1977
HENDON TAKE THE CARIBBEAN BY STORM
Following a memorable (apart from the results) tour in May 1971 to Washington, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Richmond Hendon were on their travels again in April/May 1977 when they toured the Caribbean. John Fone, a former Treasurer of the Club had relocated to Jamaica and was our local organiser.
This was at a time when the Club were almost all conquering in North London junior rugby having for the past five seasons lost only 30 out of 177 games, with the losses generally in the Middlesex Cup to more Senior clubs. We were also running five senior sides and a Colts XV and the touring party consisted of a cross section of the club's membership plus five guest players. There were five non- players and eight lady tourists. Results bore this strength out with an unbeaten record on tour.
Regrettably we lost one of our number to a heart attack when Peter Jerrum died in the second week, although he would have enjoyed and appreciated the wake which was held continuously as the tour progressed. His ashes were brought home and scattered on the Hendon pitches at a Memorial Service by his widow and young son.
The Fixtures
Monday 25th April v Cayman 1st XV; Tuesday 26th April v Cayman 2nd XV; Thursday 28th April v Jamaica RFU President's XV; Saturday 30th April v Arawaks RFC; Wednesday 4th May v West of Jamaica and Saturday 7th May v Jaa-Baas XV.
One of the teams
Don Wall Ian Lyall Dick Best Tony Ulph Barry Parker Bruce Hopkins Graham Hawkey David Williams Stuart Dowsett David Hemmings John Cahill
Geoff Riordan Keith Gent Alan Rae David Bowman Mike Brandler Gabby Harris Roland Wallce Les Davidson
The Social Scene
All our hosts were extremely generous with their time and bar tabs. Events included a drinks party at the Deputy British High Commissioner's residence in Jamaica; the Montego Bay RFC Annual dinner and a chicken barbecue with limitless beer as guests of Guiness Jamaica. There were visits arranged to Appleton Rum, Dunns River Falls, Fort Charles (where Lord Nelson was stationed) and a church which reputedly had a Communion Plate which was part of Captain Morgan's treasure.
Apart from all that and the rugby there was just plenty of lying round the pools, slapping on the sun tan oil and drinking more rum cocktails.
The Hendon Times Report
One of the tourists was John Pollard the Sports Reporter for the Hendon Times. To read his article click here
The DVD
Dave Waissen took his cine camera with him and recorded nearly 30 minutes of action - on the pitch, at the bar and round the pool. This has been put onto a DVD and copies are available from Tom Brownsell, Club Secretary. Contact details are on the Committee Page - click on Club Details to find.
The Photographs
The official tour photographer was David Williams. We have a library of nearly 30 action shots which can be accessed by clicking on this link Caribbean Tour 1977
The Tourists' Who's Who from the Tour Guide
Players
Mike Brandler 28, 5' 10" 14 st Full Back - Tour organiser & Captain. Club Captain 68/70, 71/73, 74/77, the interruptions being seasons at Saracens and Wasps. Regular representative of Middlesex County Clubs both at home and on tour to Belgium, Denmark, Holland and Sweden. Also played for Middlesex Colts and Hampshire Schools. A personnel manager who enjoys golf and milking cows by hand. Admits to being single but only just.
Peter Jerrum ?, 6' 4" 15 st Lock - Third Team Captain since 1970, his exact age is something of a mystery although he was the first man to play rugby in a submarine where he perfected the torpedo pass. In the old days played for US Portsmouth and represented the Royal Navy v French Air Force. His main occupation is parking cars on old bomb sites.
Richard Best 22, 6'2" 16 st Tight Head Prop - After four seasons with Hendon is currently playing at Harlequins FC where he is a regular in the 1st XV. A patissier (pastry chef) by trade his hobbies include golf and swimming. He claims to be very fit and open to offers.
David Bowman 19, 5' 10" 11 st Wing - the youngest player on tour has previously played for Rosslyn Park schoolboys and Middlesex Schools. Last known job was as a record distributor.
Neal Broady 32, 5' 9" 11 st Centre - Played his youthful rugby for Birkenhead Park and Port Sunlight and later Guildford before joining Hendon. His occupation is 'soliciting' or as he has often pleaded 'just buying an evening paper officer'. Favourite relaxation is walking and climbing in the Lake District.
Trevor Burkin 23, 5' 10" 12 st Wing - a recent rugby convert who made his 1st XV debut this season. Holds a BA in labouring but declines to list his hobbies in public. He has never flown before but used to read Dan Dare comics so he is not scared.
Steve Burkin 26, 5' 10" 11 st Flanker - A landscape architect, represented Middlesex Schools and used to play for Roundhay before joining Hendon. Trevor's brother and Jane's husband.
John Cahill 27, 6' 1" 12 st Flanker - An architect who enjoys underwater parachuting and used to play for Liverpool RFC whilst at University. Single with no children.
David Faulkner 23, 5' 7" 10 st Wing - Another recent convert who enjoys the social scene as much as the game itself. An assistant manager with a furniture firm, enjoys fishing and football.
Keith Gent 30, 5'9" 12 st Full back - An ex-captain of the 1st XV, has played for Blackheath and wasps. Works with computers and is reluctant to disclose his hobbies. A veteran of the 1971 tour where he went missing in pursuit of local culture.
John Hanna 23, 5' 10" 12 st Wing - Chairman of Hendon Ground Committee and i/c balls. Played for Hendon against the Danish national side during the 1975 Copenhagen Tour. An architectural assistant his hobby is building houses without doors.
Gabriel Harris 25, 5' 3" 11 st Scrum Half - Regular 1st XV scrum half, has played for Middlesex County Clubs and Birmingham University. A solicitor his hobbies are his Ferrarri, fast women and avoiding 16 stone prop forwards.
David Hemming 35, 5' 8" 11 st Hooker - Regular club player over last few years and has manged to hook his way through the top four sides. Previously played for Old Edwardians and Banbury RFC. A business executive his hobbies include sailing and skiing. An early prototype for Gerald Harper.
Ian Lyall 26, 6' 1" 14 st Lock - A Scotsman who previously played with Lenzie before joining Hendon. A bank official who enjoys squash and cycling but not at the same time.
Barry Parker 26, 6' 1" 14 st Number 8 - The long distance traveller who commutes each Saturday from darkest Peterborough. Represented Middlesex County Clubs and Northants and Huntingdon. An executive officer with the Post Office he admits to no other hobbies.
Alan Rae 26, 6' 0" 13 st Centre - Played all his club rugby with Hendon although his early days under Australian Rules occasionally prove beneficial. Still enjoys the odd 26oz Fosters. An electrical technician who works best in candlelight.
John Reed 22, 6' 0" 13 st Centre - First season with Hendon after the wilds of Tynedale, Wolfrun and Northampton poly. A totty champion whose hobbies are limbo dancing and sheep molesting. A site engineer and pansy salesman.
Geoffrey Riorden 29, 5' 9" 12 st Outside Half - Tour baggage man and coiffeur. Known to have brushed hair for Middlesex County Clubs in Belgium, Denmark and Sweden. An instrument engineer his favourite hobby is dancing. Recommended by Joe Loss but faulted by Peter West for side-stepping during the Old Fashioned Waltz.
Tony Ulph 22, 6' 0" 12 st Loose Head Prop - A lightweight prop with the speed of a flanker except when full of rum. A banker who enjoys squash and golf.
Roland Wallace 28, 5' 7" 10 st Wing - Club Treasurer & Bar Chairman he joined the club as a cricket player following the demise of Regent's Park Young Conservatives CC. A varied rugby career includes the Wednesday Handicaps and Nutters Nomads. An accountant and book fiddler by profession.
David Williams 24, 5' 9" 11 st Flanker - No stranger to the Caribbean as his elder brother lives in Bermuda. Guested for Renegades RFC during his visits to that island. A computer analyst his hobbies are keeping and breeding tropical fish, stamp collecting & foreign travel.
Leslie Davidson 27, 5' 8" 11 st Centre - A visitor for the tour, usually plays for East Kilbride. A civil servant whose hobbies are whisky tasting and falling down.
Bruce Hopkins 27, 6' 2" 15 st Lock - A visitor for the tour, usually plays for Banbury RFC. An agricultural engineer and keen motorcycle scrambler.
David Hoade 22, 6' 3" 14 st Lock - A visitor for the tour, usually plays for Staines RFC. A regular representative for Middlesex County Clubs, who works for British Airways.
Stuart Dowsett 29,5' 11" 13 st Flanker - A visitor for the tour, usually plays for Saracens RFC. The last man to score a try during the Saracen's tour to Bahamas. A computer programming manager whose hobby is beer and its attendant consumption.
Graham Hawkey 28, 6' 1" 13 st Flanker - A visitor for the tour, usually plays for Wadebridge Camels. No stranger to Hendon however as they stayed at his hotel, or what's left of it on their Easter Tour to Cornwall. A hotelier his hobby is camel humping.
Gentlemen
John Froomberg - Club President since 1972, he combines the job with refereeing every week for London Society. Remembers playing for the British Forces against the French in Austria in 1950. A textile manufacturer's agent, his hobby is watching the gardener.
Don Wall - Club Coach since 1973, his enthusiasm rubs off with the result that there are frequently at least two players at every training session. On tour his task is to sober the team up before every game. An engineering machine salesman, married with two children.
John Pollard - Sports Reporter for the Hendon Times, says that the only thing he can prop up is a bar stool. His hobbies are tennis, golf and writing soccer reports. A veteran of the 1971 USA tour.
Leslie Tulloch - A Vice President of Hendon who is in charge of the cheer leaders. A personnel manager who enjoys playing with his pet tortoise.
David Waissen - A non playing member, used to belong to Sidcup RFC.
Ladies
Maureen Froomberg - The President's wife who is coming purely for a relaxing holiday.
Jill Warrion - A potential rugby widow, who when not selling travel to her fellow Australians studies "pommunism" in the form of the tour Captain Mike Brandler.
Jane Burkin - Steve's wife and Trevor's sister-in-law who hopes to seek out the sun whereever possible.
Madelaine Bignell - Hendon's Lady drinking Champion and John Hanna's fiancee. Keen to sample some local cocktails.
Maritta Parker - A regular traveller to Hendon to watch her husband Barry play despite being many miles from her native Germany.
Shelly Robinson - A late entry but welcome addition to the tour.
Patricia Graham - 3rd XV Tea Lady, she has never been in a previous rugby club but lists her position as "The Happy Hooker".
Tania Pinner - A first time tourist who says she is looking forward to it (and the tour).
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