Sixty Years On, Still Blue and White
Sixty years after pulling on the blue and white, members of the Saint Kentigern 1965 and 1966 1st XV teams gathered once again during the recent Saint Kentigern v King’s College fixture for a reunion marked by laughter, memories, and the kind of camaraderie that had clearly stood the test of time. What began as teammates staying in touch after leaving school had quietly become a tradition, with the group continuing to reunite nearly every decade across the years.
The reunion was brought together through the efforts of Dennis Johns, William Akel, Mike Daniel, Don Turner and John Sarah, who helped reconnect thirteen former teammates for the special occasion.
What became immediately obvious was just how vividly those schoolboy years are still remembered. The granular details of big games, winning tries, drop-goals, tours, and sideline moments resurfaced almost effortlessly. The old yearbooks proved just as entertaining – particularly the honest comments from coaches about players and performances, which were quoted back with plenty of laughter around the room. William Akel, captain of the 1966 1st XV, put it best when he said, “There’s no way to sugar-coat the 1st XV experience because the friends we made and shared experiences we had were unforgettable.”
His words only proved what could already be seen around the room as a few teammates arrived wearing their old rugby caps and blazers. Others had somehow managed to keep their original jerseys tucked away for six decades. Holding his jersey up for the group, John Sarah drew plenty of laughs with the explanation that it had simply “shrunk in the wash”.
The reunion was made even more special by the attendance of several of their King’s College counterparts. While the rivalry on the field may once have been fierce, six decades later it was the friendships and mutual respect between both schools that stood out most clearly.
Throughout the day, memories naturally turned toward the wider Saint Kentigern rugby community as well, including reflections on the late Jack Paine and the enormous role he and his family played in the life of the 1st XV during those years. A special welcome was also extended to his son, Mike Paine, and to Frank Bull, assistant coach of the 1966 side. We know their attendance meant a great deal to our ’65 and ’66 teams who continue to reminisce on their 'football’ days with fondness.
