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Waterguard Sports & Pastimes |
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SPORTS - Page contents: |
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A Directory of Waterguard Sports & Social Clubs - with contact details - is available here. |
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BRIDGE - Had a wide following in the Waterguard. Staff competed for the Bushell Cup and staff at London Airport formed the Heathrow Waterguard Bridge Club who were the instigators in 1971 of a National Waterguard Bridge Pairs competition for which the winning pair were awarded the 'Dick West Waterguard Cup'.
Poker, Bragg, Gin Rummy and Patience were all played in between flights at airports and at break times.
Carnivals played a large part of town and village life after the Second World War and Waterguard staff often joined in the fun by entering 'floats'.
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The Customs Float in Dover's 1965 Carnival
Those Taking Part - Include messers McNabb, Myland, Cake, Rowe, Pascoe, Mayers & Saunders. |
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There are more images in this category on the 'Pictures - Sport & Pastimes' page - select the 'button' on the right to view them. |
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One of the more intellectual pursuits of Waterguard officers. The Preventive Staff Sports Club organised two competitions.
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This indivdual bi-annuall award was competed for on a knock-out basis by correspondence or over-the-board play, as was suitable to the players. |
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This competition was an annual inter-port contest was played for the coveted Woodford Cup, also known as ‘Silver Rook’ trophy, which presented by Charles Woodford - Inspector General. The shape of the cup is of the chess piece - the castle or rook. The trophy was competed for by teams of four players drawn up as per rules (b) and (c) of the Customs Fund Inter-Port Cricket Trophy and each team elected a Captain through whom all disputes were settled or refered to the managing Committee for a decision. |
Cricket Trophies were competed for annually.
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The Gravesend Customs Cricket Club circa 1956
The Team : Bob Smith, Ron Baker, Bill Miller, Jim Duckworth, Dennis Hillier (Acting Hon Secretary), Reg Ellingham (Captain), Harry Woodruff (Vice Captain), Dick Johnson, Jack Brisley, Bert Blann & David Finden. The Umpire : Henry Hall |
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There are more images in this category on the 'Pictures - Sport & Pastimes' page - select the 'button' on the right to view them. |
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The Alec Brown Cup was awarded for all-round cricketing.
The Chief Inspector's Cup was competed for each year by almost all, if not all, the Customs Collections, and these teams included all members of the department, ie Landing Staff, Indoor Officers, Investigation Officers and the Waterguard.
The Customs Fund Inter-port Cricket Trophy was competed for each year by teams from the Preventive and Launch Services, from a District under one Waterguard Superintendent. The contest was played on a 'knockout' principle.
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The Otto Mundy Trophy was awarded each year to the player with the best batting performance. Otto Mundy was a Commissioner of C&E appointed in 1935 and became the Deputy Chairman of HMC&E - 1942-1949.
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The Customs & Excise Preventive Service Sports Club organised much of the sport within the Waterguard. As well as the cricket and football competitions, they held an annual Dinner & Dance at which trophies were presented.
Football teams were formed at most major ports. Matches were organised between other local sides, other Government Departments and sometimes with other countries Customs services.
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Gravesend & Tibury Waterguard Football Team - March 1965 |
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The Team : Howard Rogers APO, Danny Daniels PO, Ray Stanford & Tommy McGhee APOs, Don Armstrong, Launch crew, Keith Warren, Mike Craske, David Baxter, Ken Swadling, Harry Turner & Stuart Richardson APOs, John Durkin, Launch crew & Noel Cuneen APO |
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THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE KNOCK-OUT CUP
This was a competition between Irish Customs teams from both North and South of the Border inaugurated in 1969 thanks to the enthusiasm of Pat McLaughlin of Dundalk and Donal Costigan of LifIord. A pleasing feature of the competition was the opportunity to meet Republic of Ireland colleagues on the field and at a hostelry afterwards.
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There are more images in this category on the 'Pictures - Sport & Pastimes' page - select the 'button' on the right to view them. |
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The Lupton Cup started life as an annual, inter-port football competition 'to perpetuate the esteem and affection felt by the Preventive Staff for Arthur S Lupton CBE', a senior civil servant in Customs and Excise. The trophy was competed for by the various Waterguard Divisions between 1937 and 1972 and presented to the winners by the Preventive Service Sports Club.
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The Pilling Cup was the award for a Collection-wide competition at both football and cricket.
The Thames Cup was presented by Mr Kieran, Higher Waterguard Superintendent, as a sports trophy to be played for on an annual basis between Gravesend and London. Cricket, Football and Golf were the sports contested, and the winner was decided on a points system.
Golf was a popular game amongst Waterguard officers.
The London Airport Waterguard Golf Society was founded in 1962 by Ron Edmunds, with the first matches held at Finchley Golf Club. Originally for Waterguard staff who worked in the Central Area at the Airport, it now has members from other parts of the Service as things have changed over the years. The Morrison Knockout Trophy was presented by George Morrison who was LAP Waterguard Superintendant in the 1960’s. He wasn’t a golfer, in spite of being a Scotsman, but presented a prize to go with it each year. The Eclectic was presented by Ron Edmunds in the late 1960’s as a running competition throughout the year, we don’t have earlier records of who won these before the dates shown. The Winter Pairs trophy was presented by Jim McBeath before he went back to Glasgow in about 1977. The Presidents Putter, presented by the then Collector who was a keen golfer, was played for from the early 1970’s. The Summer Plate was provided by the Assistant Waterguard Superintendants, people like Vic Roberts and Ron Edmunds, who were keen golfers too.
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Jim McBeath - British Civil Service Golf Champion - 1970 In 1964 Jim, an APO at Aberdeen, reached the final of the Scottish Amateur Championship and was selected to play for Scotland in the International Series of matches. In 1966, as PO at Heathrow, he won the British Civil Service Golf Championship at St. Andrews and he won again in 1970 at Moortown Golf Club Leeds. During this time, Jim was elected Captain of the British Civil Service Golf team and was a Middlesex County player. |
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The Gravesend Custom House Sports Club started a Rowing Section in 1925, following a bad defeat in a local Regatta against a crew from the Port of London harbour service, and a race from Gravesend Customs pier to Cory's coal hulks and back by two Waterguard officers in skiffs - for a small wager!
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The rowing section held an annual competition for a Shield - the Rowing Competition Shield - with medals presented to the winner and runner-up. In 2011, this shield was displayed on the wall of the kitchen at Gravesend Custom House. It is of wood with eight mini brass shields around a central brass inlay depicting a single sculler and the legends 'GravesendCustom House Sports Club' and 'Rowing Competition Shield'. The three upper mini brass shields are inscribed: 'H C Palmer 1925' - (Horace Charles Palmer)
'E W Thomas 1926' - (Ernest Walter Thomas)
'F P Smith 1927' - (Foster Peat Smith) |
Tug of War was a feature of C&E Sports Club sports days when teams from many C&E branches and departments competed for the 'Chief Preventive Officers Challenge Cup'. One of the Waterguard teams trained at Shadwell Pier Head on Tuesday and Friday evenings.
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First winners of the TUG-OF-WAR - CPO Challenge Cup - 1926 From left to right - (Back row) DJ Ferguson*, MJ Sullivan (trainer), J Merron & WH Johnson, (Middle row) DJ Brown*, RA Stocker*, CE Egan (President CPO Association) & RJ Steers*, and (Front row) DJ Dowden* & R Holderness* - *Team members |
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To occupy their time during 'official breaks' and in the slack time between dock or airfield patrols, ship or passenger movements, rummage, shipping stores or other official functions, Waterguard officers engaged in a variety of 'pastimes'.
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St. Margarets Morrismen - 1970 The St. Margarets Morrismen were a group of mainly Dover Waterguard staff who were originally formed as the idea of Alan Bostock PO who wanted to make an imaginative contribution by the Department towards the annual village carnival. Originally intended as a 'one off', the idea took off and after the carnival the group continued to meet weekly in a back room at 'The White Cliffs' pub at St. Margarets, and joined other local groups at 'moots' at various venues in Kent. It was never taken too seriously. The dancers' dress included adapted uniform waistcoats with a St. Margaret's Bay lighthouse motif sewn onto the area where a breast pocket would be, and much beer was consumed on these occasions! Apart from Derek Aitcheson, Tim Longley, John Joyes & Cliff Davies in the photograph, other members included Mike Summers, Marty Stone, Tic Hamilton & Garry Bowers.
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During the 1960's, Waterguard staff at Heathrow Airport had a Traditional Jazz Band. Formed by Tom Wakeman PO, 'The Charlie Whisky Seven' - a name derived from the radio call signs used by the boarding staff whilst on the tarmac - played at various Waterguard social functions including trips on the River Thames. For a time they also had a 'semi-residency' at the airport's staff bar in the control tower building - shift work permitting. The band's line-up changed over time as the musicians were posted in and out of Heathrow on transfer or promotion, and a few non-Customs musicians joined at various times. Some of the staff involved included Tom Wakeman - founder and first leader, Jim Gilliat - piano who took over when Tom left, Alan Woodhouse - trombone and washboard, Neil Benson, Dave Yewman and Alistair McLean - all on clarinet, Roger Spinks - banjo, Mike Wilson - at the drums, Chris Nichols and Alan McBride - both played trumpet, Bob Childs - bass and tuba, and Frank Barker - tuba. The picture on the left was taken about 1970 and shows the band practicing at Dave Barkers house in Windsor and includes Tom Wakeman, Neil Benson on clarinet, Roger Spinks looking at the camera and the back of Bob Childs head! |
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DOVER
Prayer Meetings, known locally as 'Captain's Prayers', were held every morning around 10:00 on the SS Invicta, owned by British Railways - Southern Region, and used on the Golden Arrow Service, at Admiralty Pier in the Western Docks during the 1960's. It was attended on Merchant's Request by the Baggage Hall Lock-Up PO, Boarding staff who were in the know, certain Special Branch & Immigration Officers, British Transport Police,a man from Cook's and the ship's officers and crew.
BR (S) paid the Merchant's Request to stock bars prior to sailing. The general opening prayer was "Up Spirits". Bob Davidson PO often acted as Prayer Leader towards the end of his service.
LONDON AIRPORT
Staff met for prayers once a week in the boarding locker room of the Queens Building during the 1960's.
Many offices ran Football Pools syndicates, Premium Bond schemes and Sweep Stakes on major horse race events. They were often blighted by 'none payers' - did those officers who owed money ever pay? Rumours abounded about winnings in excess of £4,000 and those that owed money usually told the 'operator' to take what they owed out of the winnings!
There was an HM Customs & Excise Arts Club to which many Waterguard artists belonged.
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BLESS 'EM ALL! A Waterguard version sung to the original tune. A PDF of the words can be selected with the 'button' on the right. |
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CLEMENTINE. A Waterguard version sung to the original tune. A PDF of the words can be selected with the 'button' on the right. |
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THE APO's SONG. This was sung by 'partying' Rummage Crew APO's to the tune of 'My Favourite Things'. A PDF of the words can be selected with the 'button' on the right. |
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THE WATERGUARD ANTHEM. This was sung to the tune of 'There's a tavern in the town' by 'partying' Waterguard officers between the two World Wars of the 20th century. A PDF of the words can be selected with the 'button' on the right. |
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UP THE 'COMMON' MARKET. The Chorus was to be sung whilst waving dutiable goods and an anti-Market Petition! A PDF of the words can be selected with the 'button' on the right. |
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A DREAM OF A JOB. This poem appeared in The Customs Journal - Vol. 68 No 1161 February 1961 - attributed to T.W.C. A PDF of the poem can be selected with the 'button' on the right. |
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ONE - WAY STRETCH. This poem appeared in The Customs Journal - Vol. 69 No 1171 January 1962 - attributed to S.B. A PDF of the poem can be selected with the 'button' on the right. |
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FIFTY-POUNDS-A-HEAD HOARD. This poem appeared in The Customs Journal - Vol. 75 No 1250 October 1968. A PDF of the poem can be selected with the 'button' on the right. |
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OWO 49/68. This poem by Magnum reflecting the disquiet at the loss of Waterguard grade titles on 'reorganisation', appeared in The Customs Journal - Vol. 76 No 1254 February 1969. A PDF of the poem can be selected with the 'button' on the right. |
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As well as whole songs and poems especially composed, there were a few alternative 'lines' and 'phrases' substituted in traditional songs when sung by Waterguard officers - such as:
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THE WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER |
'There'll be blue words over the white chalks of Dover Tomorrow, just you wait and see.' |
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Gun Clubs were a sporting attraction following the two World Wars and many Waterguard officers, being ex-servicemen, either joined such a Club or formed their own.
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The Holyhead .22 Team - 1957 Winners of the Holyhead .22 Rifle League Championship - 1957
The Team : Back Row: George Lees, Charlie Beckett & F Eric Yoxall (far right). Front Row: Ron C Cove, Andy Chamberlain (Captain) & Harry Beattie (2nd right). Others: W Smith, Assistant Superintendent and R Colling, CPO |
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The Sasines cup, an interdeprtmental competition held by the Edinburgh Civil Service rifle club, was won by Andy Howard and Douglas Stewart, Leith APOs, in 1959-60. It was quite a large cup which the Collector displayed in a case in Leith Custom House.
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The Composite Land Boundary XV - 1956
The Team : Back Row: Gerry Pickering, Gerry Lynch, Brian Powley, ?, Pete Barber, Ron Hughes, Jack Brisley, ? & Danny Buckle. Front Row: Len Berry, Mike Aubin, Bob Barr, Wyn Symons, Cec Hunter, Gerry Redman. Playing : The RUC Depot at Enniskillen |
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Offshore Sailing Regatta
The Crew : Mike Clifford, Mike Carr, Colin Poland, Ernie Grayson & Russ Ayling |
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Menu Card for the 1950 Annual Dinner Dance organised by the Club can be seen by selecting the appropriate 'button' on the right. |
LIVERPOOL WATERGUARD SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB
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This thriving Club holds lunches twice a year at the Adelphi hotel, Liverpool. A copy of a speech given by Dave I'Anson at a Liverpool Waterguard Sports & Social Club lunch in April 2010 can be seen by selecting the appropriate 'button' on the right. |
SWANSEA & DISTRICT
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Established in 1959, one of the oldest Sports & Social Clubs was the HM Customs & Excise Waterguard, Swansea & District Sports & Social Club. It was more social than sports club - local hostelries benefiting more than the purveyors of sporting equipment. In 1960 the Club membership was extended to non-Waterguard C&E colleagues and 'Waterguard' was dropped from the title. The Club enjoyed a very short but happy life of about six years. During the summer months the Club fielded a rather mediocre cricket team and throughout the rest of the year organised a series of dances at the Pier Hotel Mumbles. The highlight of the social calendar was an annual dinner dance at the Mackworth Hotel Swansea, and later at the Caswell Bay hotel. PDFs of a Membership Card and tickets for some of the Dinner Dances organised by the Club can be seen by selecting the appropriate 'button' on the right. |
WOKINGHAM & WOODLEY (LAP)
Formed in 1969, the Wokingham and Woodley Waterguard Social Club operated in Berkshire and catered for the large number of staff and their families who worked at Heathrow and lived to the west of the airport. It successfully organised dances, cruises on the Thames, treasure hunts and the odd cricket match.
YE OLDE RIVERITES (London Port)
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Festivities Card for the 13 March 1950 re-union can be seen by selecting the appropriate 'button' on the right. |
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