We were saddened to hear of the passing of John Whisker, OH 1948-55 on 21st October 2024, aged 87, following a long illness.

He was a real gentleman loved by all his family.

John was a couple of years ahead of me at School.  He certainly played more rugby for OH as a lively wing forward always there in support of our attacks.  One indelible memory was in a defensive mode.  Playing away to Old Crossleyans we were defending a line-out on our 25 yard (now 22 metre) line.  Crossleyans fed the ball to a huge, charging prop forward called Howard Smith, who was as wide as he was high.  Instead of moving forward to tackle him John braced himself just in front of our try-line.

The obvious duly happened.  Howard smashed through John’s attempted tackle to score the try and poor John was left squashed into the mud.  Just like a cartoon film we peeled John up out of the mud (not quite flattened to 6” thick but certainly with all the breath squeezed from him by Howard’s bulk.

Ah, John, of a fine, deep, strong bass singing voice and a hearty laugh you are fondly remembered.

Martin Cocker, OH 1951-56