Old Witleian Chronicles

Chris, Michael and Chris, were all School Prefects at King Edward’s between 1959 and 1963. They reunited in the Summer of 2022 where they recounted their memories of sport at King Edward’s as part of this sport focussed edition of Kestrel.

MR CHRIS SWAIN

1956 to 1963, RIDLEY

Sport was a regular part of the curriculum as well as clubs. The School focussed on football and cricket for the boys who were assigned to play almost every day of the week except Wednesdays and Saturdays when we had matches against other schools. Hockey was introduced for the boys, but I don’t remember it was as well organized as the football or cricket was.

The girls were required to play hockey and netball in the Winter and Spring Terms and rounders and tennis in the Summer Term. In 5th and 6th Form, boys were able to play tennis on Saturday evenings with the girls but there was no formal tennis for the boys. During the Autumn Terms, the only permitted close encounters with the girls was ballroom and country dancing in the Big Gym on the Saturday nights after the film had been shown. Ballroom dancing was very popular because of the tight turns with your partner when dancing the quick step. On one occasion, I managed to slip in as a 4th Former and one of the girls, Florence Crooks, taught me the steps to the Waltz! I attended Brunel College of Advanced Technology. In the spring of my second year, I was selected to play for the British Technical Colleges football team. In my last two years at university, I was selected to play for the England University National team. We had a two-week football tour across Iran in 1966, the year the England team won the World Cup at Wembley. This caused some confusion when we arrived in Tehran where many were expecting the England professional side!

I moved to the United States for my career. I returned to university to study for an MBA with Indiana University of Pennsylvania and I worked as the Assistant Coach for the university soccer team. While still at the university I became a professional soccer player, contracted with the Cleveland Cobras franchise. I am a licensed coach through the US Soccer programme and I was an instructor for the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association. I am grateful for sporting opportunities I had while at King Edward’s which allowed me to become involved in sport throughout my life.

MR CHRIS PARKINSON

1957 to 1963, RIDLEY

At the end of each year, we took part in Sports Day where we competed for points that counted towards the Cock House Cup competition. Other sports that counted toward the Cock House Cup were gymnastics, athletics, track and field and even rifle shooting. Basketball was introduced in 1959 and tennis was introduced (for boys) towards the end of 1963. I remember I learnt boxing as a sport in 1st and 2nd Form. We presented a gymnastics display for parents on Speech Day. While at King Edward’s, I was captain of the swim and gymnastics teams and I am honoured to be a part of the sporting history of the School.

After leaving King Edward’s, I received a degree in Economics with joint honours in Politics and I enjoyed teaching for 28 years.

MR MICHAEL O’BRIEN

1956 to 1963, WAKEFIELD

In the late 1950s we played football and cricket and I remember boxing for two years but this was stopped. Pupils were expected to run cross country in all types of weather! The cricket fields at King Edward’s were originally where the main parking area currently is located and they stretched all the way up to the tennis courts. Much of our socialising at school was expected to be done outdoors. I remember our free time on Sundays was for countryside walks only. We were not permitted to have ‘town visits’ to Godalming or Guildford and our movements were restricted to the ‘countryside’.

Chris Swain and I played in the Ladies Glove cricket match against the Royal Yacht Britannia team. The band visited Witley with the cricket team and played music while the School team batted! I ran out an Old Wit playing on the on the Britannia team (Percy Proctor). The next year we visited Portsmouth for the fixture and lost, but we did get to go onto the yacht despite it being refurbished at the time.

One of my lasting memories from my time at King Edward’s was there was a King Edward’s train from Waterloo; it was exclusively for King Edward’s pupils and staff and the School logo was painted on the side of the carriages! This train started in 1956 but sadly, the train was replaced by the main line from Waterloo.

CLIVE CROOK

1959 to 1964, EDWARD

My parents had been club cyclists in the 1930’s and they regularly left London to tour Britain with friends on their holidays. They never encouraged me to ride but I always had a bike. Whilst in the 4th Form at King Edward’s, I bought a road bike from Nicolas Olsen for £9.00 in an attempt to keep up with my friend Roger Collins on his state-of-the-art road bike. There were Sunday afternoon rides from School, returning just in time for tea. Roger organised a memorable Easter cycling trip (my first trip abroad) to coincide with the finish of the Paris-Roubaix Road Race. At the velodrome we hustled the autograph of our hero, the legendary British rider Tom Simpson.

Several years later, when I was an Art Director living in Paris and Germany with my family, we collectively took up mountain biking. Upon returning to the UK, and wishing to continue to cycle, I joined the San Fairy Ann in Kent, our local Cycling Club, joining the Saturday club runs.

In 2020, a club friend had the idea to ride the LEJOG, riding from Land’s End in Cornwall to John o’ Groats in Caithness. Delayed by a year because of Covid, my ride coincided with my 75th birthday. With some trepidation, and dire warnings for my health and welfare from my wife and friends, I signed up to ACT Cycle Tours. I always welcome a challenge, and this was just that! With six months of longer weekend rides in preparation, a new bike, twenty younger riders and I set off on August 1, 2021, to negotiate the significant climbs provided in Dartmoor, Cheddar Gorge, Hart Side, Fleet Moss, and Glen Schee. Once we arrived in Manchester, it rained continuously for 6 days to add to the challenge.

Cycling is a wonderful way to take in the variety of landscape, life, and potholes of the UK. It is all about the journey, is great for mental health, staying fit, for boosting the immune system as well as a memorable way to celebrate a seventy fifth birthday! And it all started for me at King Edward’s.

MRS MARGARET BUCK

1962 to 1966

Mrs Margaret Buck (née Barlow) joined King Edward’s in the Sports department, in 1962. Here she recounts some of her memories around the time she accepted her teaching position at the School and being part of the England Netball Team.

‘I remember my time at King Edward’s as clear as day. In 1952, the school became co-educational and began to admit girls since it’s move to Witley in 1867, only 10 years before I started, and this allowed me to teach and live with the young women at the School.’

Prior to accepting a teaching job with the Sports Department at King Edward’s, I was a member of the England Netball team. I had been selected to play on the team as we travelled across the West Indies and Jamaica. I had a marvellous time playing and our team was a superbly strong team – we didn’t lose one match whilst on tour! Netball has remained a big part of my life; my daughter currently coaches the Wasps Netball team, and my granddaughter is on the England Netball pathway. When I joined King Edward’s, I continued to play netball, but my days were more focused on the pupils and teaching. First, I lived in Copeland, one of the Junior Girls’ Boarding Houses. It is odd to think of this building being dedicated office space now rather than pupil housing! I then moved to live in Queen Mary House (QMH), and I remember meeting the Queen Mother when she visited the School to open Queen Mary House. I had to practice how to curtesy, and to make sure we were all on our best behaviour. While I was at King Edward’s, I learnt to play the French Horn and I was also part of the School choir.

My favourite memory of King Edward’s was being so closely involved in the pupil’s lives and being able to watch them learn and grow. It is a wonderful School and I miss my time there dearly.