JIM POLLOCK –LEAVING ON A HIGH DAVID GOLDWATER

LEAVING ON A HIGH

COMPILED BY DAVID GOLDWATER (51-62)

After 17 years of nurturing youngsters on and off the rugby pitch, ‘Lucky Jim’ Pollock (67-77 & RGS Sports Teacher 02-19) retired from the RGS in July 2019. As a former Scottish international rugby union player and an Old Novo, however, Jim’s ties with the school go much further back.

Jim Pollock (L) in action against Alastair Tindle (62-72), 1978

He has given so much to the school and is the greatest ambassador of schoolboy rugby, it won’t be the same without him next year.”

Wallsend-born Jim attended

the RGS between 1967 and 1977 and was introduced to rugby by John Elders (57-82 & 92-96), the Head of RGS Sport at the time. “That was when I first got into sport,” Jim said.

“It was a bit of a rugby school so that was probably my first love…” After his graduation from the school, Jim taught PE at Kenton School while playing for Gosforth Football Club, later to become the Newcastle Falcons. In the early 80s, Jim was Scotland Rugby’s talisman. Dubbed ‘Lucky Jim’, he scored on his debut against Wales in 1982 at Cardiff Arms Park, where Scotland hadn’t won in 20 years. He is perhaps best remembered for the last-gasp try that secured a draw against the mighty New Zealand in 1983.

Jim left Kenton to pursue a career with Northumbria Police, but when a position became available for a Junior School Teacher at RGS in 2002, he knew it would combine his love of rugby, teaching and RGS. Nearly two decades later, Jim is again preparing to say farewell to his beloved RGS, this time leaving behind him a legacy which extends much further than on the rugby field. “Jim has been with us in the Junior School for 17 years; he is simply RGS through and through,” said Deputy Junior School Headmaster, James Miller, “Charismatic, energetic and a raconteur supreme, he is much loved by students of all ages, parents and colleagues alike. He has inspired generations of sports men and women, specialising in rugby, but offering words of wisdom across the range of sports.”

During his time at RGS Jim has enjoyed a number of achievements as the 1st XV Team Coach, including taking the side to Twickenham for the 2010 final of the NatWest Schools Cup and winning this year’s Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens competition for the first time. His last season of coaching has been his most successful; in October 2018 Jim led the

Below: Jim and the victorious rugby 7s at Rosslyn Park; and Jim with Andy Watt, Sports Teacher in Charge of Rugby

1st XV to an historic victory at the St Joseph’s College National Schools’ Rugby Festival. Speaking about his coach and mentor, Phil Brantingham (U6), RGS 1st XV Captain for the 2019-20 season and England U18s, said: “Mr Pollock has been a huge inspiration for not only me, but the whole of the RGS rugby community.

“He has given so much to the school and is the greatest ambassador of schoolboy rugby, it won’t be the same without him next year.” Jim’s influence on athletes of other sporting disciplines has not gone unnoticed. “Mr Pollock has been a great help throughout my RGS career,” said GB Basketball U18 player, Tosan Evbuomwan (01-19). “A lot of this goes unnoticed, but something that has really stood out to me is his constant support and belief, irrespective of the particular sport I’m playing.”

Adapted from an article in the The Newcastle Evening Chronicle, July 2019.