Set in the heart of beautiful Merton Park, the Old Rutlishians’ Association is a registered charity dedicated to providing inclusive sports for girls, boys and grown-ups of all ages and abilities.
Our thriving private members’ club in Poplar Road, SW19, serves as a central hub for our vibrant local community, bringing kids and grown-ups alike together to play sport, make friends or just relax in a friendly and safe environment.
Old Ruts introduces children of all abilities to rugby from the age of 3 with its Rug Ruts programme, to cricket from age 5 with the All Stars and Kwik Cricket schemes, and to football from age 4 with its Ruts Super Saturday course.
Qualified coaches provide structured training for budding rugby, football and cricket players throughout their junior years, before players transfer into our numerous adult teams. Whatever age you are, having fun while learning is placed firmly at the heart of each training session and match.
To join up or to find out more about Old Rutlishians’ Association, please email membership@oldruts.club.
Registered Charity No. 1184886.
History
When the Rutlish Old Boys Association was formed in July 1906, the name being changed to the Old Rutlishians’ Association in 1921, the course of events over the first 50 years of its existence would not have been considered possible.
There were two World Wars where over 150 Old Boys gave their lives, a ground of our own was acquired in 1924 and a brick Clubhouse was built in 1936. Membership rose from around 150 to over 700 by 1939, football declined and disappeared by 1932 as a result of the change to rugby at the School and the period between the wars saw a significant improvement in the quality of fixtures played for both cricket and rugby sections.
Athletics was particularly strong at both the School and the Old Boys and was reflected in athletes winning Oxbridge blues, being members of the Great Britain Olympic team in 1948 and Derek Pugh winning a European Games gold medal in 1950. Tennis too was well supported during the first 50 years with up to 18 courts available for play.
Despite post war austerity, improved facilities were added with the Memorial Lounge and upstairs changing room in the early 1950’s. Cricket and rugby both had their successes on the field of play, including the famous victory over Harlequins in the Middlesex 7’s at Twickenham, and athletics continued to be well supported and successful. Membership of the Association rose to over 1,500.
The 50th Anniversary Handbook produced in 1956 forms the basis of the story now set out for those years.
We have an extensive archive featuring all the O.R.A. and School history, records, photographs and sport.
To view some more great photographs from yesteryear please visit
http:/www.milesdavey.co.uk/rutlish
http://www.cphicks.org.uk/rutlish1957/support/rutlish1957home.htm
My Father was Leslie Richardson who was President in 1964 and sadly passed away in 1992. However his brother Ron is still alive, aged 97 and living in Australia, close to Sydney.
He has asked me to obtain any historical info that you may have dating back to their era which he would like to read. Unfortunately he is not on any computer so hopefully \I will be able to print off anything you may have.
Here is Geoff’s response. Probably best to continue to discuss via email geoff.aldis2@gmail.com
Hi Trevor
Of course I remember your father well having played cricket many times with him for the ORs and of course against yourself for Epsom.
Our records obviously go back to the beginning of the Association and includes details of Committee Meeting, fund raising, sporting fixtures etc and is stored on “Dropbox”. I have copied Ian Lambert in on this e-mail as he is our archivist who may be able to assist – but there is a lot of it!!
King regards
Geoff Aldis
Hi GeoffThank you for your response and nice to hear from you.Yes I understand how much there may be. I will sort out some periods and topics and see what can be found.Good to see the OR’s doing well with cricket and hope to see them play this year. Watched them play at Epsom last year.Hope you are keeping well.RegardsTrevor
Re Mr Ronald Douglas Richardson – Born 9th February 1919 Hi GeoffIt has been a while since we last communicated.We have to unfortunately inform you of the passing of our uncle Ron on the 27th September at the grand old age of 99.As you know he was a LIfe Member of the ORA.It is fair to see he had a full and very interesting life and fortunately wrote a full biography of his life including his WW2 service.Very sad for the family and he will be greatly missed.RegardsTrevor
The address for my web site is wrong, it should be http://www.milesdavey.co.uk/rutlish
That’s the address on the page, and the link works.
Good morning.
Not sure if you had seen the message I wrote about my Uncle. Ron Richardson? He sadly passed away on 27th September at the grand old age of 99.