The 23rd March 2024 Match Day lunch at Ruxley Lane was significant for a number of reasons: It celebrated the 90th anniversary of the opening of the new OHRFC ground and clubhouse in 1934; it witnessed the unveiling of a new Memorial board for those OHRFC members who fought in WWII; and it also celebrated the life of Club stalwart Jonny Barltrop who died in an accident on his stag night.
.Jonny’s fiancé Cheri Bulmer and her family were present to hear the moving speeches from Matt Craig and Tom Fairlie and the unveiling of Jonny’s framed blaser. So, it’s not surprising that a record 80 guests, including three VPs from Old Rutlishians RFC, the Master Martin Collier and the Heritage Director Toby Parker from Haileybury and Jane Everard (Society Secretary) took their seats after Lizzie Graham (Society President) gave the Haileybury Grace. Tom Huckin welcomed all, unveiled the Memorial Board, presented a Club Blazer to Matt Thorogood and ordered proceedings throughout, including welcoming Toby Parker, who vividly introduced us to the history of a couple of the OHs on the new WWII Memorial board. Toby then delighted all by donating framed photographs of a few of the very earliest OHRFC teams discovered in the Haileybury Archives.
The lunch coincided with the 2nds playing a friendly match, which they won, and after lunch a very large crowd of both Old Ruts and OHRFC supporters watch a thrilling match against number 1 in the league Old Rutlishians 1st XV. Sadly, the OHs were beaten by a last minute try and conversion, but the good news is that both the OH 1st and 2nd XVs have been promoted, again!
More from The Haileybury Society
- Queens Club Black Tie Dinner
- The Gloucestershire Regiment Memorial – Honouring The Glorious Glosters
- Now Published – The Haileybury Society Annual Report 2024
- New book release by an OH author
- Scottish Reunion 2024 – small but perfectly formed!
- Foundation Day 2024
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Unless otherwise stated, all content and images on this website and blog © The Haileybury Society, 2024, all rights reserved