage this practise.
News that Gio Sidoli, “the India rubber” scrum-half, who would normally turn out at any time -anywhere, was finding it difficult to get away from work in time for Bath games. “Gio, the man with an ever ready supply of practical jokes up his sleeve and a wisecrack for every occasion will be missed as a great clubman.” He was joining Bristol district club, Old Redcliffians.
Fred Book and Gordon Drewett gained their first County caps against Cornwall.

Paddy Sullivan, making a one match ‘come-back’ appearance, reduced the arrears with a penalty.
Sullivan had, to all intents and purposes, retired from first class rugby after an injury against Northampton in 1956.
Paddy started his rugby with St. Mary’s O.B., and migrated to Bath when he failed to secure a regular place with the Bristol Club. Our gain was their substantial loss, as Sullivan was to remain a long serving, loyal servant to the Bath Club, and make the full-back spot virtually his own.
“Always an exceptional positional player, and fearless at the feet of the forwards, he was always popular with the crowd on the Rec., and he seemed to have the happy knack of dodging oncoming opponents with ease, and sending a long screw-kick into touch. He seldom missed.
But he was not, by any means, merely a defensive player, for he never neglected an opportunity to come up with his three-quarters or to dash up to take a snap drop kick at goal.” He was, perhaps, ahead of his time in this respect.
His main asset, however, was his prodigious goal kicking ability. Over nine seasons, he played 185 games for the 1st XV and amassed 612 points (147 conversions, 98 penalties, 3 tries and 5 drop goals)
He was as popular off the field, as he was successful on the field. His was a Rugby career to be proud of.

MANCOM 12/11/1957
As Treasurer, Mr. Holmes thought the supply of two jugs of beer to visiting players was rather an expensive item, and consideration left with Social Committee

MANCOM 18/11/1957
Mr Les Moores to be responsible for two balls allocated to ‘A’ XV. In view of the number of balls lost recently, it was decided that a ball boy would be positioned in the ringside seats of the West Stand.
News that Brian Weston had been selected for his Oxford Blue on 10th December.

MANCOM 27/1/1958
Hon. Sec. reported that the Horse Show Ground, Lambridge would be offered for sale by Auction at Fortts, Milsom Street on 5th March 1958 at 3pm.

Walcot advised that they were quite willing to release C Hemmings to play for Bath, under the terms of the Bath Combination agreement.
BEFORE THE GLOUCESTER GAME, both teams lined up in the centre of the field, in memory of EDDIE SIMPKINS, the Bath Honorary Secretary, who had died the previous Saturday, and also in memory of those killed in the MANCHESTER UNITED air disaster.

MANCOM 10/2/1958
Members stood for a moment’s silence in memory of the late Honorary Secretary, Mr. E F Simpkins. The President and Chairman spoke in glowing terms of Mr. Simpkin’s forty years service to the Club. A suitable memorial was discussed.

AN APPRECIATION OF “EDDIE” (Extracts)
Mr. Arnold Ridley wrote to the Chronicle: “…..let us remember him in his lighter moments-moments just as valuable as any. For he was no careless comedian seeking an easy laugh; his jokes pointed morals, his buffooneries had purpose.”
And later: “Then it was that one met the real Eddie Simpkins-an Eddie unknown to those whose knowledge of him was only gained from grandstand seats on the Recreation Ground.
Were we downhearted? No!
He made it his business to see we weren’t; leading us in a rendering of ‘The Three Crows’ on the departure platform, scurrying around to find us food and drink, or listing ‘schools’ for ‘Farmer’s Glory’ and pontoon, or starting one of his complicated practical jokes which would soon have everyone rolling with laughter, depression, weariness, hard knocks and bruises all forgotten.
And his humour was as clean and his jokes unbarbed, wisdom with wit and laughter without malice.
No wonder his popularity was as great as it was universal. No wonder that, when one entered rugby circles, either in London or in the provinces, the first question one had to answer was, ‘How’s Eddie Simpkins these days?’
He was a man of principle, a man of courage, a student of the game in every phase and, above all, a good companion.”
MANCOM 31/3/1958
After Jim Vassiere had questioned the legality of Major Longrigg’s action in removing the buildings from Lambridge, the Secretary was asked to bring the relative correspondence to the next meeting.
MANCOM 28/4/1958
Bath United congratulated upon winning the Somerset Sevens Cup. Secretary to write to their Captain, Dave Robson.
Harold Crane reported that Stan Bailey had presented the Club with a piano.
Agreement that a plaque to the memory of E F (Eddie) Simpkins be placed in the Clubhouse.
MANCOM 30/5/1958
Resolved to write to Major Longrigg to ascertain the minimum figure he would accept for sale of Lambridge. It was further agreed to sound out the R.F.U. regarding a possible loan.

Players unanimously elected G F Drewett as Club Captain for the coming season.
MANCOM 16/6/1958
An independent valuation of Lambridge, to be carried out before any further negotiations.
With regard to a Memorial Plaque to the memory of Eddie Simpkins, the estimate from Frome Metal Workers was accepted. Mr. Vassiere reported that the Old Players’ Association wished to subscribe towards the cost.