RSA R3 IOG Newsletters for the period 1974 – 1976

REES SCOTT ARCHIVE

Institute of Groundsmanship South East London Region Newsletters 1974 – 1976

RSA: R3 – March 2018

Institute of Groundsmanship South East London Region Newsletters 1974 – 1976

REES SCOTT ARCHIVE PUBLICATION RSA: R3

First published in Great Britain in 2018 by the Rees Scott Archive 24 Merlins Avenue Haverfordwest Pembrokeshire SA61 1JS

Text Narrative: Copyright Š Barry Rees / Rees Scott Archive The rights of Barry Rees and the Rees Scott Archive to be identified as the Authors of this Work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) License. To view a copy of the license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/legalcode Image Text: Copyright remains with original authors All rights reserved. No part of the text may be repoduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the Publisher in writing.

The Rees Scott Archive is the repository for the archive of David Alan Rees and Eileen Ivy Scott and their ancestors. The ongoing objective of the Archive is to undertake family history research into these families and share that research, and the contents of the Rees Scott Archive, with direct family members and those of the general public who may be related to persons in the Rees Scott Family Tree.

Rees Scott Archive publications are published in three series: Red Series: Transcriptions / Edits of Diaries or Letters Blue Series: Individual Biographies of Individuals / Families Green Series: Catalogues of Documents

For any queries relating to this publication or the Rees Scott Archive please e-mail: barry@reesscottarchive.org.uk

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Contents

Page

Introduction

4

Abstract of Newsletters

5

Names mentioned in the Newsletters

8

Newsletters: 1:

Newsletter – March 1974

10

2:

Newsletter - September 1974

16

3:

Newsletter - November 1974

21

4:

Newsletter – January 1975

30

5:

Newsletter - March 1975

38

6:

Letter – 3rd January 1934

46

7:

Newsletter – December 1975

47

8:

Newsletter – January 1976

51

Annex A: Rees Scott Archive Reference Structure

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59

Introduction David Alan Rees (1932-2009), known to all as Dai Rees, spent most of his working life as a Groundsman. For the majority of this time he worked at the BP Sports Ground in Kangley Bridge Road, Lower Sydenham, London, where he became the Head Groundsman.

Dai became an active member of the professional body that represented Groundsmen, the National Association of Groundsmen (NAG) which was subsequently renamed the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG).

He was a member of the South-East Region / South-East London Region and held the office as Treasurer for a time for these regions. He also, at various times, held most of the National Officer positions as well as taking on the role of Exhibition Manager for the IOG’s annual trade show. His final role within the IOG was as Managing Director of Adam Publishing, the company that produced the IOG’s prestigious journal, The Groundsman.

Dai wrote a series of articles and reports for inclusion in the newsletters written for NAG / IOG. Whilst part of NAG the newsletter were for the South-East Region, once it became the IOG the newsletter was for the South-East London Region. These have been published by the Rees Scott Archive.1 The Rees Scott Archive also holds several copies of complete Newsletters2.

This publication reproduces the IOG Newsletters for the period 1974 – 19763. An earlier publication, RSA R2, reproduces the NAG Newsletters that relate to the period 1954 to 19684.

Barry Rees March 2018

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RSA R1 - Dai Rees: Articles for NAG / IOG 1966-1969 Series RSA-OCC-0004. The complete run of newsletters are numbered RSA-OCC-0004-1 to RSA-OCC-0004-20 Series RSA-OCC-0004. The IOG newsletters are numbered RSA-OCC-0004-13 to RSA-OCC-0004-20 RSA R2 - NAG Newsletters for the period 1954 to 1968 - Series RSA-OCC-0004. The NAG newsletters are numbered RSA-OCC-0004-1 to RSA-OCC-0004-12

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Abstracts of Newsletters No. Date 1 March 1974 (6 Pages)

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Contents of Newsletter IOG – South East London Region Newsletter • Report on AGM Meeting held in January, including elections, by A E T Green • Secretary’s Report – Bob Swaffield, on lectures, held on 4th February 1974, by Nick Seymour ‘Paice & Sons’ • Notice Board – items for sale – Mike Carruthers, Bromley Cricket Club • Treasurer’s Report – Jim Edmeads - mistakes on balance sheet; subscriptions; examinations; Life Memberships • Social Secretary’s Report – George Langford - on Social & Dance; Childrens Party Draw; Childrens Party; Annual Dinner & Dance • Chairman’s Corner – A E T Green – proxy votes • Details of visit to Charterhouse School on 14th March 1954.

September IOG – South East London Region Newsletter 1974 • Editorial – D A Rees - Fixture Booklet; Attendance at Meetings; (5 Pages) Children’s Party; Comment on 2 articles elsewhere in the Newsletter • Chairman’s Corner – A E T Green - Proxy Voting • Secretary’s Report – Bob Swaffield - overview of the types of meetings coming up; details of the National Exhibition on 10th-12th September; requesting members turn up for the events put on for their benefit • Quote from J R Escritt regarding the need for good groundsman • Fillers from Newspaper Reports • Report on Bowls fixture against SW Region – Dai Rees • Article on the shortage of protective ‘boxes’ due to the miner’s strike • Situation Vacant – Assistant Groundsman – Britannic House, Lower Sydenham – D A Rees • ‘Just A Viewpoint’ – Jim Edmeads – About the role of the Institute November 1974 IOG – South East London Region Newsletter (9 Pages) • Editorial – D A Rees – Move of Colin Sibley overseas; copy details for the National Journal ‘The Groundsman’; Details of a trip to Holland; copy deadline for next newsletter; fixtures for Nov and Dec • Hon Social Secretary’s Report – George Langford – report on dance held on 14th October; Quiz night; Call for ideas on a factory visit; Christmas Party move to Easter; next fixtures • ‘Just a Point of View’ – Jim Edmeads – Rising costs of equipment; pushy salesman at the Show; Development Committee Annual Draw – poor prizes; Congratulations to the organisers of the Annual Show at Motspur Park; Call for members to ensure the Institute has their up to date address; Best wishes to Wilf Merry on his retirement • Report of Committee Meeting held on 23rd September 1974 – Hon Secretary’s Report – Bob Swaffield; Hon Treasurer’s Report – Jim Edmeads; Hon Social Secretary’s Report – George Langford; London Zone Report, N.E.C. Report – Dai Rees; Newsletter Report • Secretary’s Report – (Bob Swaffield) - Details of the Benevolent Fund; comment on winter work • ‘Domestic Problems’ (Dai Rees) – Rotary Mowers and Dogs Mess • Chairman’s Corner – A E T Green – Congratulations to Jim Edmeads for his article in September newsletter and further comment; Need 5

4

January 1975 (8 Pages)

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March 1975 (8 Pages)

for a Training College; Visit to Charterhouse School; Talk ‘Examinations and Interviews’ – Barry Potter; ‘Recognition and Respect’ – a comment, including a ‘True Story’ • The IOG Recommended Wage Scale – October 1974 IOG – South East London Region Newsletter • Editorial – D A Rees – Explains the majority of the newsletter is given over to the agenda and reports from the AGM, held on 27th January 1975; request from Mr R Murden, Chairman of the Development Committee for fundraising at the Exhibition; Children’s Party Draw tickets; Notice of the Annual Conference being held on 14th-15th April 1975 • Letter to the Editor – R W Murden, Chairman of the Development Committee, regarding Jim Edmeads comments about Annual Draw (November 1974) • AGM Agenda for meeting on 27th January 1975; Chairman’s Report – A E T Green; Annual Report January 1975 – A E T Green, Chairman, R Swaffield, Hon Secretary, J Edmeads, Hon Treasurer • Hon Treasurer’s Report – Jim Edmeads – comment on timing of AGM; impact of timing of payment of levy; generosity of members; membership fees; falling membership numbers; standing down as Treasurer • ‘Formula for a Female’ – An update on ‘sugar and spice’ • Forthcoming Meetings • Hon Social Secretary’s Report – George Langford – thanks to members who have supported the various functions – dances, quizzes etc; plans for the Annual Dinner and Dance on 17th March 1975; Request to sell tickets for the Children’s Easter Party IOG – South East London Region Newsletter • Editorial – D A Rees – Explains why there are two Social Secretary reports; The death of Dick Mott • Dick Mott Obituary – by George Hunt • Words of William Cory 1823-1892 – A Master at Eton • Treasurer’s Report – Jim Edmeads – thanks to the Editor, Dai Rees; no new Treasurer; thanks to the members who attended the AGM; Copies of Audited Accounts; Thanks to departing Social Secretary, George Langford; Subscriptions reminder • Region Library – Frank Stronghill – details of available books • Strip Party snippet • Combined Social Secretary’s Report – George Langford – Children’s Party Draw; Annual Dinner Dance being held on 17th March; Reg Lentle – Children’s Easter Party to be held on 7th April, including application form • AGM – 27th January 1975 – report on election of officers • Chairman’s Corner – A E T Green – Weather update; next event Annual Dinner and Dance; Thanks to various members; Dai Rees nominated to the N.E.C., request to members to complete their proxy votes to ensure his election • Report by Vic Bayfield, on Extraordinary Committee Meeting held on 3rd February, to discuss arrangements for the Annual Dinner and Children’s Party 6

•

6

3 January 1934 (1 Page)

7

December 1975 (4 Pages)

8

January 1976 (8 Pages)

Hon Secretary’s Report – Len Lewis – call for ideas on lectures and speakers; Wimbledon Football Club, mopping up water with a bucket and sponge; Comment on weather and impact on the coming cricket season • Report on games evening with South West Region – ‘D R’ (Dai Rees) Billy Bowles Letter to R Mott regarding the setting up of NAG / IOG • Letter invites R Mott, who is the Head Groundsman at University College Ground in Perivale, Ealing, to the first meeting of what become NAG. The meeting was held at the ‘London Stone’ Cannon Street, London, on January 10th 1934. (Possibly sent out with the March 1975 Newsletter, which reported on Dick Mott’s death) IOG – South East London Region Newsletter • Editorial – D A Rees – Why members should attend the Region’s AGM; Death of Jack Worboys of the Sydenham Sports Club; Congratulations to Reg Marriott on passing the exam for the National Diploma • Complaints about artificial turf in the USA • Article on retirement of Gilbert Warwick – A E T Green • “Guess the Question” Quiz – You are given the answers, you have to guess what the question was.

• Social Secretary’s Report – Reg Lentle – notice of Dinner and Dance; Report on games evening with S W Region on 13th October; Notice of a trip to Cannock; Date of the Annual Dinner and Dance – 15th March • Letter to the Editor – from ‘Spotlight’ on Bert Cammell, formerly of Ransomes Sims & Jefferies, who, with his wife, have just celebrated their Golden Wedding • Secretary’s Report – Len Lewis – reports on winter programme of events; offer of cut price holidays to Romania; Region to have own display stand; Loss of National Quiz round against Norwich • “Guess the Question” – the questions IOG – South East London Region Newsletter • Editorial – D A Rees – Explains the majority of the newsletter is given over to the agenda and reports for the AGM, to be held on 26th January 1976; ‘worst Fog for 50 years’ – accident locally, and impact on the Christmas Social • ‘Jumping to a Conclusion’ • Forthcoming Meetings • Television Programmes (Revised) • Quote from James Rouse • AGM Agenda • Minutes of the AGM held on 27th January 1975 • Hon Treasurer’s Report – Jim Edmeads – Impact of National Levy; Thanks to committee for their efforts; Social Fund Report; Plea to get more members to join the IOG • ‘Ain’t Life Hard’ – a look at what you have to do every day • Annual Report – a look back on the 1974/75 Season - A E T Green, Chairman, L Lewis, Hon Secretary, J Edmeads, Hon Treasurer • Social Secretary’s Report – Reg Lentle, including reports on the Childrens’ Party; Annual Dinner Dance; Games night against the SW Region; Quizzes; Christmas Draw; Thanks to Wives and Members 7

Names mentioned in the Newsletters Name

Role

Appears in Newsletter on Page No:

Richie Allen M Banham Vic J Bayfield Mr Reginald Beale Harry Beresford Berks Mr William (Billy) H Bowles Mr Dave Bracey Jim Bradbury

Philadelphia Footballer – quote IOG Member – Committee Member IOG Member – Committee Member Author: The Book of the Lawn IOG Member – Committee Member Joint Author: Good Soil Founder of NAG / IOG – Guest at Annual Dinner

47, 11, 42, 54, 11, 24, 33, 42, 44, 54, 40, 11, 41, 43, 58, 40, 14, 38, 41, 46, 10, 57,

Brade Mr Bert Cammell Mrs Cammell Mike Carruthers Tom Chick Mr N D Clark William Cory R B Dawson R (Bobby) Dunn Jim Edmeads

IOG Member – Croydon Branch Speaker – from Mommersteeg – ‘Grasses and Grass Seeds’ Joint Author: Good Soil Ex-Employee Ransome’s Mowers, Ipswich Wife of Bert Cammell IOG Member – Committee Member IOG Member – put forward as a Life Member Winner of Christmas Party Draw (1823-1892) – A Master at Eton – quote from Author: Practical Lawn Craft IOG Member – Committee Member IOG Member – Hon Treasurer / Vice Chairman

Elliot Mr J R Escritt Mr Gerry Field Mr Theo Foley Frederick the Great ? Gordan Mr A E T (Jimmy) Green Mr W Higginson C E Hubbard Mr A Humphries Mr John Humphries Chas (Charles) Hunt George Hunt Miss L J Hunt James Mr Dai O Jenkins Ron Kipps George Langford

Author: Botany Director Sports Research Institute (quote from) Vice Chair IOG / Chairman Exhibition Committee Manager of Charlton Athletic – Guest at Annual Dinner Quote from Winner of Christmas Party Draw IOG Member / Social Secretary / Chairman / London Zone Rep / Careers Officer Charterhouse School Cricket Coach Author: Grasses IOG Member – Passed IOG Exam (1st Class) Shanks Mowers Suttons of Reading employee Groundsman Britannic House Sports Club / Lecturer Winner of Christmas Party Draw Author: The Growing Plant Speaker – Bowling Greens IOG Member – put forward as a Life Member IOG Member – Hon Social Secretary

Mr E A Leach Reg Lentle

IOG Member – Passed IOG Exam (2nd Class) IOG Member – Exhibition Rep

L G Lewis

Author: Turf

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40, 49, 49, 11, 12, 24, 43, 13, 14, 38, 40, 11, 43, 10, 11, 13, 16, 20, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 40, 42, 43, 53, 54, 56, 57, 40, 18, 41, 44, 58, 14, 19, 58, 10, 11, 15, 17, 24, 28, 33, 34, 42, 43, 44, 48, 54, 57, 28, 40, 10, 50, 57, 48, 38, 58, 14, 40, 34, 13, 10, 11, 14, 15, 22, 24, 32, 33, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 54, 56, 10, 11, 33, 38, 41, 42, 43, 49, 53, 54, 55, 56, 58, 40,

Len Lewis

IOG Member – Committee Member There were 2 Len Lewis’ – Senior and Junior (father and son). It is not always clear which one they were referring to, so they have been compiled together A Founding Member of NAG / IOG. Head Groundsman Oval Cricket Ground Speaker from Paice & Sons Ltd IOG General Secretary

11, 35, 42, 43, 45, 50, 53, 54, 57,

Eileen Rees (Wife) Bert Rollings James Rouse William Royle Nick Seymour Colin Sibley Mr Frank Stronghill

Author: Soils and Fertilisers IOG Member – Passed IOG Exam (2nd Class) IOG Member – Passed IOG Exam (1st Class), then diploma Winner of Christmas Party Draw IOG Member – put forward as a Life Member IOG Member – death of Chairman of the IOG Development Committee IOG Life Member – Ex Head Groundsman Charterhouse IOG Member – Committee Member Winner of Christmas Party Draw Host of trip to Charterhouse School Quote from Suttons of Reading Employee Speaker ‘Examinations and Interviews’ Suttons of Reading Employee Dai (David) Rees, Head Groundsman, Britannic House Sports Club / IOG Member – London Zone Rep, Newsletter Editor 205 Alnwick Rd. Lee, London S.E.12 Wife of Dai Rees IOG Member – put forward as a Life Member Quote from ‘Life’ Editor of ‘The Groundsman’ the IOG’s national journal Speaker from Paice & Sons Ltd IOG Member / Minute Secretary IOG Member / Region’s Librarian

Martin Sutton Mr Bob Swaffield

Suttons of Reading owner / Employee IOG Member – Hon Secretary / Exhibition Rep

F Taylor D Topliffe Mr Virgo Mr A Vidler Derek Walder Jack Warboys

IOG Member – Committee Member IOG Member – Committee Member Arsenal Football Club – offered a trip to the ground Winner of Christmas Party Draw IOG Member – SW Region Secretary, Treasurer and Groundsman – Sydenham Sports Club Wife of Jack Warboys IOG Member – Committee Member Ex Suttons of Reading employee – retirement Suttons of Reading Employee IOG Member – Committee Member / London Zone Rep Region’s Quizmaster Winner of Christmas Party Draw Quote from

40, 10, 10, 47, 50, 57, 58, 13, 23, 58, 38, 46, 30, 31, 28, 11, 43, 58, 24, 28, 18, 48, 28, 34, 48, 11, 14, 15, 16, 19, 21, 24, 25, 30, 33, 35, 38, 39, 42, 43, 44, 45 (D.R.), 47, 51, 54, 55, 10, 14, 33, 41, 58, 13, 52, 21, 12, 11, 21, 24, 33, 10, 11, 34, 40, 41, 42, 54, 58, 48, 10, 11, 12, 15, 18, 24, 32, 33, 34, 42, 54, 11, 42, 54, 42, 54, 24, 14, 21, 47,

Bert Lock David Luxford Mr Archie McTaggart Macself Mr P Manning Mr Reg Marriott C Marston Wilf Merry Dick Mott Mr R Murden Len Nash W (Bill) Neicho L V Noakes Ron Perrin William L Phelps Mr Pomeroy Barry Potter Mr Prior Dai Alan Rees

Mrs Warboys D Warren Gilbert Warwick Mr Watts W (Bill) D Webster Mr Alan Weir C A Weston Eugene Wilson

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21, 12, 14, 41, 52, 57,

47, 42, 54, 48, 48, 11, 42, 44, 54, 10, 34, 41, 57, 58, 58, 31,

Newsletter 1: RSA-OCC-0004-13

10

11

12

13

14

15

Newsletter 2: RSA-OCC-0004-14

16

17

18

19

20

Newsletter 3: RSA-OCC-0004-15

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

Newsletter 4: RSA-OCC-0004-16

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

Newsletter 5: RSA-OCC-0004-17

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

Newsletter 6: RSA-OCC-0004-18

46

Newsletter 7: RSA-OCC-0004-19

47

48

49

50

Newsletter 8: RSA-OCC-0004-20

51

52

53

54

55

56

57

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Appendix A Rees Scott Archive Reference Structure Each Rees Scott Archive reference follows the format RSA-XXX-NNNN. The ‘RSA’ just indicates the Rees Scott Archive, the ‘XXX’ a three-letter category code and the ‘NNNN’ a sequential number for the record category. Where a particular record is made up of several separate items, the individual items may be further referenced by a numerical indicator: RSA-XXX-NNNN-N The record categories are: ART AUD BMD CEN CER COR DIA DIR EDU IND JUD LET MAG MAP MED MIG MIL NEW NSL OBJ OCC ORA OTR PAR PCD PHO RES VID WEB WIL

Articles Audio / Voice Recording BMD - Other Records (not GRO certificates or parish records) Census Record: Certificate - GRO BMD certificates: Correspondence: Diary: Directory Documents: Education: Index Records: Judicial: Letters: Magazine or Book Record: Map Image: Medical: Migration / Passenger Records Military Record: Newspapers: National Service Letters: Object: Occupation: Oral History Transcriptions Other Parish Record: Post Cards Photograph Residence Video Web pages Will / Probate Records:

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Current Rees Scott Archive Publications Rees Scott Archive publications are published in three series: Red Series: Transcriptions / Edits of Diaries or Letters Blue Series: Biographies or Research Notes of Individuals / Families Green Series: Catalogues of Documents Red Series RSA R1:

Dai Rees: Articles for NAG / IOG 1966 - 1969

RSA R2:

NAG Newsletters 1954 - 1968

RSA R3:

IOG Newsletters 1974 - 1976

Blue Series RSA B1:

Are Arthur Edward Jones and Arthur Edward Rees the same man, and did Pop marry his niece?

REES SCOTT ARCHIVE