We were delighted to hear once more from Tony Harper (K 60) who has written to us about his regular get-together with fellow OHs at the OHRFC old players’ lunch.

Good friends reunited once more

A group of OHs who played rugby together for the OHRFC in the 1960s and 1970s became good friends and have kept in touch with one another over the years . About 12 years ago they started to meet up for lunch once or twice a year and have continued to do so ever since .

For the past few years they have met for lunch at the RAC in London , where one of their number is a member; the photo shows the group’s most recent gathering in October 2023. “As always”, says Tony, ” a wonderful time was had by us all , and hopefully our tradition will be able to continue for a few more years yet! “

Image of OHRFC members at a reunion — Remembering the good old days of Haileybury rugby – l-r: **Michael Poynter (B 66), Donald Macleod (A 50), Tom Huckin (B 65), Graham Barber (K 57), Tony Harper (K 60), Martin Romilly (Th 56), Michael Clark (K 60), Colin Barber (K 61), Tim Wynn-Williams (A 58)**. **Simon Roncorini (K 60)** arrived late & **John Farmer (H 57)** sent apologies.

As can be seen, five of the group were actually contemporaries in Kipling in the 1960s, so what better than a group shot of them too…

Image of OHRFC Kipling members reunion — Old Kipling boys remember their school days together – **Colin Barber (K 61)**, **Simon Roncoroni (K 60)**, **Michael Clark (K 60)**, **Tony Harper (K 60)** and **Graham Barber (K 57)**.

A strange coincidence…

Haileybury rugby so often brings people together in so many different ways – and often in surprising ways too.

As Tony said, “I went to Haileybury a couple of weeks ago with Howard Nichols (B 60) and we watched the XV v Oundle on Terrace . We had chosen a Saturday that suited us both and it just happened to be the game v Oundle. However, I looked at my old records (which obviously I used to keep!) and discovered to my amazement, and totally coincidentally, that the match was the 60th Anniversary of me playing in the very same fixture v Oundle on Terrace. Incredible!”

And another!

Finally, by an (amazing) coincidence, whilst having lunch at the RAC club the group bumped into Matthew Dymott (H 88) who had been a direct contemporary at both Haileybury Junior School and Haileybury with Graham Barber’s son Nigel Jordan-Barber (K 88)