There are many differences between Bishops and Rugby. The most obvious is age (282 years), Rugby being founded in 1567. And in contrast to Bishops more peaceful uprisings (think slicked-back hair in the '70s and '80), Rugby has also been the seat of at least three pupil rebellions of an intensity that would make even Bishops boys blanch. The first, in 1797, was ended by soldiers surrounding the revolting boys and arresting them at bayonet point. It certainly makes the punishment of an hour's gardening seem quite tame.
Rugby is also co-educational (fully since 1995, with boys and girls now split almost 50:50). 90% of the pupils board.
But there are many similarities, too, and not just because both schools have a boarding house called School House! Rugby as a sport is central to the games offered by both schools; the pupil headcount is the same at around 800 (speaking of Bishops College); and both, periodically, suffer from accusations of elitism (an interesting feature of Rugby is that 44% of its pupils are supported by bursaries, 16% of whom are on full bursaries).
Both schools introduced rugby as a sport to their respective countries and the recognition of the importance of Bishops influence on the game is very visible in the Webb Ellis Museum in the heart of the town (of Rugby!).
And lastly, the alumni ties for both schools are the same colours and stripes, but with the Old Rugbeian tie stripes moving in the opposite direction to those of the OD one.
Mike Bayly (S, 1983, right) is the Director of Sport at Rugby and hosted ODs at the School on Saturday December 2nd, a bitterly cold day, during which visit we were shown every corner of the School, learnt its history and watched their 1st XV beat old rivals Cheltenham 14-8 in the end-of-year derby. The match also brought to a close the year-long celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of the "invention" of the game by a 17 year old Rugby schoolboy, William Webb Ellis who in 1823 "with a fine disregard for the rules of football first took the ball in his arms and ran with it thus originating the distinctive feature of the rugby game".We were so fortunate to have Tim Day, Rugby's Head of Alumni Relations and Director of Admissions, and a former pupil and teacher at the School, show us around. Tim's knowledge, humour, love for Rugby and of rugby and ability to engage with us were incredible and had us hanging on his every word.
He wasn't able to make the whole of the pub lunch as he had to referee one of the matches in the afternoon, but nevertheless, in true schoolmaster style, rushed in about five minutes before his kick-off to have a preparatory pint.
To both Mike and Tim, huge thanks.
We were also very fortunate to connect with Mike Pike (Bishops staff, 1969-1989) who after leaving Bishops, taught at Rugby for a decade and now curates the Webb Ellis Rugby Museum. At least two of our group were taught by him. Mike showed us around the museum and then did a brief check with his former pupils to see how much they recalled of his maths' classes.
The list of those who made the visit is given, with houses and years, at the end of this blog.
The photos below tell the story of the visit
Please click on them to enlarge
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| On the early train from Euston to Rugby, James Johnston and Karl Steinhagen |
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| On the same train is Mikhail Bolus eating breakfast, oblivious to the much more interesting presence on his right |
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| Tim Daly and Mike Bayly welcoming the ODs |
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| Gorillas in the mist; walking across the field on which it all started. Vaguely in the distance are the main school buildings |
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| Tim giving us the history. Joe Miller, Gabriel Nugent, James Johnston, Nicky Grieg, Mikhail Bolus, Ian Haggie and Tim |
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| The plaque commemorating Webb Ellis's invention of rugby in 1823 on one of the school walls overlooking the field |
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| A poignant moment in the small Chapel: taking in the names of the 687 (!) Old Rugbeians who died in The Great War |
Without doubt, Rugby has the most beautiful and imposing Chapel of all UK schools
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| In this magnificent School Chapel, gathered around the place where the School's (and education's) legendary headmaster, Thomas Arnold, is buried |
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| Thomas Arnold and the inscription marking his burial place |
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| Not a sight you'd see at Bishops (yet). Rugby girls on their way to Saturday morning class |
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| One of the beautiful quads found around the School |
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| The fountain in one of the quads which was used for the production of beer (by the boys for the boys) |
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| Left, the beautiful stained glass windows in the Classics classroom and right, ODs trying to take in the fact that Latin and greek are still alive and well at Rugby. |
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| Thomas Hughes, author of Tom Brown's Schooldays and an old boy of Rugby |
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| You can take the boy out of Top House, but you can't take Top House out of the boy; Gabriel Nugent (a School House wannabe; he was actually in Kidd) and Joe Miller |
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| And in the centre of the town, pride of place is given to William Webb Ellis. At his feet (right) are: James Masey, James Johnston, Nicky Greig, Joe Miller, Ian Haggie, Mikhail Bolus, Karl Steinhagen, Nicky Bicket, XXX and Carl Scott |
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| Outside the Webb Ellis Museum with Mike Pike |
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| Bishops taking pride of place in the 200th anniversary exhibits (Bishops 1st XV jersey, cap and Springbok cap belonged to Tommy Gentles (G, 1951, Springbok scrumhalf) |
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| If not the highlight, then the central point of the visit. The iconic Merchant's Inn in the heart of Rugby. Clockwise from bottom left: Ian Haggie, James Johnston, Mikhail Bolus, Karl Steinhagen, Carl Scott, Andy Jackson, James Masey, Gabriel Nugent, Joe Miller, Nicky Greig and Mike Pike |
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| Gabriel Nugent, Andy Jackson and Mike Pike |
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To cap off a wonderful outing, Rugby beating Cheltenham
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