We are always grateful at the Foundation for donations to the School's Archives; this is why at the recent OD London Dinner I was particularly pleased to retrieve a fascinating collection from Old Bungite Neil Rawson, who had played on the school's 1st XV from 1979 to 1981. Appropriately for a collection of rugby memorabilia the items were all stored in the above DSRFC satchel, and included amongst other items a set of Fives gloves, a photograph of the Dun Dubh Cattle, several school ties, the itinerary of the 1981 Rugby Club tour to America, and a brochure containing all of the signatures of the attendees of said tour. 

The DSRFC left Durham on the morning of the 1st April 1981, although they were beset by a number of delays; one of the more prominent members of the party arrived late, while at Heathrow there was a fuel leak which postponed takeoff by another 40 minutes. They left Heathrow Airport at 3.40 for a seven-hour flight to New York; upon landing, they found to their dismay that the whole itinerary was changed. Their stay in New York had been cancelled by the St. Francis Xavier School. The tired rugby squad were forced to head straight on to Philadelphia by Greyhound bus, arriving there late at night. They were met by the Cardinal O'Hara High School, who hosted the Rugby Club for the next four days. The first day in Philadelphia was spent relaxing and touring around the city; according to G.D. Dawson in The Dunelmian, "American beer was tasted for the first time (and perhaps the last)." 

The first game was against Marple Newtown, which saw kick off being postponed until the pitch could be cleared of stones and a set of posts could be erected. The result was in Durham School's favour, a credible 18-10 win. The next game was on Sunday 5th against Cardinal O'Hara High School. This school was founded in 1963; by 1981, it was home to 3,600 pupils, "most of whom waited to see and hear the British accent." Durham School must have brought the British weather to the match, as on the day "for the first time on tour the temperature dropped below the high seventies and the rain began to pour. The whole game was played through storm like conditions." Despite this, it was another win for the Durham School 1st XV. 

Departure from Philadelphia was delayed from 9.00 to 10.30 when the Greyhound bus forgot to leave the depot. "At this time details about the tour's future were still unsure except that the night was to be spent in the Washington Skyline Inn at the expense of Gullivers Travel." In Washington, the students enjoyed sightseeing tours and boat cruises; it was here that they received confirmation that Walt Whitman High School had agreed to host them, with travel to that destination being made by taxi. "At some time during the stay in Washington most people visited either the Smithsonian Institute with their hosts or else Chesapeake Bay Seafood house at which for a set price the dish defined as 'all you can eat' enabling re-ordering any number of times at no cost." 

The game against Walt Whitman High School (established 1962, located in Bethesda, Maryland) took place on the 8th April, and once again saw a delay as the pitch was cleared of stones or rocks. This resulted, unfortunately, in a defeat for Durham. Two days later the DSRFC was transferred back to Philadelphia to be hosted by Conestoga High School (founded 1954). There was a delay in arriving at the school, however, as an OD member of the party lost both his passport and wallet. The 1st XV arrived in Philadelphia in time to watch Conestoga play a touring Canadian team from Toronto, but, alarmingly, the "game was abandoned due to on the pitch violence". The touring group watched a rugby game between Boston and Philadelphia, only to be surprised that a member of the Boston team was an Old Dunelmian, having attended the school in the 1960s under John Brett. Moreover, he was an old friend of the trip's doctor, OD Alan Johnson. Frustratingly, I have been unable to track down his name. 

The final match against Conestoga saw Durham School "give a magnificent performance in sealing a comprehensive victory". Indeed, a Conestoga High School Rugby Club badge was amongst the items donated to the archives by Neil Rawson. Conestoga boasts the oldest Rugby School Club in America, founded in 1971. At the following banquet, "various presentations were made to our hosts, who were treated to a roaring chorus of Floreat Dunelmia." After an enjoyable look around the sights of New York City, the Durham School contingent returned home, meeting (for the first time on the trip) no delays in travel. "So the tour was now over and 29 saddened hearts boarded the BA 176 bound for London," reads the DSRFC logbook. "It was mid-afternoon when the tired tourists finally made it home to be greeted by families and a few welcome glasses of wine." 

The items donated by Neil Rawson OD show a fascinating time in the history of Durham School rugby. What makes the collection more relevant is that this year is the 175th Anniversary of the Durham School Football Club; founded in 1850, it is the fourth oldest school rugby club in the world. If you have any items relating to Durham School Rugby, please consider donating them to the Foundation.