Old Millhillians Rugby Football Club (OMRFC)

A strange season indeed! I am sure we have all experienced disruption, turmoil, change and uncertainty. In our time, we have not experienced anything like this before. Old Millhillians Rugby Football Club (OMRFC), however, has experienced a hiatus on at least two other occasions, most notably during the First and Second World Wars. While this is clearly very different to the experience of those war generations, there are some comparisons to draw.

I was fortunate to attend a dinner a couple of years ago, where Paul Beadle (Ridgeway, 1970-1976) stood up and told the extraordinary story of how the rugby club was restarted after the Second World War by his father Jim Beadle (Ridgeway, 19361940) and his best friend John Bolton (School, 1936-1940). The depth of their friendship, their courage, and their determination to resurrect an institution they loved from the ashes, has meant so many more generations of OMs and their friends have been able to enjoy the camaraderie, joy and the rewards that come from playing our great sport, at any level.

The two boys forged a lifelong friendship during their childhood as boarders first at Belmont and then MHS. At the outbreak of WW2 they both joined separate branches of the armed forces, Jim flying spitfires with Fighter Command in the RAF, John serving with the Royal Navy. Both saw action in different theatres of the War, and by 1944 John was awarded shore leave in southern Italy. At this stage, the Allies were embedded in a fierce campaign to defeat the Axis powers in Northern Italy. Knowing his friend’s unit was engaged in this area, John ‘borrowed’ a transport and set out to find him. Incredibly, he journeyed through an active War Zone, eventually tracking his mate down in San Vito in Northern Italy. During a lull in the fighting, they were able to meet and share a beer, a cup of tea, and wish each other all the best, before parting to re-join their respective units and continue the fighting.

After the War ended, they both realised that there was a profound need to return to normality and for people to experience the fun that was part of everyday life prior to the war. This did not prove an easy task – the country had been through such a devastating experience that many did not believe this was possible. Many rugby clubs folded during this time. However, with the assistance of some of the club’s prewar legends and plenty of resolve, the mission was achieved. OMRFC teams took to the field again in 1946 with Jim Beadle as one of the first post-war Captains.

What struck me most about Paul’s story was the fact that no one expected the Rugby Club to restart. Two world wars had left cities in smoking ruins, families bereaved, separated, displaced, alongside a shattered economy, which meant people did not necessarily believe there could be a return to normality. Whilst the names ‘Spong and Sobey’ may sound like an obscure music hall double act, they were in fact considered to be the pre-eminent half-back pairing in world rugby through the late 1920s and early 1930s. Wilf Sobey (School), the scrum half who delivered lightning service off the base for his half-back partner Roger Spong (Scrutton 1920-1924) who played fly half. They starred for England, the Lions and of course OMRFC. They both toured twice with the Lions: first in 1927 to Argentina, and again in 1930 to Australia and New Zealand. In this Lions year, it is a good time to celebrate two of our greatest ever players. The earliest post-war OMRFC team photo I can find is 1948. Although Jim Beadle is credited as Captain, the man holding the ball is Roger Spong, returning to support his club over two decades since he first laced his boots and strode over the whitewash at Headstone Lane. As we look to restart our rugby club, we can take inspiration from these great OMRFC players of the past. We were very sad to lose two of our great luminaries over this last year, the legendary Jim Roberts (Collinson 19451950) who was an England rugby superstar in the Sixties, and Ray Hubbard (Weymouth 1946-51) who worked tirelessly for our club as a player, and later, on the committee. For our current OMRFC players, largely young guys in their twenties, this has been an emotionally and physically difficult time which they’ve dealt with brilliantly. Great credit for maintaining morale must go to our skipper Oli Avent (Weymouth 2008-2013) and coach Will Wheeler but also to our creative guys on the social media team, Rikki Bhachu and Oli Warren (Weymouth 2008-2013) who keep us all entertained. We have had plenty of banter on the groups, quiz nights over Zoom calls, but we are all looking forward to getting back to our core business of winning rugby matches. We are sorry to lose Oli Warren who is leaving us to pursue new adventures in South America – good luck Oli, and thanks for all you have done.

Finally congratulations to OM Nick Auterac (Weymouth 20062009) of Northampton Saints who has been called up to the Scotland Squad for their summer fixtures. If capped he will be the third OM to represent Scotland, following JWG Hume (in 1927 and THB Lawther in 1932). Good luck Nick. The 2021/22 is in full swing so please come down to Headstone Lane to watch us play and join us for a post-match drink in our own bar with the players.

Old Millhillians Rugby Club

Headstone Lane, Pinner HA2 6NF

Contact: Ben Nash - bnash2001@yahoo.com www.oldmillhilliansrfc.rfu.club