Recently received from our Channel Islands correspondent;
A belated Happy New Year to you all.
A recent post on OYRFC website, mentioned Andy Dunn.
Like all of us, he is now fat, bald and (probably) grumpy. I have attached a photo of Andy in his prime, which newer members might find a useful comparison, with how he is now.
Andy Dunn.
I don't wish this to sound like one of my tributes to the fallen, it is in fact a tribute to someone still actively engaged with the club, after 49 years, and deserving of our admiration.
Andy joined the club pre season 1967, together with John Pearson and Dave Crampton. It was obvious in pre season training that he was a special player.
Andy's first game for the 1st XV was 16th September 1967, versus Trinity Guild.
The photo was taken on 5th October 1968, at Whitlock's End, v Kynoch, and we won 14-6. The move was a training ground move, when we won a scrum against the head (remember those days?) and attacked the blind side. To the left of Andy is me, playing open-side wing forward (7), to the right is scrum half Keith Williams (9). Andy scored from the move and I remember it well, because Andy took the Solihull News photographer over the line with him.
Other scorers that day were John Pearson (try-inevitably), Big Al Harrison (try), and Dave Crampton (1 pen, 1 conversion).
1968/9 was my second season as Club captain, and Andy was vice captain. He was my vice captain again in 1969/70, which was my third and final year. In fact I suffered a relapse of bricklayer's back, mid season, and Andy captained the side for the rest of the season.
In 1970/71 he was rightly elected Club Captain.
A man who typifies all that is good about OYRFC.
Cheers! Dave Collen