Sportsmans Lunch – Whitgift 1st XV v Cranleigh
This year’s Sportsmans Lunch at the School was held later than usual with Christmas pressures possibly being responsible for the lower than usual attendance.
However an attentive group gathered in the VI form common room to listen over drinks to Dan Webb, the School 2nd XV coach, give an interesting and informative overview of the current healthy state of Whitgift rugby.
Our good lunch followed in the Old Library where our main guest, Headmaster Dr Christopher Barnett on his last appearance with us before “hanging up his mortar-board” treated us to a very special Shakespearian themed (Hamlet was playing in Big School) grace, which with his kind permission is reproduced below.
Our other guests, Peter Wylie-Harris and Nick Meyer, resplendent in their striped Old Cranleighian blazers and matching socks also enjoyed the meal. Nick Meyer, as OCRFC President in thanking us for our hospitality, forecast a Cranleigh win, which unfortunately came to pass in a very spirited and energetic game of marvellous schoolboy rugby which the School lost 3-18 in the last game of term.
Ken Nicholas, former School master and rugby coach, was also with us this year and kept a watchful eye on the game from the touchline wearing his prized Leicester tasselled rugby cap awarded to him by Martin Johnson to mark his playing record at the Club.
OW Richard Blundell