Thatโs a decent Chinese and I like the Albion and Prince of Wales pubs. The Mute Swan over the bridge is a very regular haunt ๐ Taken last weekโฆ
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I used to work in the PoW during the holidays when I was a student at UEA ('79-81) and then any evening or w/e shift I could get when at Kingston Poly (as was) between 81-83 and 85-86 (was in Grenoble in intervening period). Met my now ex-wife there in 85. Shared shifts ๐
aug 13, 2025, 7:02 pm โข 2 0 โข view
Fantastic story Bob, I did read it as Prisoner of War , Iโll admit๐. I was at Kingston Poly from 77-80!
aug 13, 2025, 7:07 pm โข 1 0 โข view
Did you ever go to the PoW back then? Tom & Sheila Eadie ran the place for about 20 years from the late 70s. I lived in Molesey from 1970 to 2017 (on and off, but mostly on). In 1970 my parents moved to Hurst Park and we had Eddie McCreadie (Chelsea footballer & later manager) as a neighbour.
aug 13, 2025, 7:17 pm โข 2 0 โข view
Probably not, Bob. I lived in Twickenham and Richmond until 1985. I can see Hurst Park from my window!
aug 13, 2025, 7:23 pm โข 2 0 โข view
I was a member of Richmond & Twickenham Photographic Society back then. Met at some council owned building not far from The Orange Tree. Played rugby for Rosslyn Park against Richmond, London Welsh and London Scottish many a time, too back in the late 70s to mid 80s!
aug 13, 2025, 7:32 pm โข 2 0 โข view
Brilliant , did you know Andy Ripley? I used to drink in the Britannia in Richmond and knew Steve Fluskey well, his Dad ran the pub. I was a regular at Athletic Ground, old Deer Park (L Welsh in their pomp) and Roehampton. Went regularly to Park until 2010 ish. Small world!
aug 13, 2025, 7:38 pm โข 1 0 โข view
Steve Fluskey is a familiar name... winger? The 1st team players I knew were Phil Keith-Roach (the skipper & hooker), Neil Goodenough, John Scott, Neil Mantell and a few others whose names now escape me. As a prop I hung around the forwards ๐ ๐๐
aug 13, 2025, 7:49 pm โข 1 0 โข view
Second row I think, I may be wrong.๐
aug 13, 2025, 7:52 pm โข 0 0 โข view
The 2nd rows I remember were those I mentioned earlier... the two Neils and John Scott, but obviously there were others too. If you drank with him, I'll take your word he was a 2nd row and not a winger... back then the two would have been physically very different. Jonah Lomu had yet to be born!
aug 13, 2025, 7:57 pm โข 1 0 โข view
Youโre right 10/12, Iโve just Googled it. It was 50 years ago , please forgive me๐
aug 13, 2025, 8:00 pm โข 0 0 โข view
In 1980, as social secretary of the University of East Anglia Student's Union Rugby Club, I invited him to be guest speaker at the club's annual dinner. That was largely down to vaguely knowing him through Rosslyn Park (I played for the Roebucks - the U-21s) Andy Ripley had previously attended UEA
aug 13, 2025, 7:44 pm โข 1 0 โข view
Brilliant ๐
aug 13, 2025, 7:45 pm โข 0 0 โข view
He was a true gent. Had time for everybody. Sorely missed.
aug 13, 2025, 7:50 pm โข 0 0 โข view
Yes, I saw him in his wheelchair often towards the end of his life. He always loved Park๐
aug 13, 2025, 7:53 pm โข 1 0 โข view