The Cryptian 2022-2023

Life on the Grounds

In the spirit of others here's my post Crypt story: 50 years on. My apologies about the length of this, I'm afraid I got carried away plus I was invigilating GCSEs at a well known Gloucester Grammar School and had some time!

I decided after a summer of working at a sportsground that I wanted to work in a sports surface, horticultural, outdoor environment gathering some relevant qualifications and learning the trade on the way.

After returning in the Autumn to retake Physics I left at Christmas 1970

I began working at the Wagon Works sports ground in Tuffley avenue opposite where I lived in Jan 71 as an apprentice Groundsman. I attended Hartpury Agriculture College during next 4 winters.

Due to a retirement I became Head Groundsman in 1975, a bit earlier than I expected, lots of sports going on, cricket, tennis, bowls, football rugby, athletics, I played them all! I even ran the bar at various times! The annual Gloucester cricket festival was always great fun.

During this time and due to family links I played my club rugby for Tredworth (Junior Cup Final Winners 1974) although initially I played a few games for OC's, also Cricket and Sunday football for Winget. Somehow I managed two county colt caps(ties) Representing Glos Rugby County Colts under 18s. I then discovered the Market Bar, Tracys and Tiffanys!

I married Jenny in 1977, two children, and now three Grandchildren. 43 years married July 2020.

Following the demise of the Winget Group in 1983 I became Grounds Manager at Cheltenham College. As well as the Grounds work I coached a bit of Rugby and Cricket taking teams home and away. I recall that I saw and spoke with Mr Holmes (HM Crypt) on the touchline of a hockey match one afternoon at Cheltenham. The County Cricket Festival being an annual highlight.

A new challenge was needed so in 1989 I moved to Pen-coed a village near Bridgend in South Wales as Grounds Maintenance Manager at Mid Glamorgan Civil Engineering working with them through the compulsory competitive tendering period. A suit, secretary and car job, drawing up maintenance specifications for over 300 plus schools, college's and Unis putting together individual Sports and Grounds contracts for each site, tendering for the work, winning it and then providing the service. Win, win for all!

In late 1993 I decided I wanted to return to the Public School bubble, great budgets, good staffing levels and most importantly Sport regarded as an important part of the curriculum. In July 1994 I moved to Eton College as Grounds Manager, big place, big history, big budget, large staff provision including the Olympic Rowing Lake used for 2012 Para and Olympic games, Gardens, Grounds, Golf course, facilities to dream of, every sport imaginable was played at Eton. I was lucky to go on tours, the stand out cricket one was 33 days in South Africa, 20 plus boys, 4 staff to Joburg, PE, Cape Town, Durban, Pietermarizburg, many flights, many hotels great place. Great wines, Stellanbosh!

I coached cricket for a while, a young Prince Harry Wales played in my T3 under 14 team, he found Cow-corner very easily after being coached by me! Bowled a lot of wides. Don't know what happened to him....

Decided to retire at 60, eventually left March 2016 after a six month notice and a three month handover period, so just 61. I have a bench with my name on it on the first team boundary, please do sit on it and feel free to kick my legs if you ever visit the place.

We had a house on Sovereign Harbour in West Sussex near Pevensey which we kept as a holiday home to stay on the ladder (Had to live in College House whilst working at Eton) lived there until 2018 moved back to Gloucester in the August.

I should also mention that I took up Paragliding in 1997 and flew them all around europe until an accident in Spain in 2002 curbed my enthusiasm, I broke my left femur in several places, 5 operations over next ten years including re-breaking and realignment. Flew again after 16 months but loss of confidence meant that I stopped and sold the flying gear much to my family's delight.

Many mostly happy years enjoying quite an active and outdoor working life, always had a dog, still do. Back in Glaws following the Rugby and also going over to see the cricket festival at my old Grounds at Cheltenham College and just generally reacquainting ourselves.

I met a few name drops over the years which I'll use one day if a tale needs telling!

I am enjoying doing a bit of DIY around the house and garden, I have a 51 year old Classic MGB that requires a lot of polishing. Seems funny to think it was built September 1969 and where I was and where we all were at that time. To occupy myself I do invigilation, which was very trying during pandemic but just about manageable.

Lockdown gave me the opportunity to get healthier, fitter and lose weight, lower the BP and try to avoid Diabetes, I lost 3 stones and needed to!

Since returning I see Phil Gates, we had a band once upon a time ��, I've met up with and had a lunch with Jim Ruddy and Phil Carpenter and hope one day to see more of you OC's in the future. I don't think another 50 years is doable��

If you got this far then huge respect to you!

Cheers everyone.�� Stay Safe in these times...

John Taylor