Memories of Douglas Number 17

SPORT

My late husband Douglas enjoyed playing rugby in his younger years and was in teams for The Metropolitan Police and the company he worked for in London. His rugby playing days ended when he just kept getting too many injuries which he couldn't shake off quickly.

As you saw from yesterday's blip running was a major part of his life but he also enjoyed watching sport.

Our son Neil became interested in cricket at an early age and played for our local club at various levels - Under 11, Under13, Under 15 ( he was captain ), the 3rd team and the 2nd team. He had a few games with the Firsts and also when he was younger he used to score their games.

Douglas and I used to go along to the club regularly to watch him play. I was even roped in to do the cricket teas for a couple of years.

My photo today shows the nets, the score box and Douglas's favourite seat in front of it. (sorry it's not a very good shot but it was taken through a small gap in the fence ).

One rugby related tale Douglas used to tell happened not long after he had arrived in Palestine - he joined the Palestine Police when he was 17. He was lined up in a parade and the Sergeant asked if anyone played rugby. Silence. They knew not to volunteer themselves for anything . The Sergeant asked again. Some of the others pointed to Douglas and said " He told us he had played a bit of rugby ". So Douglas was volunteered.

The job he had been signed up for was to mark out a rugby pitch so that a big match could take place. Well Douglas had played rugby but had never marked out the pitch - he wasn't even sure what size it should be. Whilst he was mulling this over the Sergeant arrived with his " helpers " - - they were a bunch of prisoners from the local gaol.

Douglas - a 17 year old lad - was sent off alone with them - none of them could speak English and Douglas hadn't learned much Arabic yet. So it was a lot of pointing and hand gestures. He realised that his helpers had no idea what rugby was or what they were supposed to be doing but they all seemed to be enjoying themselves.

When they stopped for a lunch break Douglas could see that the packed lunch the prisoners had brought was far better than the one he had. They were kind enough to share theirs with him. So in the end the pitch was marked out, the rugby match was played and no-one had any complaints.

Douglas found out that prison labour was a regular thing. They used " lifers " who were usually murderers to go on these working parties. As you can imagine the prisoners were very keen to be chosen as it meant getting out of the prison into the fresh air and doing something different. If anyone misbehaved then they weren't allowed out again so they were keen to tow the line.

****** Another Facebook message from Neil in Thailand - must say I'm impressed with the way he is keeping in touch so far.

" hey, yesterday we rode elephants, went to a waterfall then went bamboo rafting, was a good day. Then had a few beers on the night. Leaving Chiang Mai tonight at 6 - a 19 hour bus journey to Loas, should be interesting! Will keep in touch as much as possible"