October 2016 Links

The Club www.oldruts.club

Cricket www.oldrutscricket.org.uk

Football www.oldruts.co.uk

Rugby www.oldrutsrugby.com

Old Rutlishians’ Association

Orbit

Newsletter

Dates for your diary Sat 26 Nov

Past Presidents’

Dinner

Sat 10 Dec

7pm General

Quiz Night Sat 31 Dec

New Year’s Eve

Dinner upstairs Disco downstairs

Sat 11 Mar Association

Annual Dinner

Another month, another function.

The Old Rutlishians’ Golf Society

(ORGS) kindly invited me to its

autumn meeting, which took place at

Reigate Heath Golf Club. A fine

venue and lovely weather only added

to the occasion.

A good turnout of both Old Ruts,

guests and our club sponsors Finch &

Co, ensured that the competition for

the Autumn Cup was fierce. Prizes

seemed to come from all directions,

from nearest the pin, to who could

do up their shoes unaided. Given the

average age of over 70, a very

enjoyable day was had.

Due to a clash of fixtures, I was left

making a dash from the golf back to

the Clubhouse for the end of season

cricket dinner and ‘meal number 2’.

Some 70 players and guests enjoyed

an evening of food, drink and

speeches in equal amounts.

Among the highlights of the evening

were the club awards. Clubman of

the year went to Peter Day and

‘player of the season’ went to our

overseas Aussie, Tom.

It was good to see that the cricket

section, after a difficult year, still

has the spirit and enthusiasm that

will ensure it will only go from

strength to strength.

With golfing being the theme of

October….The President’s team

played the ORGS at Leatherhead Golf

Club. A slightly one sided match

resulted in the President’s Team

winning 5 ½ to ½. However, both of

the nearest the pin prizes were won

by the Old Boys, with Brian Cox and

George Gilmore taking the honours.

Our President writes The month’s Presidential activities

also included a birthday celebration

for Mr R.B. Coyle who was 90. He

was Headmaster at Rutlish School

during the 1970’s and 1980’s. Many

of the teachers who were at Rutlish

during that period also attended,

and it was great to see so many old

faces from my formative, or not so

formative, years at Rutlish.

Darrell Semikin

President,

Old Rutlishians’ Association

Next Edition

w/c Monday 28 November

Send contributions to oraorbit@hotmail.com

by Monday 21 November

President Darrell Semikin limbers up for double dinner day.

Our Chairman writes

Blazers!

The observant among you will have

noticed a group of sartorially elegant

gentlemen are now sporting the new

Club Blazer which, after a long wait,

has now arrived from Portugal. Our

country’s oldest ally has certainly

done us proud in producing a

garment that is fast becoming the

thing to be seen wearing. The Club

Badge alone has over 20,000 stiches!

Here Phil Rumbelow proudly wears

his at a recent home fixture. We still

have a few left, so if any Member

would like one please contact me for

further details.

Membership price increases

On 1 January 2017, the Association’s

Annual membership subscription will

increase from £25 to £30 and the Life

membership subscription will

increase from £250 to £300.

If you wish to pay the lower rate

please ensure our Membership

Secretary (Graham Mills) has your

subscription before 31 December.

Geoff Aldis

Chairman

Phil Rumbelow models the newly arrived Old Ruts blazers. [Top marks to the photographer for capturing how effectively the vertical stripes appear to enhance one’s length—Ed ]

12 October 2016 Dear fellow Rutlish pupil ‘Platinum Lunch’ Saturday 23 September 2017 After some input from attendees at the recent ‘Platinum Lunch’ I have decided to make a few adjustments: The lunch with be open to all attendees of the School from 1973 onwards, i.e. 55 years of age or older; The lunch will be prepared by Pat Keene; The lunch will comprise a soup served at tables, help yourself multi choice hot and cold buffet, a range of

deserts, cheese & biscuits & coffee served at tables – very similar to the food at our VP’s lunch; The lunch will take place at the clubhouse on Saturday 23 September 2017. The bar will open at midday with

the luncheon commencing at 1.00pm. There is an excellent wine list available at the bar. Unfortunately it is not possible for you to bring in wine and pay corkage.

The price for the lunch will be £27.50. The President of the O.R.A. will represent the Association at the lunch and the Head teacher Mr. Williamson will update the lunch attendees of the School’s progress over the last twelve months. It would be appreciated if you would complete and return the acceptance slip at the bottom of this page to arrive not later than 30 June 2017. Cheques payable to me please. All slips returned with the correct information. No cash paid to me at the bar please. And please before the June deadline. Can you please do this as this year I received a number of entries quite late and it takes the fun out of organising the event. I very much hope I will have the pleasure of seeing you on the day. Regards Peter A. Norrie, 14 Glebe Place, London SW3 5LB. E-mail Peterapan@aol.com Please return to Peter A. Norrie at the above address

OLD RUTLISHIANS' ASSOCIATION (Founded 1906)

The Clubhouse, Poplar Road, Merton Park, SW19 3JS

Telephone 020 8542 3678

Full Name:

School year of entry:

I will attend the lunch on 23 September 2017 Yes / No

Cheque for £27.50 payable to Peter A. Norrie Yes / No

School House:

Tel no.

email

With great regret, we learned of the

death of Adrian Adcock.

Lacking invention or subtlety it was

inevitable his peers would refer to

Adrian as Ada and this name stuck

with him for all his Rutlishian years.

Ada had physical presence from a

young age and many will remember

him as a fearsome prefect and

Roman House captain. A good all

round sportsman who was a key

component of successful school

cricket and rugby teams he carried

these skills into the OR field of play

and was a popular member scene at

Poplar Road in the 1960s and 70s.

Ada was an opening bowler who

steamed in off a long run in his

youth and formed a formidable

partnership with Babs Clark. Later

on he decided he would have a

longer career by cutting down his

run up and his pace. Ada was a key

member of the 1st XI. As his pace

reduced, his beard and voice

increased and he thoroughly enjoyed

the exchanges of views he had with

opposition batsmen. “Sledging” was

in its infancy and a great deal more

subtle than the continual noise

which besets current cricketers.

After the game whatever the

outcome Ada was always at the

centre of the social scene and

thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie

of the dressing room and bar.

Back problems meant Ada spent his

latter years at Poplar Road in the

lower sides and Ada’s Admirals were

founded to accommodate the

growing numbers of players in the

1970s. This team, volubly captained

by Ada, and the Strollers provided an

excellent link for young school

players to make the transition to

club cricket in the days before the

Old Ruts had a junior section and

ensured a regular supply of new

blood. Ada also did his stint of

committee work and was Cricket

Club Chairman before work

commitments took him away from

Merton Park.

Ada enjoyed the support of Pauline

and the family who were part of the

social scene and the thoughts and

condolences of many go out to them

at this sad time.

David Doerr

Adrian (Ada) Adcock

(Rutlish 1953-1960)

Professor Stan Richardson

30 November 1925—18 August 2016

(Rutlish 1937-1945)

If you don’t know already, then it’s

my sad duty to tell you that the Old

Ruts has lost one of its oldest and

most distinguished life members,

Professor Stan Richardson, who died

on 18 August at the age of 90.

Stan was born on 30 November 1925

and was at Rutlish - a Roman - from

1937 until 1945 when he joined the

army.

I remember him during the wartime

years as school captain and a fellow

fire-watcher. The school was

manned every night by a teacher, a

prefect and two senior boys because

of the risk of fire-bombs being

dropped. The new science block

had been destroyed early on but to

the best of my recollection the main

school remained almost completely

unscathed throughout the war. Beds

were provided in the classroom

immediately below the staff room.

Fortified by some draught cider from

the off-licence down the road one

night, Stan and two others of

us heard the unmistakable creak of

the staircase warning us of the

approach of the Latin teacher, Mr.

Burgess. The two of us nipped

smartly into the next room leaving

Stan to face a clearly displeased

“Bargo” who appeared (as seen

through a crack in the door

(unbelievably) in a nightgown and

nightcap.

“Richardson”, he said, in his

desiccated voice, "what a dreadful

noise. Can’t you keep the boys in

order?”

Stan managed to keep a straight face

while we tried to stifle our

giggles. Later that night something

woke me up. In a nearby bed there

was Stan, fast asleep sitting bolt

upright. “Boys” I heard him say,

“boys, please be quiet - please

boys.” He remembered nothing of

this in the morning.

Stan’s 17 years as an army officer in

REME provided him with a BSc

through the Royal Military College of

Science and a PhD from Birmingham

University. They also introduced him

to Malaya (as it was then) and

Singapore, where he joined the staff

of the University after leaving the

army and after a spell teaching at

the Hong Kong Polytechnic. Now

specialising in Ergonomics,

Psychology and Management, Stan

finally crossed the causeway

between Singapore and Malaysia,

settling down and joining the staff of

Malaysia’s Multimedia University’s

Faculty of Management where, to his

amazement, his contract was

continually renewed well into his

eighties.

Stan never married but, headed by

the Malay family he had “adopted”

in Singapore, he had a wide circle of

friends who would enjoy generous

hospitality at his (deliberately) non

air-conditioned home in Johor

Bahru.

In London a few years ago on a brief

and rare visit, he couldn’t wait to

get back to Malaysia. He hadn’t

exactly gone ‘native’ but, as I

discovered, he liked to drive his car

in bare feet, fast. Almost tailgating a

truck somewhere near Kuala Lumpur

no more than six feet ahead at

65mph in driving rain one day I said,

nervously, “What if he suddenly

brakes?” Back came the confident

reply, “Oh but he won’t”.

That was Stan, my oldest friend.

Dan Zerdin

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The Battle of the Somme

11 November, 7.30 – 9.30pm,

Merton Arts Space, Wimbledon

Library, Wimbledon Hill Road

As part of Remembrance Day

commemorations and to mark the

centenary of the end of the Battle of

the Somme (18 November 1916),

Merton Arts Space will host a FREE

screening of this important

documentary.

Produced and screened in 1916, it

was the first feature length

documentary about war and changed

the way the public perceived both

cinema and film. In the year of its

release around 20 million people,

almost half the population of Britain,

watched "The Battle of the Somme,"

many hoping to see the image of a

loved-one or friend captured on film.

It became of the most popular films

in British cinematic history.

The silent film will be accompanied

by Laura Rossi's orchestral score,

adding to the film’s emotive nature.

Visitors will also have the chance to

view exhibitions displaying research

on the life stories of Merton men who

fought and died in the battle, plus

contemporary newspaper reports.

To book a seat at the screening,

please call: 020 8545 3239/4038 or

email: local.studies@merton.gov.uk.

GOLF The Old Rutlishians’ Golf Society’s

regular Winter Meeting will take

place at Cranleigh on Tuesday

15 November from around 10.00 am.

Would anyone wishing to attend

please let John Cunliffe know.

The ORGS will hold its AGM in

December. In anticipation, Eddie

Breed has penned the few lines

opposite.

Autumn Meeting Results:-

Winner of Golden Bear Cup :

Phillip Harrisson

Runner-up :

Roger Graham

Victor Ludorum ( Spring & Autumn )

Phillip Harrisson

Match Play Winner:

Derek Kean

Runner-Up:

David Doerr

We look forward to you joining us

next year.

John Cunliffe.

( Hon. Sec. )

Ode to ORGS

At the Golf AGM in December, We'll recall the last day of September, With the OR's at play, The rain stayed away - Reigate Heath was a day to remember.

Good golfers may spring some surprises, (With OR's that seldom arises!). With skill and decorum, Our Victor Ludorum, Philip Harrisson, won both the prizes !

In the forty odd years that he's run it, Derek Kean has been there and done it! NOT the old Knock Out Cup (but before hips lock up) He went out this year and he won it!

Our fine guests were nobody's fools. (But they went to the wrong kind of schools!). The points that they scored should have swept the prize board, (Our committee just changed all the rules!).

With little or no melodrama, Kathryn appeared (What a charmer!). So there on the tee, our First Lady you see - The equal of Michelle Obama !

The meal was a vision of plenty, With vegetables crisp and 'al dente'. The standard then falls, when our brave Captain calls, For "New balls for El Grande Presidente!"

In the Clubhouse, Hon. Sec. did his duty; John Cunliffe's rhetoric was fruity ! To no-one deferring, his talent for stirring Far exceeded his personal beauty !

To all Old Ruts golfers,I say, Does your outlook appear somewhat grey? OUR DAY will be sunny! So, give us your money. Pine Ridge is the venue in May!

Eddie Breed

Part one of Homer’s epic guide to the MONCs’ odyssey to Porto.

Friday featured flight arrivals and a failed curry in the Old Town which took lots of effort to wash away.

Saturday was gloriously sunny and the MONCs who found the breakfast room enjoyed pasteis de nata. CP, wide awake at 8:30 was fast asleep again by 10:30. The MONCs trooped off for a tram ride to the coast, where four braved the frighteningly freezing Atlantic’s effects.

CP diagnosed Lazarus and gave the miracle cure of chocolate money.

Lazarus consumed €500’s worth and said he felt much better. Juve bit his tongue and said it was a shambles.

Icarus’ star rose on arrival in Fish Street for a lunch of sea bass, squid, prawns, shrimps and crème brulee, all cooked on charcoal BBQs washed down with excellent vinho verde. Words like ‘gooder’ and ‘bestist’ described the MONCs’ ecstasy.

Next on this epic day was a tour of Graham’s Port Lodge and tasting, where the MONCs learnt the history and method of producing vintage and tawny port; visited the cellars to see their own birth year’s supply (CP proudly eyed up the last three bottles from 1850) and finally a tasting in the wood paneled lounge.

Splendid – what could possibly go wrong on this perfect day? ...

RIVERBANK COTTAGE. APPERSETT, HAWES, WENSLEYDALE Ring/email for details, special rates and link to Bonusprint photobook

01325 246553 - john.morgans1@ntlworld.com

-----------more pictures on agency web site - www.countrycottageholidays.co.uk----------

Porto guide (I)