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T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 0
the side's top score of 16. However, if Geoff thought he could
now go and put his feet up - having been on the pitch for over
four and a half hours - he was mistaken, as he was then required
to 'run' for Robin Baker, who had played (and bowled) despite
back problems.
Both Neil Jervis and Robin looked relatively comfortable, but the
inevitable happened, as following a 'mix-up' with the runner, all
three batsmen ended up at one end, and Neil was run-out for 5.
There were no such dramas with no. 10 Tim Westbrook, but
soon after Robin was caught at mid-off for our second top score
of 9, and the 'last rites' were not far away. Whilst Don Bewick
looked secure, Tim Westbrook showed us glimpses of his 1970s
batting prowess with two wonderful on drives for four, but when
he repeated the shot aerially, he was also caught at mid-on, and
the game had been lost by 55 runs.
For once, the weather hadn't interfered with the game, and
whilst Epping CC (our fifth opponents for this fixture following
Old Stationers' CC, Old Stationers' & Sahibs CC, Botany Bay
CC and Old Elizabethans CC) were too strong for our depleted
eleven on the day, they played their part perfectly - unlike Old
Elizabethans in 2009 and 2010!! However it is crucial to the
longevity of the fixture that Botany Bay CC (or one or two of
their senior members) 'grasp the nettle' and arrange an Invitation
XI well in advance of the game, and not rely upon getting a side
out in the week before!!
Let's hope our younger and 'regular' cricketers are available in
2015, so we can look forward to competing again - especially as
one of 'my class of 1965' is likely to be next year's President.
Geoff Blackmore
OSFC ANNUAL VETERAN'S DAY REUNION
The Old Stationers' Football Club Reunion took place on
Saturday 11 th October 2014 at the Queen Elizabeth Ground in
Barnet. Among those seen at this Annual Event were Pas
Acierno; Keith Allen; Peter Bennett; Don Bewick; Geoff
Blackmore; Terry Butler; Nigel Clarke; Dave Cox; Dave Deane:
Bruce Donaldson; Pat Dunphy; Dave Edwards; Rudi Ellis;
Dave Gilligan: Mike Hasler: Tony Hemmings; Dick Hersey: Ray
Houldsworth; Marsden Hubbard; John Jackson; Peter Jarvis;
Alun Jeffreys; George Jones; Grant Mathias; Ian Meyrick; Mike
Mote; Geraint Pritchard; Gordon Rose; Mark Tansley; Jacque
Toumany; Vince Wallace; Tim Westbrook; Chris Wilkins.
On a glorious afternoon 33 of the former players turned up to see
teams turning out in the familiar OSFC strip that was worn all
over London from as far away as Bromley (Old Bromleians) and
West Wickham and Carshalton in the South of the Capital to
Kew, Lensbury and Bank of England in the West, Easthamians
in the East and local to Underhill, East Barnet, Winchmore Hill,
Norsemen and Crouch End Vampires in the North not to forget
all the other regular fixtures with teams in between these points.
It is a sad day to remind ourselves that very few actual former
pupils playing has dwindled to one or two these days as anno
domini has taken over. Few of us
ever reached a playing age of 60
years like Jim Townsend and
many did not play till 50 years. If
the youngest pupil at Stationers'
was 11 years old in 1981, the last
year of entry to the first form,
then by a simple calculation in
2014, no Old Stationer, who was
a former pupil, would be younger
than 44 years of age. A number of
Old Stationers' have played in
excess of their 44 years, Mark
Tansley and Liam Gallagher to
name two. I now await all those
who reached this milestone to
notify the Editor so that a
comprehensive list can be
collected for a future article in
this publication.
Saturday 11th October 2014 - Queen Elizabeth Ground, Barnet
My thanks to Gordon for collecting the names of those attending
today and thanks to PAT DUNPHY for arranging the refreshments
as usual for the Veterans.
GP
A free kick awarded on the 6 yard line looks promising but sails over.
The crowd give a muted response to this set back
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