Portal:1963 Men/Intro

Walter John Herrington, then a Squadron Leader in the RAF, was posted to the Academy in May 1962 as part of the military teaching staff. His boss on the staff (Col. George Brown) discovered that he had played rugby at school and in representative teams within the RAF. He asked if he would help because although there was some rugby being played, he would 'have to get the casualty rate down', if the game was going to continue to be played. When he went to watch what the guys were doing, it was obvious that they were playing as though they were playing football - without the helmets and pads!

He identified a number of cadets to take responsibility for developing the game and started running regular coach development sessions, some involving watching film of international matches, which he had asked the RFU in England to send over, others based around the key skill areas in the game. He also developed a number of cadets as referees. In his second year 63), the Academy team beat the visiting Cranwell team, (although he thinks playing at altitude may have helped with this.) He believes these games against Cranwell were the only Academy matches at this point.

He returned to the UK in May 1964, having been promoted to Wing Commander while in post. He eventually retired from the RAF having reached the rank of Air Vice-Marshal.

The cadet Squadron he was associated with was 12 Squadron.

The RAF officer who took over the rugby team was indeed Jim Walsh, a former British army paratrooper who had transferred to the RAF.

He could not find any photos or letters relating to the rugby team but he did find the one I have attached. From left to right it shows US Navy Commander Sam Rorex; the Australian Air Force exchange officer and my father. They were all posted to the Academy at the same time. (Incidentally, Comander Rorex told my dad that 'I never knew there was anywhere on earth this far from the ocean', when he arrived in Colorado Springs.)

Simon Herrington Son of Air Vice Marshal Herrington