Alan Harrison (RS 55–63) was inspired by an article in the last newsletter to share his own memories and photographs
The article in the previous edition of the magazine by Geoff Morris inspired me to gather together some of my old school photographs. I was privileged to be captain of the 1963 rugby First Fifteen which brought together a great bunch of lads (Photo 1).
Photo 1 – The 1963 First XV
I thought it was a bit of a makeshift team at the start of the season but was soon proved wrong. The mixture of age and experience and youthful exuberance gelled and we had what turned out to be an unbeaten season.
Photo 3 – Match scores
My mother and father used to collect the newspaper cuttings and a few are collated in the second photograph (Photo 2, end). The match scores are shown in Photo 3.
I was fortunate to be at Rydal during Donald Hughes’ tenure. He took an active interest in all of the sports and even went so far as writing to parents to keep them up to date with the teams’ injuries etc. (Photo 4).
Photo 4 – Letter from Donald Hughes
Sport was a major part of my life at school to the detriment of my academic studies which were pushed into second place. I did, however, manage to catch up later and became a Professor of Dental Care of the Elderly at Bristol University and Head of the Dental School!
Taken in 1962 at New Field, Photograph 5 shows the headmaster keenly watching one of the activities. The other two photos (Photos 6 & 7) show groups of masters probably wishing they were somewhere else!
Photo 5 – The Headmaster
Photos 6 & 7 – The other two photos show groups of masters probably wishing they were somewhere else!
The final group of photos (Photos 8–10) were taken at Colwyn Bay station at the end of the 1962 winter term and show the (then) usual means of departure for home. I expect that these days most would be picked up by car. I hope that any of my contemporaries reading this will be able to recognise some of the faces and perhaps bring back some memories. •
Photos 8, 9 & 10 – The (then) usual means of departure for home
Photo 2 – My mother and father used to collect the newspaper cuttings
