Latest News — Two Sparrows

Simon Langdale (Tonbridge & St Catharine’s) played in the Varsity Match in each of his three undergraduate years, captaining Cambridge to victory in 1959. Like several of his contemporaries he went into teaching, a profession in which excelled. From his first appointment in 1959 to teach History at Radley where he became a Housemaster, he left to become Headmaster of Eastbourne College in 1973 and then in 1981 Headmaster of Shrewsbury School for 7 years. While at Eastbourne he was reckoned to be unbeatable on their smaller, narrower courts. Jock Burnet treasured his friendship with Simon and was delighted to remember him as the last participant in the Varsity Match to play in long white cricket flannels. A man of great style.

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Charles Compton (Eastbourne College & St John’s) represented Cambridge in the Varsity Match four times, captaining the side to victory in his fourth appearance in 2011 to put an end to a run of Oxford wins that spanned four years, the last of which was a record defeat for Cambridge. His team of that year spoke warmly of his inspirational leadership and pre-Match exhortations. I remember Charles as the best of captains in the wilderness years with no Cambridge Fives courts from 1996 to 2013. His extraordinary 11-month walk around the coast of Britain in 2018 was a marvel of organisation and extremely moving in its daily account of triumph over adversity. Simply unforgettable.

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Back Row: Luke Rowland, Tom Chase, Ed Kay, Jacob Brubert

Front Row: Malcolm Reid, Elliot Malone, (Hon.Sec.), Charles Compton (Captain), Fred Kelly

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