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Home , Army Rugby Union, Eastern Counties 3, Old Colfeians, Whitgift School

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RUGBY FOO1îBALL'i' UNION ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGj'held at the MAY FAIR HOTEL, , on Friday, 13 b JULY, 1956, at 5 p.rn. The following Clubs (512) were represented:- Army 4 Trg. Regt., R.E.· Camborne Mons Officer Cadet School 3 Trg. Bn. R.A.O.tC.. Camp Hill Old Edwardians Western Command R.A.O.C.· Carlisle School of ArtiIIery 26 Field Engr. Regt., B.A.O.R.5. Centymca Welsh Guards Eaton Hall Office~ Cadet School Chartesey School RA.S.C. Bulford 32 Assault Eng. Regt., R.E. Cheltenham Staff College, Camberley 17 Port Trg. Regt.!, R.E. Cheltenham College 67 Regt. R.A. ·1. Chesterfield lst Bn. The Welch Regt. 1 Engr. Stores Depot Chippenham RP.C. Depot & Training Centre 33 Parachute Field Regt., RA. Chipping Sodbury 3 Trg. Regt. R. SignaIs Lubbecke Districtj! Cinderford Colchester Garrison Depot, The Buffs (HCBD) Cirencester 27 Fd. Engr. Regt. R.E. Service~ City of London School RA.C. Centre, Bovington Allhallows Schooll Civil Service 14 Bn. R.A.O.C. Ampthill and DiSVict Civil Service R.F. U. 1st Bn. West Yorkshire Regt. Ashleydown Claremont School London District Aske's School l! Cleve 1st Bn. The Loyal Regt. Badingham College Clifton School of Military Survey Bank of \ Colfe Grammar School Il S.M.E. Regt. Barbarian. Combined Birmingham Old Boys 6 Trg. Regt. R.E. Barclays Bank j Cornwall A.T.C. Army Catcring Corps Trg. Centre Barnstaple . Cornwall County 37 H.A.A. Regt. R.A. Bath Old Edwardians Cornwall Colts RE.M.E. Depot Beaconsfield r Cornwall Constabulary Athletic 6 Trg. Bn., R.A.S.C. Beaumont Collegel Cornwall Technical College Depot S.W.B., WelchRegt. Beckenham· Cotham Park 64 Trg. Regt., R.A. Bedford Coventry 1st Bn. Duke of Wellington Regt. Coventrians 4 (Armt.) Trg. Bn., R.E.M.E. Berkshiré Crypt Grammar School 57 H.A.A. Regt., R.A. Berry Hill Cullompton 9 Bn., RA.O.C. Bickley Park School Cumberland & Westmorland 1st Bn. The King's Regt. Biggleswade 1 Derby . 3 Trg. Bn., RA.S.C. BiIIingham . Derbyshire Union lst Bn. King's Own Scottish Birmingham Welsp. Devon County . Borderers Bishopston Devonport Services 36 Corps Eng. Regt. Blackdonians .. Ding's Crusaders R.M.A., Camberley Blackheath Dorchester 15 Trg. Bn. (Dvrs.), RA.S.C. Bournemouth Dorset & Wilts. 1st Bn. Coldstream Guards Bramley Old Boys Dowty 21 Co mm and Workshop, Bream 1 Dunlop (Coventry) . R.E.M.E. Bridgwater & Al1:Jion Durham County 28 Bn., R.A.O.C. Bristol)' Ealing 7 Trg. Regt., Royal SignaIs Bristol Aeroplane, Earlsdon 1st Bn. S. Lancs Regt. Bristol & District!' Eastbourne 17 Trg. Regt., R.A. Bristol Saracens II Eastbourne College Depot Devon Regt. Wessex Bde. Bristol Schools ~ Eastern Counties 1 Trg. Regt., Royal SignaIs Bristol Y.M.C.A.:. East Midlands Guards Depot, Caterham Britannia Royal Naval College Esher 7 Trg. Bn., R.E.M.E. Broad Plain 1; Exeter 4 Trg. Regt., Royal SignaIs Broughton Park \.: Exiles (Porthcurno) R.S. Wing School of SignaIs Caincross l Falmouth 49 Field Regt., R.A. Cambridgeshire 1 Falmouth One and Ail (i '. l, 1 l '1' 1 1. Fieldings Sports OId Creightonians (London) Finchley London Schools OId Dunstonians Foreign Office Sports Assn. London Scottish 1 OId Edwardians Forest of Dean Combination London Transpor1t OId Elizabethans Georges Brewery London University OId Elizabethans (Barnet) Gloucester London Welsh :j OId Freemen's Gloucester AIl Blues Lord Wandsworth College OId Fullerüins Gloucester Civil Service Loughborough C611ege OId Gaytonians Gloucester Wagon Works Ludlow ( OId Grammarians Gloucestershire County Ludlow Grammar School Old Haberdashers Gravesend Luton '1 OId Instonians Great Ballard School Lydney OId Leamingtonians G.W.R. (London) Lydney Grammarl School OId Leodiensians Guildford & Godalming Lyons , OId Masonians Hampshire County Maidstone OId Merchant Taylors Handsworth Malvern OId Millhillians Harlequin Marling School Old Morganians Harrow May and Baker Old Newtonians (Leicester) Middles brough Old Novocastrians Hastings & Bexhill Midland Bank OId Parkonians Hayle Mill Hill OId Paviors Hayle Albion Minehead Barbarians OId Redcliffians Hayle Colts Moat Old Boys ; Old Redingensians Headingley Moseley Old Rutlishians Hendon Mounts Bay Old Shootershillians Hertfordshire Municipal College of Commerce Old Silhillians H.M.S. Flying Fox Napier Old Surbitonians Honourable Artillery Company Newark Old Verulamians Horfield Athletic Newbury Old Wheatleyans Hornets Newlands OId Whitgiftians Horsham Newport Okehampton Hove Newport (Salop) Oldfield Old Boys Hoylake Norfolk Osterley IlfordWanderers Northampton Paignton Imperial (Bristol) Northampton Scouts Painswick Ipswich North Dorset ~ Park House Jersey North Gloucester Combination Penryn K.C.S. Old Boys North Midlands Penryn Colts Kent County North Shields Penzance County Grammar School Kersal Northumberland Penzance & Newlyn Kibworth Norwich Percy Park Kidderminster Norwich Union Peterborough King Edward VII Nautical N ottinghamshire Pinner College Notts Plymouth Albion Kingsbridge Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire Plymouth Argaum King's College (London) Nuneaton 1 Police A.A. King's School, Worcester Nuneaton OId Edwardians Polytechnic Kingswood Old Boys Old Alleynian 1 Port of London Authority Kodak Old Askean Portsmouth Grammar School County Old Bancroftian : . Prebendal School Launceston Old Beccehamians ' Preston Grasshoppers Leeds Grammar School Old Birkonians Public Schools Wanderers Leicester Old Blues Queen's Engineering Works Leicestershire County Old Bristolians Union Lensbury & Britannic House Old Brockleians R.A.F. Staff College, Bracknell Letchworth Old Cantabrigians 1\ R.A.F. Station, Acaster Malbis Lewes Old Cathedralians R.A.F. Acklington Lewes County School 1 R.A.F. Andover Lichfield R.A.F. Bassingbourne Lloyds Bank Old Coventrians R.A.F. Bawdsey London Hospital Old Cranleighans R.A.F. Bicester R.A.F. Binbrook R.A.F. Worksop Streatharn R.A.F. Bircham Newton R.A.F. Wyton Stroud R.A.F. Cardington R.A.F. Yatesbury: County R.A.F. Catterick H.Q. (Unit) Bomqer Command Sussex County R.A.F. Chigwell " ., Coastal Command Sutton R.A.F. Colerne " " Flying Training Sutton County Gram. School R.A.F. Coltishall Il Command Sutton Valence School R.A.F. St. Eval " " Home Command Swindon R.A.F. Cosford " " Techrtical Training Tamworth & District R.A.F. Cranwell Il Command Thames Valley . R.A.F. Felixstowe H.Q. No. 90 Grou,p Thanèt Wanderers R.A.F. Gaydon Redruth ' Tiverton R.A.F. Halton Redruth Albany 1 Toc H Manchester R.A.F. Henlow Redruth HighWaYj'l Tonbridge

R.A.F. Hereford Richmond 1 Tredworth R.A.F. Honington R.NA.S. Strettorr Trinity School of R.A.F. Hornchurch R.N.E. College ' Trojans R.A.F. Horsham St. Faith Rockdiffe Trowbridge R.A.F. Hullavington Rosslyn Park , Twickenham R.A.F. Kenley Rottingdean Scho,ol. U.C.S. Old Boys R.A.F. Kirkham Royal Grammar School, United Banks R.A.F. Kirton-in-Lindsey . New9as't1e-upon-Tyne United Hospitals R.A.F. Linton-on-Ouse Royal Mannes Corps XV University Vandals R.A.F. Lyneham Royal Naval Collbge (Greenwich) Upper Clapton ·R.A.F. Little Rissington U.S. Portsmouth R.A.F. Locking Rugby. V.C.D. R.A.F. Manby Rugby Welsh Wakefield 1 R.A.F. Marham St. Andrews 1 Wallasey Grammar School R.A.F. St. Mawgan St. Bartholomew' Walsall 1 R.A.F. Neatishead Grammar School Wanstead " R.A.F. Melksham St. Bartholomew'~ Hospital Warlingham R.A.F. Mildenhall St. Columbaj Warrington . R.A.F. Mount Batten St. Dunstan's CoUege Warwickshire R.A.F. Netheravon St. Erbyn's Schooll' Wasps R.A.F. Newton St. George's Hospital Welbeck College R.A.F. Norton St. Helen's Recre~tion Wellington R.A.F. Nuneham Park St. John's Prep. ~,phool, West Buckland School R.A.F. Padgate 1 Beaumont Westcombe Park R.A.F. Pucklechurch . St. Lawrence College West Rerts R.A.F. Shawbury St. Mary's Old BÙys Westleigh R.A.F. Sopley St. Mary's Old BÙys (Lancs.) Westminster Bank R.A.F. South Cerney Salisbury Westoe R.A.F. Spitalgate Saracens Weston-super-Mare R.A.F. Stoke Heath Sheffield Whitecroft R.A.F. Stradishall Shelford Whitgift School R.A.F. Swanton Morley Sherborne Schooi Wimbledon College R.A.F. Swinderby Shooter's Hill sdiool Windsor R.A.F. Syerston Seaford ' Witney & District , R.A.F. Thorney Island Sidcup Wiveliscombe R.A.F. Topcliffe Sidmouth i Wolverhampton R.A.F, Upwood Sir Thomas, RiCh'IS School . Woodford R.A.F. Uxbridge Skegnessl W oodpeckers R.A.F. Warton Slough i Worcester R.A.F. Watchet Snowdown Colliery Worthing R.A.F. Watnall Sornerset County! Wycliffe College R.A.F. Weeton Southern Railway Yarnbury (Horsforth) R.A.F. West Kirby Spartans 1 Yeovil R.A.F. West Malling Stafford , Yorkley R.A.F. West Raynham Staffordshire Union Yorkshire R.A.F. Wellesbourne Stow & District \' Yorkshire Copper W orks R.A.F. Wilmslow Stratford-on-Avon The Notice convening the Meeting was read by the Secretary. The Minutes of the Annual General Meeting heJd on Ist July, 1955, were confirmed and signed. 1 • The Minutes of the Special General Meeting held on 4th November, 1955, were confirm~d and signed. 1 Mr. W. D. Gibbs:- .~ "Gentlemen, the Annual Report has been circuhited but 1 do wish to make reference to the unfortunate death of Lewis Clifford of Yorkshire who was elected ~our President at the Annual General MeetiJ;lg last year. As you know, he took the Chair at that Meeting but seven weeks la ter passed away. Also, during the Season we have suffered the loss of another great sportsman; I~ refer to Jack Haigh Smith whose record in Hampshire and with the Barbarians is known to you aU. We reg~et both their passing very much . . The AnnuaJ Report having been circulated, 1 hope you will agree it is very comprehensive and 1 am accordingly able to make my remarks this evening faidy short. One point which 1 wish to refer to because of the number of queries which have arisen to myself persqnaUy and to the Committee is one which you may wish to discuss later at this Meeting. 1 refer to the increase, in price of tickets. 1 can assure you that the Ground Committee and the Full Committee of the Rugby Union gave very careful thought before putting forward the recommendations now in ypur hands but, being faced with an annual increase of at least f5,000 Rates cou pied with the increased cost of maintenance, 1 think you will be quite satisfied that it is necessary to increase the priee of tickets. 1 only hope that when you go back to your respective Clubs and Counties and you hear criticism . levelled against the Rugby Union in this respect that. you will explain the reasons and the necessity for having taken this step. . 1 The other point which 1 wish to stress is that 1 nave been greàt1y impressed, gentlemen, when travelling around the various Clubs up and down the Country at the very fine spirit and enthusiasm which is quit~.obvious· and prevalent throughout the Country, and while that e'nthusias~ and spirit remains then Rugby Football will continue to be one of the finest games in this Country oi in any Country. ' 1 h~ve· spoken at various Dinners and 1 have alW~YS made a point which has been dear to my heart for many years and, at the risk of repetition, 1 venture to put it forward to you once again, and this is it. There are very many members who over a long period of years haVe received tremendous pleasure from Rugby Football, and it behoves us aU, gentlemen, whether your Club be a \big one, or whether you represent a County, or whether your Club is a small one, to put back into the game of Rugby Football something of what you have.taken out of.it and so· enhance the welfare of the game. 1 refe~ in particular to the services throughout the Country of ·thosepeople who undertake the duties of refereeing and also the other onerous duties which arise in every Club-small or large. This Annual General'Meeting is, if ever there was a Body meeting together, a representa.tive gathering, in my view, of people who h~ve enjoyed the game of Rugby Football, and have and do still put back into our game sorne of the great pleasure:and enthusiasm which has been ta ken out of it. 1 wish to emphasise how much my Committee and l, personally, appreciate the hard work which Secretaries, Team Secretaries, Treasurers, etc., put into the-running of this great game of ours throughout the land . ., Another short reference 1 wish to make is to the ~electors. We have been fortunate in having Selectors who do a tremendous job of work during the week and dpring the weekends throughout the Country and 1 think we should especiaUy record our thanks to them for the work which they have done and are doing and we hope they will continue to do it. i The only other people to whom 1 wish to refer afe the Secr~iary of the Rugby Union, Colonel Prentice, and Mr. Wright, his Assistant, and those who help them, both on the staff and the Ground. There aretimes, as you all very well know, when deeisions have to be made-e.g. when the ground has to be covered. If it is covered ·and proves -unnecessary, then there is criticism, ~nd if it is not covered and should have been there are people who want to. know why not! We are very fortunate in being served by an International player ·of the past of such calibre as we have in Colonel Prentice; yo'u aIl know his signature even if you do not know him personally, and will wish me to express to him, Mr. Wrjght, and all associated with pim, both on and off the

ground, our appreciation of their services throughout thel past season. . Lastly, gentlemen, 1 come to the Press. 1 should like to say how weIl we are served by the Rugby Press who report our games throughout each Rugby season. 'iWe know them personally and appreciate the fair and able manner in which they carry out their duties. That is aU l have to say, and with y'our permission we will now pass to the next item on the Agenda which is to receive the Accounts for the Season ended 30th Aptil, 1956, and 1 will ask Mr. Ramsay, the Treasurer, ·to speak in this connection." .. .. Statement of Accounts, Season 1955-1956. . 1; The Hohorary Treasurer, Mr. W. C. Ramsay, p~esented the Statement of Accounts for the year ending 30th April, 1956, and moved its adoption. The Ho. Treasurer expressed appreciation and thanks to Mr. Gillespie and Mr. Groom of Gillespie Bros. & Co. the nion's Accountants, for the work they had done during the past year. . Mr. W. D. Gibbs:-

"You have heard the Accounts for the past Seas 1 n so ably presented by the Hon. Treasurer and 1 would like to ask whether there are any questions which any r' presentative present would like to ask. If not, 1 would like to put formally to the Meeting that the Accounts e approved and, at the same time, express io the Hon. Treasurer on your behalf thanks to him for the trem5ndous amount of work which he puts in 100king after the financial affairs of the Union which, 1 am sure, is jPpreciated by all of you here to-day." The motion was seconded and carried unanimOf' sly. Election of Officers, 1956-57.: . . 1 Mr. W. D. Gibbs:- : " This is a task which falls to my lot to conduql before 1 hand over the Chairmanship to the incoming President and in that connection it gives me great pleasure to announce that Admirai Osborne will be the new President for the coming season, there being no other tibminatiOn. 1 think it would be unnecessary on my part to add more than to say that to your knowledge and ine and to the knowledge of the Committee, AdmiraI Osborne is a great sportsman; he has done a great eal for the game of Rugby Football; he took one of the British sides on one of their tours and he has rise to great eminence in his profession, and 1 am sure that the Royal Navy must be very proud that the represent tive nominated is a Member of their Service. 1 declare Admirai Osborne the President for the coming Season, and with his permission 1 ask if we may conc1ude the election of Officers before 1 hand over the hair to him. The next item on the Agenda, gentlemen, is the election of Vice-Presidents, and in this connectio you will know that under our Bye-Laws there are two Vice-Presidents. Although in point of fact they are no~eSignated 'Senior' and 'Junior', it is customary for the Vice-President who has already served a year of offic to become the Senior Vice-President for the following Season and in that capacity, subject to him proving su 'table, eventually to become the President of the Union. We were in a little quandary as to how to present thi to the Meeting. We had the names of Mr. Marshall, who had already served a year as Vice-President, and, ing-Commander J. Lawson; also through Cheltenham and Clifton the name ofMr. Tom Voyce. 1 takeit that itt:S your wish to haveanelection between Wing-Commander Lawson and Mr. Tom Voyce. 1 hope we have accur :tely interpreted your views (agreed) so record that that is the way you wish it to be done. In those circumst, nces 1 put to you that Mr. Arthur Marshall be elected l Senior Vice-President of the Rugby Union. 1 declare t ,' at carried and congratulate Mr. Arthur Marshall on his appointment." .

The nomination of Mr. A. T. Voyce as a Vice-~resident was proposed by Mr. McWatters ofClifton and seconded by Mr. Carpenter of Cheltenham. Wing-COllnmander J. Lawson was proposed by Mr. W. C. Ramsay (R.F.U. Committee) and seconded by Wing-Command 'r Cameron of the Royal Air Force Union. Voting then took place. Mr. W. D. Gibbs:- "The result of the show of hands together with e proxies is as follows:- 1 Wing-Commander J. iLawson 338

Mr. A. T. Voyce 1 225 and 1 accordingly declare Wing-Commander Lawson e ected as the second Vice-President of the Rugby FootbaU Union. In doing so, gentlemen, 1 wish, personally, a' d 1 am sure we all agree, to convey our best wishes to both Vice-Presidents in the future. 1 would like to tha:' k the Meeting for the very orderly fashion in which they have carried out their obligations. 1 wish to thank a Clubs and Counties for their support to me during my period of office and 1 am delighted to hand over the C 'air to AdmiraI Osborne, your new President." 1 i Surgeon Rear-Admiral (D) L. B. Osborne:- i "Gentlemen, it is my first duty and my privilege ;to pay my tribute and to give your thanks to our retiring President, Mr. W. D. Gibbs. Owing to the incapacity 3jnd sad loss of Lewis Clifford who was denied the crowning satisfaction of his football career, Bill Gibbs was faced fith sudden and very heavy responsibility; he was already the President of the Kent and London Rugby Football Unions and he had heavy business commitments, but it was characteristic of the man that he at once flung himself into doing his duty with aIl the vigour which we know to be in him. We who have been close ta him know particularly weB that it has always oèen his anxious desire to be as close as possible to the players and to the game on the field, but 1 would like to tdl you also that he has set a very high example in Chairmanship and in the conduct of our affairs in Committee, not only by his control, which you will have noticed to be outstanding tü-day, but by his forthrightness and good humour which have always been with him. Gentlemen, let us be glad of aIl the good that Bill Gibbs has done for this Union. 1 am thankful and proud, gentlemen, of the honour which you, as representatives of aU our English Clubs, have done to the Royal Navy in electing me as your President for the coming year. It is exactly thirty years ago since that great figure in the history of our game-"71 refer to AdmiraI Sir Percy Royds-became the first Royal Navy President of the Rugby Union and it is interesting that this year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Rugby Union. In my mind, gentlemen, 1 see a great host of old players and Rugby supporters behind you, their representatives at this Annual General.Meeting, and 1 will pledge myself to do my duty and to do aU in my power to serve you well, and perhaps to bring into my service sorne of the spirit which cornes from the Royal Navy and from the 1950 ' Lions' Team which 1 was privileged to manage. By tradition 1 am due to speak more on the future and 1 am going to ask you to give your consideration when you can to three things-the formation of policy, progress in the game and training. As we all know, the Clubs are the founda~ions of the Union but, gentlemen, they are also the deep c1ear springs, from which thought and ideas on our game arise. You are the policy makers and 1 would ask you to try and find time and opportunity in the busy life of your Clubs, to discuss the problems which face the Union, laws, foreign policy, finance, television and many others. By doing this your representatives in the Union will gain experience and ideas which will be reflected in our councils and which will be of great help to us. On the progress of the game my thoughts are much influenced by my experience as Manager of a Touring Team and of the action and reaction following such tours. 1 shall never forget the simple directive from the Four Home Unions to the 1950 and 1955 Teams, given to them by Mr. Watts Moses; this was that they should play open and adventurous football throughout the Tour regardless of results. Gentlemen, 1 believe that the carrying out of these directions in 1950, and again in 1955, during those Tours, will stand out as the truth. As many countries now know, the great progress and spirit in our game can only be achieved this way. If the Clubs believe in this as we want them to do, they will be led, as the Touring Teams were led, to a thorough understanding and knowledge of the Laws and the finding of full satisfaction in playing. It is a case in Rugby Football as in many other things in life, of belief in a cause, and of the moral guts to carry it through. Let us aIl follow our Touring sides who had this belief and so did achieve their object. Finally, 1 want to urge the maximum ofthorough training during this coming season when we have tO,meet the challenge of the Combined South African Universities' team. Although it is not a major side, it is reported there will be nine Springboks in the team, and, further, those who saw the team from SteIlenbosch and çapetown will remember their superb fitness-and be prepared. It may help you if 1 tell of an incident which occurred at one point early on in the 1950 tour; we were concerned as to whether we were doing too much training and we had a long and careful discussion. In the end we decided that we would not reduce the training but that we would double it !- and we never looked back.

~n conclusion, 1 want to strike a serious note; it is this-Rugby is agame we have given to the world. Where we have sown so we have reaped. Let us be proud of this and let us be thankful but let us never fail ta go on giving, go on leading, for that is the true greatness. Thank you again for your confidence in me and for the honour you have done to me and to the Royal

Navy." '> Auditors, 1956-57. Mr. G. A. Wharton (Notts, Lincs. and Derbyshire) proposed the re-election of Messrs. Gillespie Bros. & Co., 43 Chandos Place, London, W.C.2. This was seconded and carried unanimously. The Meeting closed, with a vote of thanks to the Chair, at 6.20 p.m.