100 year old photograph found in shed
A photograph whose existence was previously unknown has been returned to the Royal School of Mines after being discovered at the back of a garden shed in mid Wales! Seb Turner, RSM President was informed of the find in late October 2006 after the individual who found the photograph kindly tracked down the Royal School of Mines. Arrangements were then made to return the photo – around 50 cm wide – to London.
The photograph of the RSM Hockey Club’s First Eleven team was taken in 1906-1907. This makes the photograph exactly 100 years old and, perhaps more surprisingly, is proof that the Hockey club is much older than the current students had ever thought. Most believed that the club was founded sometime in the 1970’s, and could never have competed with the history behind the Rugby and Football clubs. (photo above: (Left to Right) Top: E.B. Pollard, C.C. Gow, R.R. Mitchell, G.B. White
Middle: H. de Varinay, E. Wraight, P.L.M. Battye (Captain), L.H. Bartlett, H.L. Oakley
Bottom: T.B. Greenfield, A.W. Blanford)
However, it is clear that by the early 1900’s, the Hockey Club was already well established and may have been playing at least two teams against other schools and colleges in the local area, just as they do today. Despite at some point in its lifetime being valued at 25p, this priceless treasure is now safely back in London in time for the College’s Centenary.
Seb Turner
Royal Schools of Mines President 2006-07
© 2007 Imperial College London
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