HBHS 1952 Reunion

Saturday 28th July, saw both our 1952 Rugby First XV squad and our 1952 Leavers, revisit Hamilton Boys’ High School 60 years on.

Brian Burkhart, Captain of the 1952 squad, gave a rousing and encouraging speech to our current team, urging them to consider fitness, mental attitude and team spiritedness above all else, in rugby and in life. In their game later that day, our First XV proved that they were listening, winning against Tauranga 29-12, amidst much cheering from the balcony from our Old Boys.

Amongst our Old Boys, were three wives who were Hamilton High School Old Girls and who had met their husbands at school. They have all been married for over 50 years. They thoroughly enjoyed the game, and commented that it had brought back memories of watching Hamilton High School games.

Our Leavers were a merry bunch, and it was wonderful to see people recognizing each other and greeting old friends, who they hadn’t seen for more than half a century. It is funny that 60 years on, some of the rugby boys were still sore at a loss to Thames back in 1952! All of our Leavers were happy to be back together, and enjoyed a tour of the school. Hamilton Boys’ High School was just a plot of land, comprising 52 acres of mud, when they were at the old Girls’ High site, a foresighted dream of the future, and so it was extra special to be able to host them here and make them feel part of a community
which has seen many of Hamilton’s best young men pass through.

Kate Holdworth, HBHS Archivist