On Friday, October 4, 2019 at 12:24:21 PM UTC+1, newl...@googlemail..com wrote:
> On Thursday, June 12, 2003 at 6:29:47 PM UTC+1, Steve Kane wrote:
> > Gerald Wellesley - "Flamboyantly Homosexual" according to Keith
> > Alldritt in his biog of Yeats.
> >
> > Sociopathic fortunehunter and violent pederast according to the
> > grapevine.
> >
> > see this from the web - google original.
> >
> >
> > ETON MANOR RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB - THE EARLY DAYS
> > Ted Collinson Founder Member 1928, Life Vice President
> > (Copyright Reserved)
> > 11th June 1997
> > The seeds of Eton Manor and it's offspring Eton Manor Rugby Football
> > Club were sown as long ago as 1880 - Dickensian times - then, and for
> > the next forty years, we were to remain a Country of 'Haves' and
> > 'Haves nots', rich and poor, aristocrats and lowborn - as it had been
> > for centuries. The industrial revolution had had it's devastating
> > effect, the population was ever increasing with unemployment rising.
> > The only welfare benefit obtainable was 8s 0d per week for the very
> > old - otherwise it simply left the workhouse. Welfare benefits as we
> > know them now were not to arrive until 1942.
> >
> > Hackney Wick in the East End of London was typical of the urban
> > population throughout Great Britain with many youths and older men
> > unemployed. To their credit the 'Haves', the wealthy, had also reached
> > the conclusion that something would have to be done. Keir Hardie,
> > George Lansbury, and others were looking to Government participation
> > to represent the poor and workless.
> >
> > Eton College that 'bastion of the Haves', did more than consider the
> > overdue social changes - they acted. It was decreed by the College
> > authorities that all their scholars should contribute a regular amount
> > to be put in trust and used for the people of Hackney Wick with
> > emphasis on the young. This was in 1880 and very soon a mission church
> > had been established in the road then named Gainsborough Road. Many of
> > the Eton scholars who had gone up to University (usually Oxford)
> > eventually came to Hackney Wick, lived at the Mission and devoted
> > their lives to the welfare of the locals. One such individual was
> > Gerald Valerian Wellesley of the great Wellington family. I remember
> > him so very well. He had a marvellous personality, speech and attitude
> > which immediately endeared him to all - but particularly the young.
> > Although the Mission was Anglican we called him Father. He had this
> > wonderful understanding of the local cockney although he was never
> > patronising and he very soon realised that religion was not a
> > sufficient antidote to the problems of the poor of Hackney Wick.
> > Although a boys club had been established at the Mission (named Eton
> > Mission from the outset), Mr Wellesley quickly sought to establish a
> > boys club independent of the church. A local coal merchant in Daintry
> > Street was encouraged to vacate his premises with the diplomatic gift
> > of a 'fiver' and the Eton Manor Boys Club was born. Soon bigger
> > premises were secured and more important, Mr Wellesley was joined in
> > his wonderful venture by other Old Etonians who, with their
> > specialised knowledge, particularly in the all important world of
> > finance, made it possible for the Eton Manor Club to progress in the
> > best possible ways, Mr Wellesley first arrived in the Wick in 1907.
> >
> > First to join Mr Gerald Wellesley was Mr Alfred Ralph Wagg of a noble
> > Austrian family originally, a director of Helbert Wagg & Company and
> > Schroeder Wagg & Company - both merchant bankers and brokers in the
> > City of London. He in turn, introduced the Hon Arthur Villiers, second
> > son of the 7th Earl of Jersey, a director of Baring Brothers, the
> > great merchant bankers in the City, the Hudson Bay Company (furs) and
> > (during a 7 year leave from Barings) Metalgesselschaft, the great
> > German finance house - (this was just before World War 1). They were
> > soon joined by a further Old Etonian - Edward Cadogan son of the 5th
> > Earl Cadogan (who owned most of Chelsea and much of Westminster),
> > later to be called Sir Edward Cadogan, MP and Deputy Lieutenant for
> > the County of London. Mr Wagg was delightful unassuming quietly spoken
> > gentlemen beloved by everybody. He had a house in East Grinstead right
> > opposite where I now live (at Sackville College). He was a great
> > philanthropist and most generous to the people of East Grinstead. He
> > bought several huge properties on Ashdown Forest close by, which for
> > years have been made free for the use of Guides, Scouts, Federation of
> > Boys Clubs, Eton Manor and all youth organisations (Isle of Thorns
> > which is now controlled by Sussex University). Mr Villiers had been a
> > great athlete (running) at Eton and Oxford and a fine cricketer
> > (played in the Eton / Harrow match). In the 6th form at Eton he was a
> > very close friend of Maynard Keynes who was to become the famous Lord
> > Keynes, Economist. Sir Edward Cadogan, brilliant Clerk to the House of
> > Commons, was much admired by the Club chaps. He was an academic and
> > was to play a greater part in the life of Eton Manor when it sought to
> > encourage those boys motivated by academics rather than sport.
> >
> > The four original trustees I always had the idea that 'Gugs' Weatherby
> > of the famous firm of horse racing, known to the boys as 'Liza' was
> > also an original trustee but when in 1924 a new Trust Deed was raised,
> > the Trustees appear only as Wellesley, Wagg, Villiers and Cadogan.
> >
> > Well before World War 1 the Trustees envisaged new and bigger
> > premises. With the benefit of financial knowledge as Merchant Bankers
> > they were able to acquire the Old Manor Farm Dairy in Riseholme
> > Street, Hackney Wick. The magnificent spacious building, designed by
> > the architect and Old Etonian Goodhart Rendel, was completed in 1913
> > and opened by General Lord Roberts. The design incorporated a large
> > central hall equipped with a stage, accommodating several hundred
> > people and used regularly for general training as a gymnasium, PT,
> > boxing training and tournaments as well as dances, concerts and stage
> > shows (the club membership yielded an incredible wealth of talent
> > other than sport or as well as). There was angled wing on both sides
> > of the building - that on the right for the use of boys up to the age
> > of 18 and that on the left for those over 18. At 16 one was an Old Boy
> > and at 18 one became a Veteran. At ground level in the central
> > building was a non alcoholic bar run for so many years by that great
> > lady, so dear to our hearts, Mrs Greaves (who stood no nonsense from
> > anyone!) and at the back marvellous bathrooms and showers with never
> > ending hot water (those great understanding men, the Trustees, soon
> > realised that the natives of Hackney Wick, almost without exception,
> > lived in houses and flats without a bathroom of any kind!).
> >
> > The boys in the district were eligible to join at 13yrs 10mths but
> > were on probation. 'Subs' were an infinitesimal sum. Other Old
> > Etonians who had just come down from University - usually talented at
> > various sports, often to international level, or perhaps talented in
> > other ways (dramatics, music, art, etc.) came to Hackney Wick to join
> > the Trustees in their great work. At the back of the Club in Riseholme
> > Street, was a delightful old manor house wherein was installed Arthur
> > Villiers, his cook (she of the crooked wig), chauffeur and a seemingly
> > endless supply of Havana cigars and Vin (rouge ou blanc). All these
> > young Etonians were labelled 'Managers'. They included Geoffery Gilbey
> > (BBC horse racing announcer, he was Gimrack of the Daily Express and a
> > brilliant stage and theatre performer and organiser who established
> > the Eton Manor Concert Party). Sir Edward Howarth - Permanent Minister
> > of Education, known as 'Titch' he worked tremendously with the new
> > young members to 'get them started'. Douglas Jardine, City Solicitor
> > and Cricketer - Surrey and England Captain, he of the Harlequin Cap so
> > detested by the Aussies because of the 'bodyline' bowling as well as
> > the large number of centuries he notched up against them. He was a
> > delightful man who brought so many players to County standard. The Hon
> > Frank Pakenham, soon to be created Baron Pakenham and eventually
> > succeeded his brother as the Earl of Longford. A member of the Order
> > of the Garter and a Privy Councillor. Despite his reputation as a
> > 'friend' of convicted criminals he is a charming man with a very soft
> > refined voice. He was a founder member of the Eton Manor Rugby
> > Football Club, played several times in the 20's and 30's and was a
> > fine athlete. He is a nephew of Arthur Villiers. I meet him now and
> > then at the House of Lords and it never ceases to amaze me how popular
> > he is with all, the famous and not so famous, as they pass him in the
> > Peers Lobby - never missing calling out 'how are you Frank'. I
> > remember also joining him in training runs across Hackney Marshes. As
> > a boy I played table tennis against his wife, the Countess of
> > Longford, when he brought her down to Hackney Wick and the Club one
> > day in 1924. Then there was that most delightful man and friend the
> > Hon Evelyn Baring of the Merchant Banking firm - 'doyen' of the Eton
> > Otters (our swimming section). He was a close friend naturally, of the
> > Hon Arthur Villiers. Another Manager was Mr A.C.Crossley (his family
> > made those wonderful Crossley cars and fire engines). His speciality
> > was tennis, he played at Wimbledon regularly and helped raise the
> > standard of tennis at Eton Manor. Two of our chaps, under his tuition,
> > eventually got as far as the second round at Wimbledon themselves -
> > Bob Stone and Stan Brazin. Then there was the Hartley brothers, Ernest
> > and Frank - fine cricketers. Mr Charles Liddel came to the Club to
> > teach us his métier - dramatics - several times we won the dramatics
> > section of the London Federation of Boys Clubs. I shall never forget
> > the year when I took part in the win performed at the Old Blackfriars
> > theatre. I still lovingly refer to the full edition of Shakespeare's
> > plays which he presented personally to me and all the rest of the
> > cast. There were so many more who did so much for us but I especially
> > mention David and Ronald Shaw Kennedy 'super' Club Managers who had
> > played rugby football to a very high level for Oxford University and
> > leading London clubs including Rosslyn Park. Both were very quietly
> > spoken men of great charm. They were greatly attached to the Club for
> > so long and may be said to have given their lives for the Club. It was
> > they who introduced us to the game at a time when it was very 'toffee
> > - nosed' - classy and 'upstage' - twickers and all that. First we
> > primitive natives of Hackney Wick in the East End, needed to learn the
> > rules of the game - then how to handle that peculiarly elongated ball
> > that would persist in bouncing all which ways. Then they taught us the
> > 'spirit' of the game, all the Trustees and Managers brought to us the
> > best of public school spirit - to be honourable and courteous to the
> > opposition - to play fierce but honourable - give no quarter and
> > expect none. Then, of course, with their background they were able
> > straight away to build us a fixture list with some of the best clubs -
> > Wasps, Lensbury, London Welsh, Scottish and Irish, they even organised
> > an annual match with Eton College.
> >
> > In the early 20's the Trustees acquired about 200 acres of prime land
> > on Hackney Marshes which became known as the Wilderness. At first it
> > lived up to it's name, Arthur Villiers to his credit devoted every
> > spare minute of his life, and much of the Trust's finances to making
> > the Wilderness into one of the finest sports grounds in the land and
> > visiting teams were glad to play there. At one time, for example, the
> > Club were turning out 15 soccer teams, the Rugby section had a superb
> > pitch in the north east corner. The rest of the Club would wander over
> > to take a 'decko' at this strange game and 'jumped out of their skins'
> > at the preliminary chanting antics. As for myself I remember those
> > unaccustomed bruises and scratches which seemed to remain until the
> > following Wednesday.
> >
> > Those halcyon days of the Eton Manor Club went on despite those two
> > awful World Wars when so many of our members made the supreme
> > sacrifice. We turned out national and international class performers
> > at every sport. We excelled at boxing (what else in the East End of
> > London). Fred Grace and Harry Mallin won A.B.A. and Olympic
> > Championships. Fred Mallin (my brother in law and a real gentlemen)
> > like his brother Harry won Five A.B.A Titles, Commonwealth and Olympic
> > Bronze. We had numerous Club members who played Soccer for First and
> > Second division teams. J.Lewis played as an amateur for Chelsea and
> > England. Others played Cricket for their Counties while the Harriers
> > provided top performers for the A.A.A.
> >
> > David Shaw Kennedy whose only other interest in life apart from Eton
> > Manor was horse racing (he owned the Caesarewich winner Nitsichin and
> > another which he named Eton Manor) to our profound dismay he died
> > quite young just after World War 2 and, sadly his brother Ronald who
> > was plagued with some peculiar muscle trouble, died soon after.
> >
> > In 1965 Mrs Jay of the London County Council saw Arthur Villiers to
> > make known to him the decision of the Council to build a new road
> > system out of East London which would involve the demolition of the
> > Club buildings in Riseholme Street. It must have been a great
> > disappointment to him to say the least, although he was offered an
> > alternative site, he decided to close the Club for good. There were of
> > course many social changes about then which may have influenced his
> > decision - boys were not using the Club so much and the Club building
> > and the Wilderness upkeep was hardly justified. He was no doubt
> > saddened in spirit by the sad loss of David Shaw Kennedy who, no doubt
> > he looked to succeed him.
> >
> > Riseholme Street was demolished, the Wilderness turned over to the Lea
> > Valley Authority, by 1969 all the Trustees and most of the Managers
> > had died. Some sections, the Rugby in particular fought valiantly to
> > survive, becoming nomads for a long period of time - great credit to
> > them.
> >
> > At the ripe old age of 86 I sit in my lovely home of Sackville
> > College, East Grinstead, founded in 1609 by Robert Sackville, 2nd Earl
> > of Dorset - either in my lodgings or the grounds and ponder on those
> > halcyon days in Hackney Wick - the laughter and kidding of those young
> > fellows - or I'll be changing for a game of rugger and some ignorant
> > bloke has farted and we cannot escape - or I'll be in the bar at the
> > Club trying to catch the eye of dear old Mrs Graves so that I can buy
> > a glass of her hot sarsaparilla (I have searched high and low since
> > but never been able to buy it - I wonder why?).
> >
> > But most of all I like to go back to the early 20's. I 14 and we're at
> > Cuckoo Weir Camp (which Eton College let us use for our annual camp).
> > It's sing song time - 8:30pm. Geoffrey Gilbey is at the piano. "In
> > dear old Hackney Wick" and "Mile End Road". We're shooting chewed wet
> > paper pellets by means of rubber rings at the performers up front.
> > Then back to the tents for possible sleep, a younger edition of the
> > farter performs his disgusting sphincter act (why do they always
> > choose a confined place like a tent, or lift, or a Rugby Club dressing
> > room?).
> >
> > What a great Club it was. What memories.
> >
> > But wait, in 1996 the Rugby Club managed to secure a long lease moving
> > to new and luxurious surroundings in Wanstead at Nutter Lane, the
> > ground and buildings would do justice to any sports club with it being
> > renamed the New Wilderness. Eton Manor Rugby Football Club have risen
> > from the ashes, they are no longer nomadic but have invested in the
> > future of Rugby and sport within the local area, ensuring that I will
> > have more recent memories to warm on those bleak winter nights. Long
> > may it continue.
> >
> > Hold the front page, it gets better. The Rugby Club have purchased the
> > ground securing it for sport. The Youth is rising again wearing the
> > Dark and Light Blue of Eton Manor ensuring that premises of the
> > highest order for all those that wish to participate in sport under
> > the banner of Eton Manor will remain in situ for future generations.
> >
> > UTM
> >
> > (Up the Manor)
> >
> > I might have a weeny bit more for a serious researcher. Steve.