The Philanderer
Sunday, January 27, 2008
We're climbing Up the Sunshine Mountain.....
Well, here I am writing my blog for the 100th time, a passage lasting nine months, so that's just over two blog entries a week, which seems a reasonable rate at which to write them.
This one needs a special topic then really, so why not another notable anniversary, which will fit very comfortably with what we did yesterday.
Peter Thomas, or Pedro, or Tommy, as he is often referred was yesterday the main attraction at the Twickenham RFC Vice-Presidents luncheon. He was guest of honour because in September 1957 as a 16 year old, he first joined the club. He has been a member ever since.
Pedro did not have a rugby background when he joined, he did not go to any of the local private or grammar schools who played rugby. He was just keen to embrace the ethos, and how lucky Twickenham were that he chose them. He was no star player, but the sort who featured in Michael Greens Art of Course Rugby. He would play anywhere home or away, and for any team. His 1st XV appearances were limited, and he, like me, never featured in a 1st XV picture.
In our day you had to play ten games in a season to qualify for the 1st XV photo, these days it seems that you just need your kit with you when the photographer turns up!!!
Pedro became club steward when his playing days were drawing to a close, and he became chief laundryman and pitch administrator at the same time. He had the ability to remember past players names and always gave a warm welcome to the opposition players and administrators.
Love found Pedro late in life, and his marriage to Chris signalled an end of an era when he stood down as steward. He remains a stalwart of the club and supports the teams regularly on a Saturday. When the tragedy that hit Cirencester Rugby Club during the recent flood occurred, it was inevitable that we thought of the two lost souls. They were undoubtedly the Pedro of their club.
The lunch was extremely lively and a good few glasses of ale were imbibed. Pedro got a unique present to commemorate the event, and we all hope for many years of his company going forward.
It is interesting that Pedro helped to build the current clubhouse, which will be demolished in the Summer. There can't be too many people who have outlasted their own teams facilities in that way.If there were hospitality boxes in the new structure, then I am sure the Thomas suite would sit comfortably with other Twickenham RFC legends, like Lionel Wright, the Wallbanks and Peter Harvey.
This one needs a special topic then really, so why not another notable anniversary, which will fit very comfortably with what we did yesterday.
Peter Thomas, or Pedro, or Tommy, as he is often referred was yesterday the main attraction at the Twickenham RFC Vice-Presidents luncheon. He was guest of honour because in September 1957 as a 16 year old, he first joined the club. He has been a member ever since.
Pedro did not have a rugby background when he joined, he did not go to any of the local private or grammar schools who played rugby. He was just keen to embrace the ethos, and how lucky Twickenham were that he chose them. He was no star player, but the sort who featured in Michael Greens Art of Course Rugby. He would play anywhere home or away, and for any team. His 1st XV appearances were limited, and he, like me, never featured in a 1st XV picture.
In our day you had to play ten games in a season to qualify for the 1st XV photo, these days it seems that you just need your kit with you when the photographer turns up!!!
Pedro became club steward when his playing days were drawing to a close, and he became chief laundryman and pitch administrator at the same time. He had the ability to remember past players names and always gave a warm welcome to the opposition players and administrators.
Love found Pedro late in life, and his marriage to Chris signalled an end of an era when he stood down as steward. He remains a stalwart of the club and supports the teams regularly on a Saturday. When the tragedy that hit Cirencester Rugby Club during the recent flood occurred, it was inevitable that we thought of the two lost souls. They were undoubtedly the Pedro of their club.
The lunch was extremely lively and a good few glasses of ale were imbibed. Pedro got a unique present to commemorate the event, and we all hope for many years of his company going forward.
It is interesting that Pedro helped to build the current clubhouse, which will be demolished in the Summer. There can't be too many people who have outlasted their own teams facilities in that way.If there were hospitality boxes in the new structure, then I am sure the Thomas suite would sit comfortably with other Twickenham RFC legends, like Lionel Wright, the Wallbanks and Peter Harvey.
Labels: twickenham rfc
¶ 5:17 PM 0 Comments
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Swing low, sweet chariot
Yesterday I strolled down to Twickenham RFC to see them play for the first time this season. Their opponents, Stevenage Town, are top of the league and unbeaten. T's are second having lost unexpectedly to Enfield Ignations. I was, therefore, looking forward to an exciting game.
The Twickenham team which took the field was fairly similar to that which got relegated last year. They have a very young side, with one or two older heads. Stevenage, looked more like the proper rugby team with the right shaped people in the key positions. Their front row were traditional fat popos, they had two tall beefy second row forwards and a quick youthful back row. All their three-quarters looked tricky and there was a bit of pace on the wings.
The game itself was pretty scrappy though. Both teams had periods of the match were they could not command possession, and when they did get it, basic handling skills let them down. Stevenage went on to win 22-11 which was a reasonable reflection and it will be no bad thing if T's stay in this league for a few more seasons to gain some experience, and put on a bit of weight!!
The atmosphere in the club was fine, although opposition teams never stay for as long these days, so that was when it became apparent that the Twickenham demographic has become somewhat fractured. Apart from me and a few other supporters in their late '50s and mid '60s there was a definite lack of older members. The 35-50 age group no longer seems to embrace the club on a regular basis. Sure they may have young families or other commitments, but with plans to expand and rebuild the clubhouse, sustaining the community will become a struggle.
Still I am sure the club has had troughs similar to that which it is in at the moment, and hopefully with the right direction from the top, it will soon climb out of it and start to again become a location of choice on Saturday afternoon. Sunday mini rugby continues to be the strength of the club though, I still haven't checked it out this season to see what the level of yummie mummie is. Another time perhaps.
The Twickenham team which took the field was fairly similar to that which got relegated last year. They have a very young side, with one or two older heads. Stevenage, looked more like the proper rugby team with the right shaped people in the key positions. Their front row were traditional fat popos, they had two tall beefy second row forwards and a quick youthful back row. All their three-quarters looked tricky and there was a bit of pace on the wings.
The game itself was pretty scrappy though. Both teams had periods of the match were they could not command possession, and when they did get it, basic handling skills let them down. Stevenage went on to win 22-11 which was a reasonable reflection and it will be no bad thing if T's stay in this league for a few more seasons to gain some experience, and put on a bit of weight!!
The atmosphere in the club was fine, although opposition teams never stay for as long these days, so that was when it became apparent that the Twickenham demographic has become somewhat fractured. Apart from me and a few other supporters in their late '50s and mid '60s there was a definite lack of older members. The 35-50 age group no longer seems to embrace the club on a regular basis. Sure they may have young families or other commitments, but with plans to expand and rebuild the clubhouse, sustaining the community will become a struggle.
Still I am sure the club has had troughs similar to that which it is in at the moment, and hopefully with the right direction from the top, it will soon climb out of it and start to again become a location of choice on Saturday afternoon. Sunday mini rugby continues to be the strength of the club though, I still haven't checked it out this season to see what the level of yummie mummie is. Another time perhaps.
Labels: mini rugby, stevenage town, twickenham rfc, yummie mummie
¶ 11:00 AM 0 Comments
Monday, October 1, 2007
They swim in the sea, we eat them for tea.......
Interesting weekend just past. Our oldest, Tim and his girlfriend Lili, used the house for an engagement party. Interesting guest list which included my present and past wife, and her two ex-husbands!!
Tim, as an only child, seems to have masses of siblings, and all were present for the big event. It all went off well, I think. I behaved myself and got to bed about 2am......not too bad.
They are planning to get married twice, bit like me really! The first will be in Brazil in February 2009, the second in England later in the same year. There seems to be huge interest in going to Sao Paulo so i think they will be surprised by the turnout. It will be Summer there so the combination of a wedding and holiday seems spot on to me.
Talking of holidays, I am just off to St Lucia, to defend my 'Sir Vivian Richards Pro-Am' title around the tricky but very picturesque St Lucia Golf Course. I won it last time with Jeff Crowe, the New Zealand cricketer, and two local members. Jeff is a cousin of Russell, and had just come back form seeing him get married. Jeff plays of 2 so we were quids in really compared with some of the team members. Ian Botham, Sir Gary Sobers, Tony Greig and Chris Cowdrey were playing, as well as the host, and it was a sound day out all round......I am told there is a fair bit of development going on at the moment around the course, and Jack Nicklaus is building a second 18 holes nearby. It will be interesting to see the new club house as well.
I am also playing in the 'Todgers Trophy' overseas edition when I return. This year it is in Portugal, and it is the annual tournament for Twickenham Rugby Club. In true rugger tradition, we have to go as famous Englishmen. That should irritate the Welsh amongst us.
They got knocked out of the Rugby World Cup on Saturday didn't they? To Fiji of all people. The QFstage is now quite interesting. I would take Argentina and South Africa to go through and meet in the semi, which then conjures up potentially four games in which anybody could win. On their day England can beat Aus, and France can turn over NZ. An E v F semi could go either way, as could the SA v Argie one. So we are suddenly looking at an Argie v England final! Who would have thought it a week or so ago?
Tim, as an only child, seems to have masses of siblings, and all were present for the big event. It all went off well, I think. I behaved myself and got to bed about 2am......not too bad.
They are planning to get married twice, bit like me really! The first will be in Brazil in February 2009, the second in England later in the same year. There seems to be huge interest in going to Sao Paulo so i think they will be surprised by the turnout. It will be Summer there so the combination of a wedding and holiday seems spot on to me.
Talking of holidays, I am just off to St Lucia, to defend my 'Sir Vivian Richards Pro-Am' title around the tricky but very picturesque St Lucia Golf Course. I won it last time with Jeff Crowe, the New Zealand cricketer, and two local members. Jeff is a cousin of Russell, and had just come back form seeing him get married. Jeff plays of 2 so we were quids in really compared with some of the team members. Ian Botham, Sir Gary Sobers, Tony Greig and Chris Cowdrey were playing, as well as the host, and it was a sound day out all round......I am told there is a fair bit of development going on at the moment around the course, and Jack Nicklaus is building a second 18 holes nearby. It will be interesting to see the new club house as well.
I am also playing in the 'Todgers Trophy' overseas edition when I return. This year it is in Portugal, and it is the annual tournament for Twickenham Rugby Club. In true rugger tradition, we have to go as famous Englishmen. That should irritate the Welsh amongst us.
They got knocked out of the Rugby World Cup on Saturday didn't they? To Fiji of all people. The QFstage is now quite interesting. I would take Argentina and South Africa to go through and meet in the semi, which then conjures up potentially four games in which anybody could win. On their day England can beat Aus, and France can turn over NZ. An E v F semi could go either way, as could the SA v Argie one. So we are suddenly looking at an Argie v England final! Who would have thought it a week or so ago?
Labels: jack nicklaus, portugal, rugby world cup, st lucia, twickenham rfc
¶ 5:59 PM 3 Comments
