Robin Chandler (our Club historian) has provided an expansion on the history of both Thames Valley Grammar School and Thamesians RFC based upon his personal recollections. Please click the links to read his Memoirs. We are sure this will provide both great memories for our older members, and a fascinating insight for the more youthful members of the club. For the generation of players pre the millennium please regard this as work in progress and feel free to suggest additional information.
In 1962 Old Thamesians R.F.C was formed by a few school leavers fromThames Valley Grammar School, with the help of Phil Eldridge, a teacher at T.V.G.S. who enlisted some boys at the school to play twice every Saturday. By the late sixties two XV'2 were playing and the school's high standing in county rugby was reflected in the strengthening fixtures list and excellent playing record of O.T.R.F.C., a club changing at one venue, playing at another and drinking at a third.
By the early seventies, the club was putting out three sides and Easter Tour was a well established tradition, regular success in Sevens tournaments was achieved and Old Thamesians gained recognition for more than just the fact that they were the only rugby club in the county with a lady Hon. Sec. - Gillian Twydell. In 1976 the club made up for several near misses trying to reach the Middlesex Sevens Finals by becoming the first southern winners of the National Old Boys Sevens Tournament, bringing home the title and the magnificent trophy fromBirmingham.
By the late seventies the "clubhouse" had changed from The Nelson to The Red Lion, Teddington, to The Prince of Wales and the club had gained the honour of seeing two of its former players earn full international caps - Graham Birkett for Scotland in New Zealand in 1975 and Bob Mordell for England against Wales at Twickenham in 1978. The transformation of Thames Valley Grammar School into a Sixth Form College and then a Girl's Secondary forced the club open and then towards the association with Richmond-upon-Thames College, as their Old Boys.
We moved to Twickenham Golf Course in 1982 and remained there until we moved to the DERA Club at the start of the 91/92 season. After a short stay there we moved in 1993 to our present clubhouse, The Pavilion on Twickenham Green.
