Speaker John V. Smith
Fri, Feb 23rd 2018 at 12:55 pm - 2:10 pm
1950 Calcutta Cup Match at Murrayfield
President Stewart Wilson welcomed Ian Thomson, guest of Alex Galloway, Rory Duff and our speaker John V Smith both guests of Malcolm Cordwell Smith.
Derek Anderson reminded members that we will be organising the area 7 final of the primary school quiz at Stirling University on 28th April 2018.
Our speaker John V Smith was particularly relevant on the eve the Calcutta match at Murrayfield, as he had played on the right wing for England in the same match in 1950. On that occasion a last minute kick gave Scotland victory by 13 points to 11. J.V as he is known studied at Cambridge university where, as well as a strong interest in cricket, he won a blue in Rugby and Athletics. Although only 5feet 8 inches, his speed in the 400 meters contributed to his success in Rugby, and in the
1950 season he scored 4 out 5 of England's tries. He is now the only surviving member of that team. Called up in 1945, he subsequently had a career as a grain merchant. His life long involvement in Rugby culminated in the presidency of the RFU in1982/83, and during this time he had many achievements in particular persuading Princess Anne to open the new Murrayfield stadium. Although now 91, John retains a huge fund of Rugby information, and his talk prompted a number of excellent questions from the members, all of which he answered very fully. The
vote of thanks was given by his second cousin Malcolm Cordwell Smith.
Next week 2nd March, speaker's host Faye McPherson, Visitor's host Frank Kelly.
Ian Richardson
Derek Anderson reminded members that we will be organising the area 7 final of the primary school quiz at Stirling University on 28th April 2018.
Our speaker John V Smith was particularly relevant on the eve the Calcutta match at Murrayfield, as he had played on the right wing for England in the same match in 1950. On that occasion a last minute kick gave Scotland victory by 13 points to 11. J.V as he is known studied at Cambridge university where, as well as a strong interest in cricket, he won a blue in Rugby and Athletics. Although only 5feet 8 inches, his speed in the 400 meters contributed to his success in Rugby, and in the
1950 season he scored 4 out 5 of England's tries. He is now the only surviving member of that team. Called up in 1945, he subsequently had a career as a grain merchant. His life long involvement in Rugby culminated in the presidency of the RFU in1982/83, and during this time he had many achievements in particular persuading Princess Anne to open the new Murrayfield stadium. Although now 91, John retains a huge fund of Rugby information, and his talk prompted a number of excellent questions from the members, all of which he answered very fully. The
vote of thanks was given by his second cousin Malcolm Cordwell Smith.
Next week 2nd March, speaker's host Faye McPherson, Visitor's host Frank Kelly.
Ian Richardson
