Saturday 27th November 2021 marked a very special occasion when The Haileybury Society hosted a wonderful reunion to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the unbeaten rugby XV in 1971.

The afternoon began with drinks followed by a very pleasant lunch in the Garden Room at the College Arms. The Society’s President Nick Gandon (M 69) welcomed the six players in attendance, together with their wives. Our other guests were Penel Stitcher (Hon Member) wife of the late Greg Stitcher (L 67) who was the team’s captain, Graham Smales (Th 55) member of the unbeaten 1958 XV, accompanied by his daughter and Tom Huckin (B 65) Chairman of the OHRFC. Richard Osborne (E 67) attended in memory of his good friend and XV 71 member Seymour Blyth (E 67) who sadly passed away in 2017.

Unbeaten Haileybury XV of 1971 — *Above: Christmas spirit and happy memories of fifty years ago*. *Back row (l to r): David Beales, Christopher Barber, Mike Fairbairn, Mark Everton*. *Front row (l to r): John Courtney, Barnaby Bazell, Penel Stitcher, Graham Smales*

Match reports and memories

Toby Parker, Director of Research and Learning at Haileybury, brought along the original match reports records of the 1960s and 1970s, all handwritten by the team captains, which went into great detail of each match with lists of tries, conversions and penalties scored, together with XV colours awarded, some photographs and original newspaper cuttings.

The players spent quite some time reading these and reminiscing about the various matches and their time at Haileybury. Our thanks go to Toby for supporting our event in a way which meant such a lot to the OHs involved, and for hosting us on campus during the afternoon.

Other memories and an extra-special thank you

During lunch, Nick Gandon gave a welcoming speech which included memories of his own time at Haileybury and his later association with David Beales (H 68) up at Durham.

Barnaby Bazell (A 66) replied with thanks on behalf of those present, mentioning particular thanks to Membership Manager, Georgina Maszlin, for her marvellous efforts in tracking down and communicating with former team mates and to Jane Everard, Society Secretary (L 76 & Alb), who was present at the event, together with immediate Past President Doug Everard (BF 73). A toast was proposed to everyone present and to absent friends.

Each of the players was then given an individual keyring made from oak and inscribed with the the winged heart of Haileybury as a small token of the Society’s esteem.

Celebratory match and a welcome from the Master

After a convivial time at the College Arms guests made their way across to Haileybury to watch the Colts team in action against Whitgift. Haileybury comfortably won the game 29-0 in deplorable weather conditions. The Master, Martin Collier came to meet the 1971 squad and welcomed them back to Haileybury.

The afternoon ended with much-appreciated cups of tea and cake at the Match Tea in Dining Hall, a place which brought back more memories for the group to enjoy sharing more of their Haileybury stories with old friends, some who had not met or been back to school since leaving Haileybury at the end of VI form half a century ago.