Mike Weston was an Old Bowite and Old Dunelmian who was a major influence on the Rugby Union in the 1960s, both at a local and international level. He captained the England team in 1963 and 1968 and later became a selector, coach, and manager, managing the England rugby side in 1987. He is much missed by the Dunelmian community, coming as he did from a family with three generations of Durham School alumni; his father and his brother were both ODs, while his two sons, Robin and Phil, continued in his path by being members of the Durham School 1st XI. 

 
Mike Weston's expertise in rugby was quickly made apparent during his time at Bow. In 1949-50, Weston's captaincy of the XV team led them to win 11 out of the 14 matches played. "Mike Weston, the stand-off and captain of the XV, played some brilliant games in both attack and defence," stated the Bow Record of that year, going on to comment that he earned 130 points in 20 matches. He was also a mainstay of the 1st XI and was awarded the title of 'Victor Ludorum' on that year's Sports Day. An anecdote in Barry Newcombe's Carling's England (1991) recalled that, while in Bow School, he injured his knee on a cricket stump while playing tip and run. This affected his playing; in his recuperation, however, he was able to persevere in restoring his proper physical fitness, eventually ensuring that he could kick with equal strength in either foot. This attribute would serve him well in later life. Mike Weston's enthusiasm for rugby can likely be traced to Bow School teacher and later Headmaster Charlie Adamson. Writing upon Adamson's death in 1979, Mike Weston wrote:
 
"I will always consider it my greatest good fortune to have gone to Bow and come under the influence of Mr Adamson. I have said it before, and I will say it many times again, that I owe my entire Rugby career to him. There never has been nor ever will be anyone like him for teaching the basic skills, instilling a will to win and at the same time upholding all the virtues of sportsmanship."
 
By the time of his departure from Bow in 1952, his skill was already recognised. An article from that year - from which the above image of the Bow School 1st XV comes from - commented on how the five "brilliant years" of Weston's tenure displayed particularly excellent rugby scores. "[Mike Weston], whose notable all-round efforts have been so outstanding, can show the following figures for his complete career at Bow: 50 innings, 10 times not out, 1,539 runs, 153 not out highest score. 38.47 average. As a bowler, he has taken 147 wickets for 4.92 each". 
 
While at Durham School, Mike Weston likewise quickly made a name for himself. The 1954 Dunelmian stated that "the fly-half vacancy was admirably filled by M.P. Weston whose handling, side-stepping and ability to kick equally well with both feet was often the decisive factor in our victories. His drop-kick success demonstrated the importance of this often neglected means of scoring. These penalty drop kicks quickly became a hallmark of his rugby playing. Bob Hiller, who would play alongside Weston in the 1967 County Championship, would later say that Weston was one of the best kickers out of hand that he had ever seen.
 
Weston was also a skilled cricketer. In his final year, the Dunelmian commended him when stating "He was not as a player overshadowed by the rest as much as might have been expected, although his figures show how much he meant to the side; but as a captain he has been outstanding for a schoolboy. He has usually made the right move at the right time, but more than that he has by his determination and keenness infected the XI with a will to win that has covered technical difficulties, and brought out latent ability."
 
Upon leaving the School, Mike Weston led a busy and productive life. He was capped twenty-nine times from 1960 to 1968 and captained the England team three times in 1963 and twice in 1968. When England sent their rugby team for the first ever time on a tour to Australia and New Zealand, Weston was chosen as their captain. The conditions were very difficult: they played six games in eighteen days and travelled 28,000 miles in under a month. The experience stood him in good stead for his later career, as when he managed the England side in the 1987-88 season he was able to ensure that the team stayed in good hotels and played on firm pitches. He would later open an estate agency business and even served a term as High Sheriff of Durham in 1997.
 
Mike Weston returned many times to the school to play rugby. When England lost a match against Scotland during the 1964 Five Nations Championship, Norman MacLeod took "the opportune step of inviting him back to Durham for the first time". Their match against the Durham School students went slightly better, with the OD side winning to the tune of 29-3. He also reappeared at the Tom Collin Testimonial Match in September 1983, paying his compliments to the man who had coached him in cricket while at school. We have received several messages of condolences from the OD community who remember him with fondness.