Where it all began………

The first records found for the hockey club are captured in the Norwich Union Staff Magazine of Spring 1920 that makes reference to the formation of Norwich Union Hockey Club (Fire Department) on September 8th 1919.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This appears to be a record of the formation of the ladies club, with the first records of the men’s club being for the 1920-21 season with Secretaries G.G.Melton and F.C.Laws and First XI Captains being R.P.Rowe and F.C.Laws.  The team photo from the 1932-33 season shown later on this page includes a suited R.P.Rowe, clearly someone responsible for the founding of the Men’s Club.

Records of the Men’s Secretaries and First XI Captains can be seen below:

Secretaries
1920-21	G.G.Melton/F.C.Laws
1921-22	E.M.Hedges/T.F.Newman
1922-25	E.C.Wallis
1925-26	R.Mendel
1926-28	E.C.Wallis
1928-30	L.J.Lawrence
1930-31	K.M.Cattermoule
1931-32	F.E.Oxbury
1932-33	A.J.Wright
1933-34	R.Pankhurst
1934-35	A.J.Wright
1935-40	C.H.B.Page
1946-47	J.Lewis
1947-51	A.H.Bussey

 

First XI Captains
1920-21	R.P.Rowe/F.C.Laws
1921-22	C.F.Page/H.H.Smith
1922-26	D.W.Pye
1926-27	R.Mendel
1927-30	D.W.Pye
1930-31	R.Mendel
1931-32	K.M.Cattermoule/E.W.Martin
1932-34	E.W.Martin
1934-35	J.W.Burrows
1935-36	J.W.Burrows/W.T.Barber
1936-37	D.Coe
1937-39	C.F.Hill
1939-40	A.J.Wright
1946-48	F.B.Aldous
1948-49	F.B.Aldous/J.V.Towler

 

Norwich Union Men’s Hockey Team 1932-33

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Left to Right: R.P.Lowe, T.W.O.Coleman, T.Swift, W.T.Barber, E.W.Martin (Captain), F.E.Oxbury, C.F.Hill, F.R.Harris, F.H.Cole, A.J.Wright, C.T.Shimmens, A.P.Blackiston

An article accompanying this photo in the NU Staff Magazine (below) made reference to A.P.Blackiston, who was clearly not paying attention to the photographer.  A.J.Wright, who wrote the article for all Norwich Union Staff to read said “A.P.Blackiston’s air of detachment was due to the fact that he was far more interested in a ladies’ team playing on an adjoining pitch than in having his photograph taken.  Perhaps Mrs Blackiston – an ex-Head Office player – will please note.”

 

1936

‘Blakey’ as he was known (Mr Blackiston – Winston Churchill look-a-like) was still wearing his overcoat in the 1935-36 Team Photo shown below, the team were photographed before an 8th February 1936 match against Grasshoppers.

The article from the Lady Day Edition of the Norwich Union Staff Magazine from 1936 is shown below, not a good season on the hockey pitch, however the Dance at the Lido was a great success in January with the egg and bacon supper going down very well!!

1948

By the time we get to 1948, National Service is impacting availability of players and on the ladies side, Mrs J Aldous was standing down as Ladies 1s captain to be succeeded by Miss Gwen Hood.