16 May 2022
Written By Matthew Eastley
This Sporting Life
This clipping from 1959 shows Derek Wasson pictured mid leap in the U14 long jump.
Returning to school after the Easter break to the unmistakeable aroma of freshly cut grass brought to mind the annual sports day.
This was usually held around mid to late June. Before the move to the new school in 1957, the College used to hold the event at the Cambridge University Mission Sports Field at Avery Hill and thanks to the brilliant long jumper and athlete David Read for providing the programme below. This was just after the formation of Houses at the school but note the absence of Becket House which came a little after the initial introduction.
St Mary’s College Sports Day in the early 1950s
Of course, the new school boasted excellent grounds with space for a running track, a long jump pit and areas for other field events like javelin and discus. Each year, The Kentish Times ran a report of the school’s Sports Day, often sending a photographer along.
A Kentish Times report from the summer of 1966. ‘Spike’ is just visible in the background
It was Fr Roland Connelly who established the Sports Day but successive Games Masters, Fr McKeown, Ted Robinson, Peter Lawson, Rod Turner and Roy White all raised the standard.
An early 70s picture showing 1970 joiner Malcolm Tilley in the discus
Patrick ‘Paddy’ Calnan, who joined in 1974, was able to supply a number of Sports Day programmes from the mid to late 70s. The one above dates to June 1975.
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