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John Olver
STAFF FAREWELLS
Head of Rugby and PE
John Olver left us after 21 years as Master In Charge of Rugby, during which time he also ran the PE department for 16 years and served as a much-valued Tutor in Grafton House.
On John’s arrival in September 1996, there was no formal PE department, but, as a trained PE teacher, John was keen to introduce the subject and, from a single initial trial set, the department grew under his leadership to the point where, in 2007, it became a fully-fledged academic department. In his time leading the Rugby Club, he not only presided over an extremely successful era for Oundle rugby, with two unbeaten seasons on a highly competitive circuit and overall positive win-loss ratios at 1st XV level against the likes of Harrow, Radley and Bedford, but also produced several professional and international players at both junior and senior levels. John was extremely proud when his son, Sam, represented England U18 and went on to professional contracts with Northampton Saints and Worcester Warriors. John’s prowess as a coach was considerable; his 1st XVs were often forged from teams who had enjoyed modest Colts seasons, but with his inimitable combination of carrot and stick, he motivated the boys to play for the shirt to a degree that opposition coaches often envied. He was an enthusiastic tourist and led countless tours overseas, often with his great friend and fellow international, Simon Hodgkinson, including pioneering four-week trips to Australia and New Zealand.
A fiercely competitive man, both as a player and schoolmaster, John was interested, however, in far more than mere results. From very early on Saturday morning at the legendary 1st XV ‘breakfast club’ to kick-off time, he did his best to
educate his players in the wider sense by inculcating notions of loyalty, friendship and commitment to one’s team-mates, both in the physical sense on the field and in terms of behaviour off it. He demanded complete dedication to the cause and occasionally struggled to understand why certain boys did not share this all-encompassing drive. Training was often physical and few boys he has coached (including many 2nd XV packs who fronted up bravely) will forget the infamous line-out game. Old school, perhaps, but very few Oundle teams were second best in the set-piece on John’s watch and the collective identity developed in these sessions carried his teams over the line in many a tight game. He could be abrasive at times, especially when the 1st XV were playing badly, but gave so much of himself to the boys and the only time he was genuinely frightening was when he took out his false teeth!
The importance of Saturday as a shop window, when potential parents and staff visit Oundle, was never lost on John. His matchday hospitality was full of warmth, conviviality and bonhomie; John rightly insisted that opposition masters and coaches were met off the bus and entertained properly, and the very heart and soul of rugby were summed up by the sacrosanct principle of each coach
finding his opposite number after a hard-fought match and escorting him to the Common Room, where, with fires burning at either end, the world would be put to rights over a pint or two. Indeed, long-standing relationships with the likes of Haileybury and Radley were celebrated by sit-down lunches pre- match and many friendships were sealed around these tables in the very best spirit of schoolboy rugby.
John was an intensely loyal man who backed his staff and inspired much trust and loyalty in turn, despite enjoying adopting the role of the pantomime villain around the boys with tongue firmly in cheek. He invested time in his colleagues and this sincerity, kindness and generosity were often most appreciated by younger staff starting out coaching rugby at the School. He favoured the underdog, too, and often gave chances to boys who had incurred the wrath of colleagues once too often. It was a big mistake to underestimate him intellectually – he had an uncanny, at times prophetic knowledge of the quiz questions in the Saturday Telegraph - and attending the opera as a result of a lost bet was one of many instances in which he was able to laugh at himself.
A keen practical joker, those who have been phoned on their mobile during Tuesday or Friday briefings, or had their notes stolen and hidden two minutes before they rose to deliver a speech might not always have seen the funny side as quickly as Christopher John! Life spent coaching, tutoring and teaching with John was certainly never dull, and the combination of success on the field and fun off it meant that the Oundle School Rugby Club in the CJO era was a most enjoyable place to be.
Scott Jessop, Head of French
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THE OLD OUNDELIAN 2017 –2018