SPORT .....................
HOCKEY VETERANS REUNITED
Many retired members of the Hockey Club still meet regularly and continue to enjoy the superb social time that was enjoyed during playing days both after home matches and at numerous hostelries throughout the Westcountry following away matches. An Annual Veterans Dinner is held in October at the OPM Suite, and is enjoyed by dozens of current and former players and their partners. With a summer social in June each year, there are also quarterly ‘Pub lunches’ in February, May, August and November. Newcomers are welcome at all functions - if you played for the OPM Hockey Club and would like to join them on these most enjoyable occasions, please email Pat Newnham at prnewnham@yahoo.co.uk for further information.
Here’s a sunny shot of the OPM Hockey team as it was c.1979/80. Remember when almost all games were played on grass, real grass, apart from the odd match inside the Citadel or somewhere like it? ‘A fine bunch of men from the preseat-belt and drink-drive era,’ recalls the then bearded Paul Shepeard who, incidentally, was the last of those pictured still to be playing for the OPMs. He’s now hung up his goal-keeping kit, but not his wicket-keeping cricket kit. ‘Many happy days and nights travelling the length and breadth of Devon and Cornwall,’ adds Paul.
Back row: Bob Foulkes, Pete Heath, Tommy Taylor, Richard Stoneman, Bob Pratt, Bob Organ. Front row: Ed Keast, Kevin Baker, Paul Shepheard, Pat Newnham, John Skerry, Pete Organ.
OPM 102