While preparing our archive for digitization, we found an intriguing letter attached to a photograph of the College The letter was written by Welsh International and British Lion, Roy Bergiers, who in 1980 was a PE Master for Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Carmarthen, Wales. While on tour with his team, Roy came across the College whilst also on tour in the same area.

It seems that Roy didn't realise he has a much stronger connection with Campbell College. If you research Roy's career you will discover that he was a member of the legendary 1974 British Lion squad and played alongside our own Irish International and British Lion Mike Gibson (4368)! We managed to track down a photo of the team on the British Lions website. 

Ashley Armstrong was delighted to learn the letter had been found again. Of the tour, he commented, 'the purpose of the trip was to allow anyone who had an interest in rugby to go, no matter what standard they currently played to. It was to give them experience of the friendships forged on a rugby tour. To that end it was very successful'.

Here are some recollections from OCs who were on the tour and a copy of the tour report from Campbellian Magazine 1980. It seems Ashley may have been the one encouraging the team to burst into song!

Michael Graham (6526)

I remember meeting Roy Bergier on the Tour.  He held some coaching sessions for us while we were there. His memory of that afternoon in Carcassonne is much better than mine! 

Justin Wheeler (6585)

I’m happy to try to help out with my recollections from rugby tours to SW France in 1980 and 1982.  I recall being in both tour parties.  Certainly, we were happy to sing our songs along with the Welsh and the English, although I don’t recall a competition!

Other memories:

• Very long bus trip down and back
• Much firmer pitches that we were used to 
• The French opposition were ready to start fighting at the least provocation  (that hadn’t happened as much in Ulster Schools' rugby)
• Excellent rugby club facilities visited at Narbonne / Beziers / other
• Exciting to meet Welsh and Lions player, Roy Bergier

We hope you enjoyed learning about the exploits of our OCs in France! We will publish an update soon regarding the progress with our archive digitisation.