BGS Hockey XI 1965-1966

In early October, 2025, Richard Edwards set the ball rolling by posting this photograph taken in 1965/1966 of the very successful BGS Hockey XI. There were still a few names missing when it was forwarded to Mike Upton. In his reply, Mike opened with “I could have been in the photograph but . . . ”

That story is told below; first comes Mike’s announcement:

Back row

Mike ‘Bob’ Robinson (affectionately known as Fruitgum); Richard Edwards*; Rob Breckles, retired vicar – played for South Nottm; Peter Gouldthorpe (centre forward) who married a Swede and lives in Stockholm with family – Peter took my wife and me around the sites when we visited 10 years ago; Brian Jones (right half) lived on Cairncross, I walked to school every day with him and Keith Hale who married Carole Deeman; Keith Hale (centre forward) metallurgist who played for Chesterfield HC – saw him regularly when I was umpiring; Alan Barr (inside right) who went on overseas voluntary service after BGS; Duncan Hunter – first BGS scholar to go to Oxford, became merchant banker; John Ewan – RI teacher who stopped me playing hockey for school and never told me I had been selected for the County Schoolboys.

Front row

The first is only one I cannot remember but must have been right back; Rod Knight (right wing) and best pair with Alan Barr I ever saw – think he played for South Nottm); David Fox (left wing) who shared the position with me – became headmaster up north – Manchester?; Chris Allard (goalkeeper) – talented pianist who, one wet lunch-time, played jazz duets with Brian Jones on the School Hall piano and entranced the pupils; Mike Davis (centre half) – joined RAF and became a very senior officer and Secretary? of RAF Hockey Assn; Mick Leahy (left half) who hated his nickname ‘crutch’(no idea), was competent cricketer with Wilsons, sadly, he died some years back.

“I could have been in the photograph but . . . ”

You may be aware that my mother died in November 1964 at which time I was one of the few sixth formers playing in the school hockey team with Hunter, Edwards and Breckles. In the following year, I was the regular centre forward and was selected for the County trial, where I impressed, scoring a few goals.

On one Saturday in December 1966, my father was due to be remarried and asked me not to play in the morning home fixture so I decided to go just to support the team. A few days later, Richard Edwards, who was captain, told me that John Ewan was not happy that I did not play thinking I was just not interested. Richard told me to tell him the reason I could not play but I declined to do so – again in my irresponsible period. I was then dropped from the team for the rest of the year and was told later that I had been selected for the County but John had told them I had stopped playing.

Long story and all due to a misunderstanding and lack of communication on both parts. Fortunately, it did not prevent me from later captaining the County 2nd XI against Warwickshire and Yorkshire. Soon after I started umpiring and achieved a reasonable level umpiring England indoors and selected to umpire GB in their last training weekend before they won gold in 1988 and I was also selected to umpire inaugural National League matches. Not too bad!

Extra notes

* Richard Edwards went on to the Universtity of East Anglia where in his final year he scored the winning goal in the UAU final versus Newcastle University – a screaming under-cut shot that hit the top of the net.