1960 and All that

[Rogernoble]

1960 and all that

With a lot of help from Richard Butler and Steve Ashforth I had intended to write a “1960 the golden year” article about the successful Hillside teams of 1960 but as I started to research the article I became more and more intrigued by Rolf Whicker’s involvement.Steve had kindly furnished me with the 1960 and 1961 White Star and my first step after more than half a century was to find myself reading the two magazines. I was rapidly struck by two points. RHRW was making the point that, with sixty pupils, Hillside was clearly much smaller than the other prep schools we were competing against. The second thing that struck me was something from the 1960 Speech Day. To quote: Mr J C Dancy, Headmaster of Lancing College, who gave away the prizes, declared his sympathy with the problem (the teaching for the Common Entrance). “The plain fact was there were a thousand or more boys in the country wanting places in Public Schools more than there was places for them”.Both these points were news to me. I was under the impression that Hillside were consistently producing better than average sports teams, despite apparently operating with a much smaller pool of talent and I have to confess I thought the Common Entrance Exam was a doddle for a Hillside boy. I am sure I would have been aware if boys were leaving without a pass. Everything points to the fact that Hillside was punching well above its weight both on the sports field and academically. I started to ask myself what on earth Rolf Whicker was up to.As I read the White Stars, with the insight of half a century of senior management experience, the scales began to fall from my eyes. As you read it becomes very obvious that RHRW was very critical of any of our weaknesses. It became clear that he was wandering around with a detailed SWAT analysis of every one of us which he was using to eliminate our weaknesses. He seemed to be pretty successful in his efforts. As I was reminiscing with Andrew Harvey to write this article we started to remember endless catching practice (c), bowling at cigarette packets (c), loads of heading practice (f) and god knows how many Latin detentions because we were not good enough.  There is a danger of interpreting my comments as describing an Orwellian horror institution. There is little doubt, looking back, that we were being pushed pretty hard but this was all tempered by a move to make sure we played just as hard. There was the boisterous firework party, picnics by the River Wey, visits to watch RHRW in Gilbert & Sullivan, impromptu musical soirees in the Whickers’ lounge and when all else failed the wonderful grounds. RHRW was ably backed by the likes of Nigel Coates and Tiger Redman whose idea of their statutory working hours seem to have been pretty elastic. Any way I certainly thrived in the environment and I am sure I was representative of the rest of my fellow students.Another trick that RHRW seemed to use on a regular basis was the “if you want to condition the boys to think that prep school teams were easy meat set them against  older teams from the senior schools”. The hockey team found it in the game against Kingston Grammar School. I certainly experienced it in the football team as we were set against the likes of King Edwards, Whitley and Cranleigh. It seemed to work. I think he used similar methods academically because I am sure I arrived at Dover College to be told I was the only person in that intake who had taken optional Latin verse paper in the Common Entrance.Against this background it is not difficult to understand the extraordinary sporting successes of 1960: 

Hockey – Spring 1960

I think it is best to hand over here to a gentleman who was clearly a very accomplished hockey- player in his own right so I will leave you with Michael Whicker’s “An Appreciation”:“This year’s hockey team must have been the outstanding team in the history of Hillside. I watched and played against it, and even had the privilege of umpiring its last match against Kingston Grammar School Colts. Never before have I met a prep school team that was so sound all round.

The  Hockey First Eleven1960

Hockey 1960.jpg

Played 12 – Won 11 – Drew 1           Goals for 101 against 10Back L to R – R Lorne, J Scott, S Gomis, J Braby, J Peach, C PringleFront L to R – A Leonard, R Butler, J Watson (C), J Botting, C Secrett 

statistics themselves will show how successful the team was, but figures are never entirely satisfying.When I heard the fantastic string of successes week by week, I was amazed and could hardly take it in. But it was no elaboration. I saw one school after another soundly thrashed. The reason, apart from all-round ability, which I have mentioned, was the unfailing accuracy of the forwards. I was warned that when they got the ball they usually scored and the sixty goals scored by Botting resulted entirely from this. With continual regularity he would beat the opposition by speed and, when he reached the circle, strike the ball hard into the corner of the net. It sounds simple enough, but all who have played any amount of the game will know how difficult it is.The supreme moment of the season came when Hillside played Kingston Grammar School Colts. The school had a reputation unsurpassed in the country and respected by all clubs. That we should take on the Junior Colts side (age under 14 ½) of such a school is incredible, but it was at their request. Fortunately I was there to see it: I am sorry more others were not.The standard of play was extraordinary. I had just returned from Oxford, where I had been playing and umpiring in the company of county players. Normally standards have to be lowered for prep schools or the whistle would be blowing all the time. Not so in this game. The standard rose so high that the whistle went for technical infringements never considered in the normal run, and it was such a one that deprived the team of victory.The Kingston defence was very tight, unlike most prep school defences, so Botting was unable to use his individual tactics. However, we had the chance to see how good the insides were. Butler, who usually took second place, came into his own, and with excellent stick work was a continual menace, with his winger Scott. It was from the preparation of these two that Botting’s second goal came.Finally, with the score even, and not many minutes left to play, Butler picked up the ball about the half way line. He then dribbled at full speed past the Kingston defence, and on the run he hit the ball with a reversed stick hard into the net. As I blew for the goal, I heard the other umpire’s whistle. Apparently a man had been trying to tackle Butler on his right as he hit the ball, and in turning his shoulders for the reverse shot he obstructed.I had been unable to see this from my side of the field; but it certainly proves the standard of play, for never normally would such a technicality be considered in a prep school game. Still, it was a fine draw, if not a moral victory to Hillside, and was certainly a worthy close to an exceptional season”.All I need to add, I think, is that Butler (25 goals – 2.08 per match) went on to play for the Welsh Schoolboys and Botting (60 goals – 5 per match) almost made it to the English team, having reached the last twenty two.

Athletics – summer 1960

As usual Botting and Butler were carving up the spoils. Botting took the championship with wins in the 100 yards, 220 yards, 440 yards and the slow bicycle race! Butler was in there with wins in the high and long jumps. Robin Whicker craftily snuck in a win in the old boys’ race before Botting left Hillside and became eligible for the old boys.I was involved in a funny incident in the throwing the cricket ball. We had all had our three throws with Secrett winning from Butler. Sutton and I had tied for third place. RHRW said he would give the two of us a fourth ball to decide third place. I ran up and launched a magnificent throw which sailed past Butler’s second placed mark. Confident that I had at least salvaged a third I now had a confident smile on my face as Sutton took to the run way. My grin was soon erased as Sutton’s throw sailed past Secrett’s winning mark.

Swimming – summer 1960

Some relief at last as Botting and Butler were not carrying all before them. A fine young lad by the name of Noble won the championship with wins in the one length, four lengths, diving and swimming the anchor leg for Falcon’s relay win. The most amazing performance was Dennis in the long plunge who seemed to be able to hold his breath for an inordinately long time.

Cricket – summer 1960

In the words of RHRW the 1st X1 was a strong one but did less well than it should have done. The duo of Botting (batting average 33.83) and Butler (batting average 22.77) were leading the way with Butler also runner up in the bowling averages behind Scott. Reynold’s four wickets in four balls also stands out,

1960 Cricket First Eleven

Cricket 1960.jpg

Played 13 – won 6    drew 4     lost 3Back L to R – T Gibbs, A Leonard, T Reynolds, J Braby, M Hall, C PringleFront L to R – J Botting, J Scott, R Butler, R Lorne, C Secrett. 

 Football – Autumn 1960
I will hand over to RHRW here:“Of last year’s good side which won eleven matches, only four were still available, but the 2nd X1 had also been strong, winning all four of its matches so that we were reasonably hopeful.In fact we had the most successful season ever and one of our best sides. We have gone through the season undefeated before but this year we won all the prep school matches. In addition we played four matches against King Edward’s (2), Cranleigh School yearlings and Elmbridge and of these we won three and drew one, scoring altogether in 14 matches 67 for and 20 against.This year’s side therefore was exceptionally strong, although perhaps not quite as skilful as that of 1946. Once again we seemed to be a little faster and fitter than our opponents, to be more able to use both feet and to be far better at heading. 

1960 – Football First Eleven

Football 1960.jpg

Played14 – Won 13 – Drew 1
Back L to R - M Coverley, M Hall, P Sutton, P Hall, R Jacob, A Riddy, J ReynoldsFront L to R – C Pringle, A Leonard, J Botting (C), T Gibbs, R Noble
We were lucky enough to have one experienced player available for each section of the team. In goal was there was P Hall, only just second best last year. For full back we had we had Tim Gibbs. Leonard was our centre-half at hockey last year and Botting an old hand at centre-forward. There was little need to experiment, the team fell into place and remained virtually undisturbed throughout”.

Summary

As I said at the beginning I started out to detail the extraordinary sporting achievements at Hillside in 1960 but quickly became intrigued by Rolf Wicker’s role. Clearly with the smallest prep school in the area he should not have been achieving the sporting results he was and, although I have no numbers, I am sure the Common Entrance results were probably as impressive. Ultimately the results speak for themselves. As I have searched for Hillside pupils it has become clear that the vast majority of us have had successful outcomes in our lives in business, the professions, academia, the forces and elsewhere. As I write this article I have gathered a membership of thirty seven people and this small group has acquired two national honours with an MBE for Mike Goodridge and a distinguished service decoration (DSD) for Squadron Leader Nick Pedley. I have a picture of Ralph Wicker sitting on high with a satisfied grin on his face, muttering “that’s my boys” although it may be tempered with “SWAT analysis; what is that stupid boy Noble rabbiting on about now?”  I am now firmly convinced that the man was well ahead of his time. 

Roger Noble – September 2017