OB DAY 2022

Artefacts given generously by OBs are catalogued and carefully packed for storage but they come to life again when they are shared. This year’s OB day for the ‘over-65s’ on Sunday 15 May was a great opportunity for sharing items of an era that sparked memories for all those who came along.  

Star of the show was Mike Muir’s XV shirt (M R Muir Orchard 1955-1963). Worn for the Llandovery match 1962 and donated to the Archive by Mike in 2014, this year marks the shirt's sixtieth anniversary - a year that saw a win for Christ College at Llandovery, and which was the second in a run of four consecutive wins.

On display too was the House Prefect’s tie recently donated by Peter D Kyle (Donaldson’s 1959-1965). Though not quite as dramatic as the display of the shirt, the tie tells its own gentle story. With the donation, Peter told us of the transition from the House Prefects green tie to the striped version. Peter, with others from Donaldson’s, devised the new tie in the summer of 1964 at the behest of John Sharpe. Many OBs of the era may remember that the green House Prefects tie transitioned into the 'bottle green Sunday tie' in 1965, itself replacing the black Sunday tie.  

As well as a chance to share house photos and team photos, a drama slideshow, prospectuses, and items from 1962 discovered under the floorboards in School House, OB day was also a chance to share the R S Tuck Collection (Richard S Tuck Orchard 1962-1965) with generations who would be familiar with its contents. Shop bills, clothing lists and Headmaster’s letters prompted memories of trips to the tailor and of uniform handed down from brother to brother.

Christ College Archive remains an important repository for physical memorabilia, but it is stories that enrich their value. OB Day 2022 was a day filled with stories and memories. Amidst the general hubbub of nostalgia could be heard conversations about play productions, four consecutive wins against Llandovery, cricket jumpers, uniform purchase and starched collars, all recalled as if from yesterday.

Huw Richards has placed photos from OB Day 2022 in the Gallery as a memento of a really memorable occasion. 

If you have a pre-1965 plain green House Prefects tie, or if you have clothing lists, or memories about starched collars (or collars or studs or a box of 1950/60s Robin starch!), Felicity would love to hear from you: archive@christcollegebrecon.com.