Neville Griffin (1953-1958)
Died on 8th October 2021, aged 81
Neville Griffin was an outstanding OMTFC player, a fine cricketer, an active member of Durrants Club, and in later years an excellent host for OMTGS at Thorpeness Golf & Country Club. Tributes from fellow OMTs are included below.
Neville Griffin as captain of the 1957-58 School 1st XV
Sad to hear the news that Neville (Twinkle) had passed away.
To me as a 13 year old arriving at Merchant Taylors’ School, Neville was my hero. Outstanding fly half, gifted cricketer and gifted golfer and gifted at nearly all sports. Generous with his time as well, as he coached young golfers at both Aldenham and at Southwold Golf Clubs during his time running the clubs. Turning individuals into team players. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine playing alongside him in the future.
Being a few years older than me, our paths did not cross again until I started to play for the Old Boys. Not long after, I went to work for Griffin Caterers, the family business. We worked hard and played hard. Wednesday afternoons we played for the Met Police at their Bushey sports club and their away matches, Saturdays we played for OMTs and on Sundays there was very often a pub game and we played for the White Hart in Bushey. A familiar pub to a number of Old Boys.
As with many friendships, we get married and our paths diverge. So it was with us. However, rugby got us back together some years later. Neville had moved from the family business and was landlord of the Wheatsheaf near Bushey Arches. I called in there one night and met my future wife Hazel, who was working for him. I have much to thank him for. He asked me if I would take his place on Saturday, as he was busy, and turn out for Charlie Sharp’s C Fifteen. Here started again a further few years teamed up in the backs. A real fun time with in a special team of mainly ‘oldies’. Played some great rugby and enjoyed the team spirit.
Smoking Concerts and pantomimes were part of the club life and Neville played his parts with much aplomb. He starred with Mike Wilkins and myself as a spoof of Diana Ross and the Supremes. Totally non-Woke nowadays. He also starred as the Genie of the Lamp in All-A-Din, delivering Mike Wilkins’ immortal lines, after leaping out of the Lamp, “Cold it is within and dank and n’er the chance to have a wwwworthington”.
I have an abundance of memories and stories and I will always remember the good times Neville and I had together, both on and off the rugby pitch.
In my mind, one of the great OMTs. I always smile when I think of him. You naughty boy you led me astray many times but I never complained.
Very fond memories!
Johnny Welch
I had the privilege of playing with Neville in the 60s and 70s, he was a star player and a great playmaker and inspirational half back. He was the fastest over 10-20 metres creating openings for his team mates to capitalise on.
An off-field memory I recall happened at Bath when a young lady decided to join us in the bath after the game; Neville was injured from an earlier tour game and was upstairs in the bar. Word was passed to him about the event but he refused to come down because he thought it was a prank. He was pretty miffed when he found out later that it was in fact true and he had missed it.
On his return from playing for Hertfordshire against Cornwall in the County Championship, he reported that playing at Hellfire Corner in Redruth was the scariest place at which he had played. He is still number six in the list of the most capped players for the County with 32 caps.
I remember an off-field occasion at his flat in Watford when his mum hosted a party for “my Nev”; I think it was a significant birthday. The theme for the evening was Roman and I arrived unsuitably attired and was handed a table cloth to wear as a toga. Remaining “respectable” throughout proved a little difficult, but we all had a great time.
Although not a golfer, I heard many glowing reports of his hospitality at Thorpeness when he hosted OMT Golf Society on their many visits for their Autumn meeting.
Neville was a man I will always remember warmly for the things he did on and off the field; I miss and will never forget our Nev.
Richard Clack
I first met Neville in 1954 when we both landed up in “Laddie” Holes Modern Div A and we proceeded up the School together through “Sandy” Powell in Modern 5A, Ted Rider in the lower VI A and eventually Gavin Brown in Modern VI A. Neville had no claims to be academic, his main interest was in sport in which he excelled. He was one of those people who were naturally good at any sport which came his way. He represented the School in Rugby, Cricket, Fives and I think in Athletics. Rugby was his main love and he Captained the 1957-1958 1st Rugby XV. I remember that in that season there was a Spanish Flu’ epidemic which decimated the prospective 1st XV and because of a shortage of players “Nev” recommended me to “RAGS” Stokes for a place in the team because we had played together in the Hilles House team. Luckily I was able to hold my place for the rest of the season.
Neville played Fly Half and Peter Vernon was his Scrum Half and they went on to represent Middlesex Schoolboys. Neville was the star of this side, he was very quick from a standing start. One of his favourite manoeuvres was running towards his opposition offering the ball to him on one hand and then at the last second he whipped it away and he had gone past. This usually worked well but when Douglas Baker came to a coaching session, he tried it out on him. He tried this and he went past but left the ball in Douglas’ hand.
After School, Neville and David Thomas and I started frequenting local pubs, our favourite was The Fishmongers Arms in Bushey and later when that closed we moved with the Landlord and Landlady to The White Hart. Beer was 7p halfpenny for ½ pt. in those days!! Many a time after closing time we would end up at Neville’s for a last drink to find Neville’s Dad just getting up to start baking bread for the local community. Neville’s Mum and Dad ran a bakery, a catering firm and also they opened a restaurant, “La Mirabelle”. It was always Christmas at La Mirabelle. The decorations went up one Christmas but they looked so good they were never taken down.
Neville and I used to help out in the catering firm driving around in his Dad’s Ford V8 Pilot. It was a good way to meet young ladies at Pony Club Events and especially Dances. At this time we went on various holidays with David and Peter Phelps. One year we decided that we would catch a train down to Marseille and then hitch hike along the French Riviera. The four of us walked out of the station and started walking but nobody stopped to give us a lift. Eventually two Motor bikes stopped and Neville and David got on the pillions leaving Peter and I to walk to Cassis where we arranged to meet up. When we met up, we found a camp site which was on Cassis Football Club pitch. There were a lot of grand tents with multiple rooms and canopies and there we were 4 of us in a small US army tent borrowed from Neville’s sister Yvonne’s boyfriend who was a US GI. The tent sagged in the middle with all of our clothes draped over it. It was a sorry sight but some of the other campers did take pity on us and brought us coffee and breakfast. We drank a lot of the cheap local wines on this trip; in fact, the wine cost less than the deposit on the bottle.
Other holidays were to Spain and the South of France again, where I can remember while swimming hearing a yelp and saw Neville sprint to the shore. He had been stung by a Medusa Jelly Fish which left a mark on his arm for years afterwards.
After I got married, I saw less of Neville as he continued his Bachelor lifestyle for a number of years. He had a lovely flat over the bakery in Watford and then he managed a pub near Bushey Arches called “The Wheatsheaf”.
He then ran Thorpeness Golf Club and I used to see him when the OMT Golf Society held their Summer Meeting. It was a great pleasure to see him at supper there when he would join us.
I am sure that other friends will give their contributions to fill in the gaps in his interesting life.
Guy Hearn