Committee Members 1965 - The Centenary Year

THE COMMITTEE AND OFFICIALS OF 1965/66 – the Centenary Year

The President:  B. C. (BILL) BARBER:  Learnt his rugby at Evesham School. Joined the Evesham Club where initially he played at Full Back. Bill came to the club in 1929 having played for the North Midlands from 1926-1928. In the first year he was selected for Somerset and subsequently played for the County for a number of years. Playing mainly as a  Centre three-quarter he later became a successful forward. He became Captain of the club and served on the Management Committee as a member and Chairman. For eighteen years he also sat on the Management Committee of the Somerset R.F.U. of which he was a Patron.

The Chairman:  C.H.G.(CYRIL) BEAZER: Played in the early 1920’s with now defunct junior side, Bathampton. years. He was active in the  Bath club for many years and was honoured with the Presidency and Life Membership. Was the founder of the C.H.Beazer group of companies.

The Honorary Treasurer: C.D.S.THOMAS: Was a comparative newcomer to the club but he had a long association with the game in Glamorgan. He never played in Bath as he retired before he came to the City, but he had skippered Glamorgan Wanderers in 1951, and also played for Glamorgan County  XV in 1948.

The Honorary Secretary:  H.J.F.(JACK) SIMPKINS: Is the son of Eddie Simpkins the late Secretary. He took over the duties of Hon. Secretary from his father in 1957. He was another former Bath player and was a qualified referee

The Honorary Fixture Secretary: J. W .P.(JOHN) ROBERTS: Played for the club 1948 to 1958 and was Captain for five seasons from 1952 to 1955 and in 1956 to 1958 and was reserve in the English Trials 1950/1951.Played for Dorset and Wilts in 1957/1958. And was Fixture Secretary for Bath from 1959. 

  The Hon. Team Secretary: ROGER.BERRY:  Played for the club as a Back row forward. Captain of the “A” XV from 1963 to 1965. 

  Vice Chairman: J.F. (JACK) BEVAN JONES:  a player in the 1920’s  regarded as a top class forward. He has been on the Committee (with a short break) for a number of years.

W.J.F. (JACK) ARNOLD: Played with the club as a fly-half and full back and was a member of the Bath side which brought the Somerset Sevens Cup to Bath in 1947. After retiring he became Team Secretary for a period, and was active on the Committee for many years.He began refereeing, but gave it up in order to keep active in some way with the Club.

J.H.(JOE) BAILEY.:Captain of the club’s 3rd XV from 1948 to 1950. Joe had played for the Royal Navy and was Captain of the Somerset County XV in the 1945-6 season.

R. A.(BOB) BALL: Played for the club for several seasons as a forward, and was a very popular skipper of the United XV in his latter playing days. After his playing days he has become a familiar figure running the bar at the clubhouse.

R.J.(JEREMY) BARBER: Son of the President and a former player.

R.W.(ROBIN) BUCHANAN:  Played occasionally for the Club and assisted the Hon Treasurer the previous season. His first year on the Committee. Was a Chartered Accountant by profession. 

H.J.(HAROLD) CRANE:  A by-word in Bath Rugby circles. He played for St. Stephens RFC and Stotherts RFC prior to the First World War and had played first class rugby before returning to Bath in 1921.  In Ireland he represented  the Lansdowne Club,The Royal Irish Constabulary, Dublin Bohemians and an Army Representative XV in 1918-1919. A long serving  Management Committee member and former Chairman.

B.R.(BRIAN) DAVIS.: Joined Bath in 1955 and played as a hooker until he hung up his boots in 1963.  Was a member of the Selection Committee.

T.W.(TOM) DERRICK: Joined Bath in 1936 after playing previously with Junior clubs Wessex R.E., Walcot O.B. and Bath Harlequins. Served on the Committee for three years.

MOLLY GERRARD: Widow of R.A.Gerrard. Molly was the first woman ever to be elected a President of a first class club which confirmed her popularity and value to the Club. A successful Architect in the City.

E.H.G.(ERNIE) HUGHES: Ernie Hughes was a popular Chairman of the Social Committee. He graduated in the rugby world via Bath Schools, St Marks RFC, Avon RFC and Combe Down RFC clubs and first played for Bath in 1934. His wife was the daughter of the late Cliff Walwin who was tragically killed during a match on the Rec. with Cross Keys just after the First World War.

N.P.(CURLY) HALSE: Was another product of Bath Schools, and was the first boy from the old Ex-Schoolboys team to play in the Bath 1st XV in 1936. His debut was against Old Blues and he went on to play for Somerset and the West of England as a scrum half. A member of the Management Committee from 1953.

A.(TONY) JACOB: An uncompromising second-row forward for a number of years. Local Postmaster at Hinton-Charterhouse.

G.F.(GORDON)(ANGUS) MARGRETTS: The club Captain.

B.J.MARTIN.

A.J.MEEK: Played as a Second Row forward  for the club for some years and was the Captain in season 1960-1961. Also captained the United XV.  Hon Team Secretary from 1963 .

W.E.(BILL)SHORTMAN: Played most of his rugby in junior clubs.  Very active on the Committee for three years

CHRIS SMITH: Played for the club as a forward and was a Committee member for many years. Chaired the Grounds Committee. With his father ran the family potato business.

J.F.(JIM) VAISSIERE: A fine wing forward. Was unfortunate to be playing at the same time as Alec Lewis, John Kendall-Carpenter and David Naylor, but nevertheless he played many games for Bath and also represented Somerset. Served on the Committee for many years and also assisted the Hon. Treasurer.

PAUL VENN: A Second-Row forward who played for the club over a number of seasons.