Ben Goodman
I had a nice telephone call this morning from Ben Goodman telling me about the Roxeth Manor Old Boys Club and he very kindly sent me some pictures of the Old Boys Rugby Club Thank you Ben
Ben later kindly sent me the following email with photos, some of which were doubles of the first lot he sent me, So here is all the photos I received excluding the doubles.
Ben kindly gave me permission to use them on both the website and in the ‘Forgotten Memories book.
MEMORIES OF ROXETH MANOR
I (Ray Goodman but usually known as Ben or Benny) lived at 116 Hamilton Crescent, South Harrow with my mother and brothers David and Harry. We three boys all went to Roxeth Manor School which was just 500 yards or so from our home, Some of the other lads who lived down my road were Jimmy Pusey (?), John and Peter Lowry, Colin Pinkney and his brother, Trevor Holmes and Gordon Miners. I started school, during the war, in 1942 in Roxeth Manor infants then moving on to the Juniors. I was evacuated to Sheffield for two years (1944/45).
In 1948, I moved to Senior School and my form teacher was Mr Coles. At the time there were a lot of Welsh teachers at the school: Mrs Lewis (Biology), Mr James (Art), Mr Lloyd (PT and Rugby), Mr Callow (Arthur) French and Rugby. We went to Alexandra Park for our Games and one lesson he asked who would like to play Rugby so we all put up our hands. And that was the beginning …. Of my rugby career!
The first photograph is one of the School Rugby Teams (1951-2) – I am in the top row, 4th from the left. Brother Harry is in the front row holding the Rugby ball. 
The second photograph is of the athletics team in 1952 – Dave Searle is holding one cup, I am holding the other. We both represented Middlesex in Athletics and Rugby.
Brothers David, Harry and I all swam for the School – but I don’t have any photos. While at Senior School. I was in Byron House and I was Boxing Captain. On one occasion, I boxed my dear and close friend Bill Bailey - unfortunately, I gave him a bloody nose. I was so sorry but he forgave me the next day.
Leaving school in 1952, I started working at Kodak. This is a photo of Roxeth Manor Youth Club at one of the weekly Kodak dances.
Kodak had a Annual Sports Day and in 1953 I was presented with the Best Performance Cup by (Sir) Roger Bannister. I long jumped 21 feet 10 inches.
Since leaving school I had continued doing athletics with Shaftesbury Harriers. (photo)
I completed two years’ National Service in the Royal Marines
(?1956-58) – photo of me in uniform!
Roxeth Manor Old Boys formed a Rugby team in about (?)1960; regular members included Brian Grover, Brian Coe, Jim Holmes, Dave Searle, Brian Wright, Jim Holmes, Normal Pederson, Dave Shepherd and various others shown in the photos (sorry, memory goes with names and age!) I was Captain in 1965.
Roxeth Manor Old Boys Rugby Club 1965
The team in 1958 in their match against Llanelli
1965 (My year of Captaincy)
On a personal note: Harry died a few years ago from Asbestosis while living in Australia. Mum, Doris, moved to Australia just after brother David. She recovered from a brain tumour (photo below) and lived on for many years reaching the age of 79. David lives happily with his wife, Barbara, their children and grandchildren in Adelaide Australia.
And here we are now in 2015 living in Pembrokeshire, West Wales with Patsy - with lots of memories - no more rugby but 2 or 3 visits to the gym each week. (A final comment - They are very keen on Rugby in Wales though and there are lots of upcoming players!)
Ray (Ben) Goodman
15 November 2015
Ben then kindly sent me the copy of the Roxeth Manor Old Boys Rugby Football Club 21st Anniversary Souvenir Booklet 
I copied out this to make it easier to read
In August 1970 when we were celebrating ten and a half years of our Club’s existence. I wrote that “or those of us who helped to launch Roxeth Manor on a full time basis our tenth anniversary tends to mark our first real milestone in the clubs history. And we are now coming up to our 21st season. The two main founders of your Club, David Searle and Brian Wright, have been personal friends of mine both on and off the rugby pitch and indeed the athletic track for almost thirty years, and when I look back on those thirty years its fair to say that forming, running and maintaining our own rugby club was always in the many plans we had in those days. By fair means, and in some cases fairer means the founders of the club and their willing helpers struggled and pushed, cajoled and persuaded the ad hoc of Roxeth Manor Sunday side into a full time playing club. Undoubtedly, many, many players who have joined and supported our club over the years, have in doing so, given up the opportunity of first class rugby and all this can mean to a player.But as many of you must realise, running a club is a lot more than fielding sides on a Saturday, and when I look back to our early days when committee meeting were held weekly and often lasted six hours (sometimes followed by a four hour card session) to the smooth, well-oiled and efficient system your Committee operates today, with a minimum of full Committee meetings and everyone pulling his weight at all times to ensure the efficient performance of the Club, I am indeed impressed. Just as we have seen the maturity over the years of players on the pitch, we have also seen the tremendous maturity of those self-same players in the important official positions they occupy on your Club Committee. Within this document is a Roll of Honour which details the President, Chairman, Secretary and Team Captains since the Club was formed. It does not however detail, due no doubt to lack of space, such important people as the Treasurer, carried out so very ably since 1971/72 by Brian Dungate and before him, Roger Meek and before him Tony Whittington, or the ever smiling Rod Stone as Chairman of the Social Committee who had undoubtedly been a tower of strength in that role, aided and abetted by many Club members serving on this vital Committee, which is without doubt the cornerstone of our Club in financial terms. And now we have the redoubtable Len Thomas, with one session of Social Chairman under his belt, looking forward to the current season and proving to everyone that he is maintaining the excellent standard of his predecessors as Chairman of the most important Committee in the Club. One of the thankless tasks in any club is that of Fixture Secretary and in Roxeth Manor we have indeed been fortunate in having really dedicated individuals, who have carried out this extremely difficult job, year in year out. The three particular individuals who spring to mind are David Searle, Jim Spence and Tony Nuttall who have proved that by their individuality, perseverance and blowing the Roxeth trumpet they have been able to build us a fixture list worthy of a Club of Roxeth’s standing. In being allowed to indulge myself in “looking back”, it certainly does not seem possible that it is, in fact twenty-one years since our Club was formed; twenty one years since we played on the School pitch and cajoled our friends into making sandwiches and tea to be served in the school changing rooms. Twenty one years since David Searle planned the Roxeth kit, based of course, marginally on his old club Wasps and insisted that in our first season everyone would at all times, wear clean kit with gleaming white bootlaces if they wished to get in the first team. Our Club has been especially lucky, we have had, not only an immense amount of great characters amongst our playing ranks, but also our supporters. The many friends of the Club who turn out regularly to our social events and who support us and help to swell our income. The many Referees who have given us unfailing service over the years at all levels, and of course the Middlesex Rugby Union and the Rugby Football Union who have always attended to our requirements and responded promptly to our many requests. One of the pleasures of being an elder father of this Club, has been the opportunity to see so many players mature, both on and off the pitch, and if I may indulge in one reminiscence, I well remember at one evening session held just at Alexandra Avenue when a young gentleman who could best be described as a “Teddy Boy” turned up with well-greased hair and an arm held by a young lady, and was pointed out to me by another player as being a ‘potential hooker’. It has indeed been a great privilege to see ‘young Dennis’ mature in the way he has over the last twenty years. In the Club’s brief history, because it is brief, we have had many fine dinners, somewhat superb social occasions, outstanding overseas and UK tours and whenever a group of Roxeth Manor players gather to reminisce, outstanding events from these particular occasions are always recalled. In closing, I would like to pay tribute to the many people who have helped support our Club, to our friends in the Middlesex Clubs and many friends we have made, literally, throughout the world. I would like to pay tribute to those players who are no longer able to put on a pair of boots, but who still take a keen interest in our Club.I would like to express my appreciation for all the Committee Members, who have served on my Committee since I became Chairman in 1964 and to the faithful, tireless and dedicated support of Brian Wright our President and David Searle, our Vice President and to all other Officers of the Club, who have served us so well since 1960, and before. Many of them are still with us, many of them are still playing; some are no longer with us and some are no longer playing, but to all of you a heartfelt thanks for insuring that Roxeth reached this first major milestone in our career and to take this opportunity to say thank you for the help you have given and to wish the Club every success in the next twenty one years.
Bryen Coe.
