School Rugby

1st XV 1938: Robert Crocombe back row, 4th from left 1st XV 1939-40: Robert Crocombe (Capt.) front row, centre.

Colts at Portsmouth 1947-48

Back: Dove; Heath; Wingfield; Chatfield; Toney; Johnson; Widdicombe; Leggatt

Front: M A Smith; Haycroft; Loghegem; Fuller; Ansell; Greenyer; Paine

Wellman (Front, 2nd from left) was the first boy from the school to be selected to play for Sussex County 1st XV

1st XV 1951-52 v Intelligence Corps

Back: M A Smith, Marshall, Williams, Soloman, French, Anderton, May, Lumsden, Stickler, Clark

Front: Redman, Wellman, Feest (Capt), Stanford (Vice Capt), Le Maitre

The First Magnificent Seven

Those highlighted above formed the first school side to reach the semi-finals of the annual Sussex 7-a-side tournament and were hailed as heroes at the time:

According to the record books, the 10th Sussex seven-a-side tournament, at Castle Road was won by Wasps, but if the trophy were awarded for pluck and determination it must have gone to the gallant High School side – giant killers in the widest sense of the term. These boys, three of whom were reserves, fought their way through three gruelling rounds against some of the best players in the county before going down to Horsham in the semi-final 8-0.

The school team, which had never before got past the first round of the competition, opened their account by beating Lewes II by eight points to three. Their second round match against Chichester II went to extra time before they won by a single try. The boys, whose ages ranged from 16 to 18, looked tired as they took the field against Eastbourne in the third round. Appearances were deceptive however for Eastbourne, who towered above their opponents, were soon shaken when the school’s captain, Frank Feest, dived over for a try in the corner. Soon after, a foul against Peter Redman brought a penalty try, which was easily converted by Feest. Although Eastbourne scored twice in the second, half they were clearly out-played and the school won 8-6.

Against Horsham, finalists for the second year, the school never really had a chance. They made their opponents fight for it, however, and went down by eight points to nil.

Feest, who was playing his last game as captain of the school, told a Herald reporter “We never expected to get so far. Everybody played a grand game and it made a fitting finish to my last season.” The team was B Clarke, J French, K May, F Feest, R Stanford, P Redman, R Le Maitre.

Under 15 team c. 1952

Master in charge - Mr Miller

Names: Alphabetical from back of photo:

(A Brophy?); B Holland; P Jaggs; J Kelly; (G Lines?); I MacLeod; W Paine; T? Pelham;

K Sexton; R Valentine; West; P Wigglesworth

c1952 Under 15

1st XV 1952-53

Back: Virgoe, Shaw, Marshall, French, Stenning, Hewison, Northeast, Corbett, Wellman, Owen

Front: Kent, Smith, Lumsden (Capt), Mooney, Woodan

1st XV 1954-55

Back L-R:

Danny Nicholson, Derek Beuret, Steve McDonald,

David Corbett, Brian Boyd, Dennis Baker,

John Virgoe, Vincent Joy, David Hayter, Paul Joy

Front L-R:

John Morgan, Ian Lumsden, David Cooling,

Hugh Mooney, David Thorpe

Ist XV October 1956

Back Row (left): Lee, Turner, Ross Braithwaite, Quittenton, Eaton, Kyle, ?, John Wurr (linesman)

2nd Row: Pace,Bell,Hooper,Gregory,Cowley

Front: Butterfield & Pyle

1956 School 1st XV

1st XV 1956-57

Back L-R: Mick Bell, Tony Braithwhaite, Braithwaite maj, Mike Ross, Gatting/Gatland?, ?, Rob Langridge

Centre L-R:

John Lintern, Derek Thompson, Roger Quittenton (Capt), Keith Reynolds, Gerry Webber, Chris Lee

Front L-R:

Mike Hickman, Ian Pyle, Graham Hill

Note "Q", as sartorially smart as ever, despite having a broken ankle in plaster.

Contributed by John Lintern

THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

John Lintern (New items 3 February 2015) was the first to mention a 7-a-side team that reached the semi-final of the Sussex Sevens (was it in 1958?). As far as we know this Sevens team was taken from the first XV pictured here and included John Lintern, Roger Quittenton and Rob Langridge. Who were the others? Suggestions include Ian Pile and Gerry Webber.

ED: Please contact me if you can confirm or add to these names.

Mick Bell has contributed this photo of a 7-a-side team, but splendid as they were, they do not appear to be the Magnificent Seven referred to above.

Back row:

Roger Quittenton, Dave Corbett, Braithwaite (Senior), ?

Front row:

Paul Buet, Gregory, Mick Bell

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1st & 2nd XVs 1957-58

Back L to R:

Graham Burgess, Tony Braithwaite, Dave Richardson, Barry Harber, Terry Wingfield, John Simmonds, Roger Aylward, John Pearsall, Graham Hill

Next Row L to R:

Mike Ross, M Butterfield, A Higgins, Don Hunt, D Potter, Tony Skinner, B Wells, Bill Doody

Sitting L to R:

Geoff Cordon (Master), Mike Bell, Roger Quittenton (1st XV Capt), Fred Thompson, Rob Langridge, Willie Wildash, Barry Richards, Dave Gatley, Howard Key, Mr Keogh (Master)

Front L to R:

Mike Hickman, John Lintern, Gerald Webber, John Slattery, Bob Allin

1st XV 1958-59

Back L-R:

Dave Richardson, Tony Braithwaite, Dick Eaton, Tony Skinner

Centre L-R

Ray Band, Barry Tapp, Johnny Gulland, Bob Allin, Brian Musgrove

Front L-R

Stuart Robertson, Bunny Gravestock, 'Bomber' Wells, Mike Bell (Capt),

Willie Wildash, Rob Langridge, Geoff Cordon (Master)

1st XV 1959-60

Back L to R:

Melvin Marckus, Jim Lloydell, Tony Braithwaite, John Gulland, Len Callender

Centre L to R:

Graham Hill, Terry Mitchell, David Chatfield, Barry Tapp, Ted Osborn, Chris Cowley

Front L to R:

Willie Wildash, David Richardson, Bob Allin (capt.), Geoff Corden, Stuart Robertson, Brian Musgrove

Phil Richards has contributed this picture of his 1967/68 first year Rugby XV

Houses are in brackets

Back: Malcolm Davis (A), William Broad (V), Christopher Wallington-Hayes (J), Christopher Kenneford (A), Nicholas (Neddy) Walters (S), Johnston (S)

Centre: Phil Richards (J), David Thomson (J), Simon Stoner (J), Bentley (S), Stuart Marchant (J)

Nick Chard (J), Lindon Paxton (S), Stuart Rood (S), Robert Bianchi (S)

William Broad (2nd from left in back row) is more famously known by his stage name Billy Idol

A team from 1972-73

Contributed by Terry Burgess

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