Simon Langley 2.0

During the early years of Cuthberts college the main games were association football, cricket and cross country runs, the latter was also enjoyed (really?!) by members of the teaching staff. After the building of the outdoor swimming pool in the late 1890s swimming was partaken, as was fives. Soccer matches were enjoyed against local teams in these early years and as with cricket, the inclusion of staff bolstered their ranks. Staff of particular note at this time were the Rev F.B. Hawkins, the Rev C. de Labat and Mr T. Hedworth - all excellent cricketers and soccer players who traveled to Mansfield in their spare time to partake in Rugby, a game that would not find its way to Worksop for another 25 years. With regards to pupils at this time R.H. Palmer (Fleur de Leys 1895-1899) was the main exponent, he was head boy twice in the late 1800’s, and was “a stalwart full back” and a useful member of the cricket team. Palmer also set the first school 100yds record of 10.4. R.V. Patrick (Crown 1899-1906), who was captain of the College football XI for three years, is described as “one of the best soccer players the school has ever turned out”.

As the years passed the College became stronger and better opposition was sought. Mount St Mary’s, Trent College and Denstone began to figure as rivals. In 1911 a cross-country match against KES Sheffield was organised and in the same year boxing was first mentioned. With regard to the latter, in 1913 the college had its first Blue in the form of J.W.F. McN Davis (Cross 1904-1912) gaining his for Cambridge in 1913 and in 1914 W.J. Armstrong (Mason 1911-1914) won the bantam weight title at the Public Schools Competition held at Aldershot. In 1912 J. Tasker (Cross 1899-1904) was playing first class Cricket for Yorkshire and H. Watson-Smith (Lion 1899-1901) was keeping wicket for Warwickshire.

Worksop College is most fortunate in that over the last 100 years or so athletics performances have been recorded very diligently. As a result, not only are athletics records available, but also previous records.

W.B. Thompson (Mountgarret 1949-1954) was the first National calibre athlete from Worksop, he won the College’s first National title (over 200 yards low hurdles in 1954), closely followed by P.R. Brunyee (Talbot 1952-1956) winning two All England Schools titles in 1955 and 1956 both over the high hurdles. In 1975 M.P. Hay (Mountgarret 1968-1973) became the College’s first full international when he represented GB at the decathlon. The Buckner brothers still remain the College’s only Olympians, Jack represented GB at Seoul and Barcelona over 5000m and Tom at the 3000m steeplechase in Barcelona. Other internationals include S.D. Heggie (Portland 1989-1994), S.T. Lewis (Shirley 1988-1993) and B.Foster (Portland 1970-1975). Most recently M.Lambley (Shirley) has become a real force to be reckoned with on the British hammer throwing scene - his 2009 best of 68.98m was good enough to ensure selection for the European Under 23 Championships.

1993 is certainly a stand-out year. A school athletics team that can boast a B-string 100m/200m runner at 10.70/21.95 is quite mind boggling, Mr Alex Simpson is very unfortunate not to hold a College records in the 100m/200m/long jump! Some other names that warrant a mention:

• P.S. Southcott’s 1948 100y time of 10s that was never bettered until we went metric in 1973.
• J.S. Pinkney whom set 3 x College records at the 1937 Sports (10.2 - 100y, 23 - 220y & 53.8 - 440y), his long jump record (set earlier in the season) lasted until 1980. Pinkney also played rugby for England and was regarded as one of England’s best schoolboy centres/wings of the late 30s.
• J.D. Bray - won the England Public Schools 100m/long jump (10.88/6.70) in 1986 and only recently lost his long jump record to D. Dykes (6.80)
• J.K. Gibson - half an inch off 6ft for the high jump in 1961 when in the lower VIth. Was also close to Pinkney’s long jump record (“and what a good record that is”).
• M.R. Woodcock, D.M.W. Griffiths, D.J. Reason - from the highly successful athletics teams of the late 50s and early 60s. All members of the Rosslyn Park sevens team that finished runners-up to Edinburgh Academy in 1960. Woodcock ran 50.30/1:56 for the 440y/880y, Griffiths 4:23/1:58 for the mile/880y and Reason 22.6 for the 220y. The latter played England Public Schools rugby.
• R.E. Randle - sadly killed in a road accident in the early 60s, Randle at the same match in 1963 missed the 100y and 220y records by a tenth each (10.1/22.7). Also held the College decathlon record pre-metric. Played England Public Schools rugby.

1941 and 1942 produced two more phenomenal rugby teams at the College - both which remained unbeaten. The latter was voted the best schoolboy team in England (an honour shared with Bedford School). The 1941 XV, captained by H.D. Jennison scored a whopping 389 points against only 12 and was noted for its back division of N.M. Hall (Shirley 1936-1943), J.B. Millar (Mason 1937-1942), P. Carmichael (Pelham 1937-1941) and E.R. Holliday (Talbot 1936-1943). During the course of the season Trent and Mount St Mary’s were heavily defeated; Ampleforth 6-3, Denstone 17-3, St Peters York 28-0 and most impressively the mighty Sedbergh were walloped 30-0. Tragically Jennison, T.A.S. Anderson (Pelham 1934-1942) and Millar died in 1944 in Normandy at the battle of Falaise Gap, where they were all tank commanders. On a happier note Hall who captained the 1942 XV, who was first mentioned in a trial game for Prep in 1936 went on captain England 17 times and is still regarded as being one of the finest kickers of a ball the game has ever seen.

Worksop’s runaway victory (taken from The Guardian 1941)
‘Worksop College overwhelmed Mount St Mary’s College at home and won as they pleased by nine goals, one penalty goal and five tries to nothing. P. Carmichael, E.P. Clark and J.B. Millar combined outstandingly well for Worksop, and were well fed by N.M. Hall who also converted the five tries and kicked the penalty goal. Forward H.D. Jennison was outstanding, while G.S. Joss and J.W. Phillips also played very well in a good pack. Worksop are developing into a strong, fast and battling side.’

Back row (left to right) - R.V. Thompson, E.R. Holliday, J.M. Taylor, T.B.Greenwood, C.H. Ewart, W.G. Briggs
Middle row (left to right) - P.J. Walker, E. Hall, C.S. Harden Esq, G.S. Joss, D.F. Bachelor
Front row left to right) - P. Carmichael, T.A.S. Anderson, H.D. Jennison (Captain), N.M. Hall, J.B. Millar

- R.V. Thompson - Represented England in 1947 at Twikenham.
- H.D. Jennison - Played for the English Public Schools team in 1941. Had he not been killed in WWII, would have probably gone on to play for England.
- N.M. Hall went on to captain England a then record 17 times.

Bull Sand Fort (or the Northern Fort as it was known for security purposes during its construction) is the largest of the two forts in the Humber Estuary, visible from the Cleethorpes shoreline. It was in 1914 that plans for the two forts were finalised. Bull Sand Fort was to be located on sand banks 4200 yards south-west of Spern Head lighthouse with deep water channels three quaters of a mile either side. The contract for the building of the Bull Sand Fort was awarded to C.J. Willis & Son of London who had submitted their proposals in April 1915. More to follow…

When I was younger my parents used to take me on walks in Winthorpe just outside of Newark. One rather unusual feature of these walks was a large, disused (not 100% sure what you could use it for) concrete barge on the bank of a lake next to the river Trent. No one that I have asked knows why this barge is there or what is was used for. The vessel is huge (probably 20m+) and I would love to know a bit more about it anyone got any ideas?! Here is a picture courtesy of those dastardly people at Google…

And here are some more pictures, taken on location no less:

And what always goes hand in hand with a concrete barge? A concrete toilet cubicle of course…