FOLLOWING your article on my rugby career (Memory Lane, January 11), I enclose a photograph of the Oxfordshire Schools XV in which I played in 1963-4. I am kneeling third from the left.

As I said, I owed much to two giants in the local rugby world, Lynn Evans and Charlie Ede.

I shall never forget Charlie’s legendary sevens squad. I wasn’t remotely good enough for the top VII that won numerous trophies. But there were countless tournaments and Charlie would enter several on the same day.

That policy helped me reach two finals of the Gosford All Blacks tournament in a junior VII, winning one and losing one.

And the joy of playing for Charlie was capped by the food hamper that accompanied every VII.

MICHAEL TANNER
Lincolnshire