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The Gisborne Photo News

 

23

First Fifteens Forgather

The annual re-union was held last month of one of Gisborne's more exclusive groups, when 85 members met for dinner.

The group is not exclusive in the social or business sense but it is not open to just anybody. Even if you had a title and a long string of letters behind your name, you still couldn't join, unless you were a member of a First Fifteen at Gisborne High School.

For that is the membership qualification of this group. And when they meet, it can be taken for granted that the reminiscences are almost entirely about one topic, and one only...school Rugby "in the good old days".

Chairman for the evening was Mr E. C. Grant (1930-32), whose Rugby career included captaining the N.Z. Services team in 1940-1945. He has also played for N.Z. and England Barbarians.

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Three "doubles"..... fathers and sons who have both played for the First XV. From left, F. Bull (1918-21) and G. Bull (1946).

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G. W. Armstrong (1918) and A. Armstrong (1954).

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L. T. Torrie (1909-11) and Fred Torrie (1942).

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Those present were photographed in suitable groups, accompanied by the present Rector, Mr A. J. Gray. These 1909-10 stalwarts have all been elected life members of G.H.S. Ex-1st XV. Back row: E. Hookey, L. Torrie, D. McLeod, H. Patterson, Mr Gray. Front row: J. B. Greig, A. M. Trafford.

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1911-18: Back row: Mr Gray; J. Oman, B. Parker, G. W. Armstrong, R. Frazer. Middle row: D. Swann, L. Torrie, D. McLeod, S. D. Reeves. In front: F. Bull, K. Woodward.

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1919-27 Back row: Mr Gray; G. Mills, A. Owen, M. Robinson, D. Mortleman. Front row: R. R. Allen, J. Wilson, F. Bull, R. Frazer.

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1928-32. Back row: Mr Gray; G. S. Maunder, G. Mills, A. Owen, J. Trafford, W. A. Bell. Front row: Ray Preston, E. C. Grant, L. Shanks and V. C. Ivess.

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1933-1939. Back row: Mr Gray; C. Campbell, C. Priestly. W. Smiler. Front row: W. Toroa, G. S. Maunder, T. White, G. Harris.

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1940-43. Back row: Mr Gray; M. Kemp, Fred Torrie, H. Crawford, Trevor Torrie. Front row: P. Goldsmith, L. Gibson, Mr R. Stacey (coach, 1938-43), S. Wills, R. Bull.

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1944-48. Back row: Mr Gray; E. Wilkinson, Bob Preston, B. Williams, G. Bull. Front row: Ray Preston, F. Jones, L. Candy, and P. Goldsmith.

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1949-56. Back row: Mr Gray; D. Green, M. Vette, B. McLean, G. Robinson, B. Dodge, J. Moxley, A. Lee. Front row: R. Williams, A. Armstrong, W. Dennis, L. Moeau, G. Humble.

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1957-59 Back row: Mr Gray; M. McIldowie, J. Williams, P. Gordon. Front row: G. Findlay, H. Gordon, S. Crosby, R. Taylor, B. Owen.