Page 29 - Quadrangle: 39th Edition

Quadrangle Feb21 v11.qxp_Layout 1 04/03/2021 15:31 Page 29

29

ABOVE: Eddie Oxley tackling an opponent in the match versus Watsonians
in October 1929 at Goldenacre.
RIGHT: The ‘Heriot Seven’ featuring Eddie Oxley, from the 1938 Herioter
publication. The team were winners at Melrose, Jedburgh and Langholm.
BELOW: Seascape, West Coast of Scotland, 1957

will be a distinct loss to his club who, at the moment, are alone in being
particularly regrett ed in the Borders where his cle v er play and will be a distinct loss to his club who, at the moment, are alone in being
particularly regretted in the Borders where his clever play and
able to field a seven comparable with the great sides of the past.’
sportsmanship have always been much appreciated’. able to field a seven comparable with the great sides of the past.’
Not surprisingly, ‘the old master’, by now in his early thirties, was coaxed REFLECTIONS ON LIFE AFTER RUGBY
out of retirement in the spring of 1939, making important contributions
After his retirement Eddie, who was a talented watercolourist and litho
to the tournament wins at Jedforest and Melrose. Referring to the
artist, concentrated on his working career, running a successful graphic
Jedforest Sevens, a local journalist wrote: ‘The Heriots selectors are to be
design business, Oxley Studios, from premises in Cockburn Street.
congratulated on bringing E J Oxley out of retirement for the occasion.
Latterly he and his wife Inga, who was from Orkney, lived in Balerno.
He was a host in himself and expert hooking and immaculate work at
They had no children.
the line outs enabled him to provide endless opportunities for the
outsides who were into their strides in a twinkling and up to all manner In 2015, in recognition of the 125th anniversary of the FP club, Heriot’s
of dodges’ played against the Barbarians, who were also formed in 1890, at
Goldenacre and a committee, headed by former Scotland prop Iain
Then on 10 April 1939, The Scotsman reported, under the headline
Milne, celebrated the occasion by putting together a team of the finest
“Heriot’s Confident ‘Sevens’ Victory”: ‘With E J Oxley back in harness the
all-time Heriot’s players. Of the fifteen, which included well-known
winning seven (at Melrose) were the same as won last year…Forward,
greats such as Dan Drysdale, Ken Scotland and Andy Irvine, only 3 were
Heriot’s got the ball with surprising ease except for a spell against
uncapped - England ‘A’ cap Alex Snow in the second row, inside centre
Hawick, but their best work was at the lineout, where a common move
Harry Burnett, who was a regular for the Scotland ‘B’ team in the 1970s
was for Oxley to turn quickly and get the ball passed on from D W Deas
and 80s, and, despite the fact that the team was inevitably skewed
or C C Brown and sling it wide to the backs. Oxley….. was still a master at
towards more recent history, Eddie Oxley at openside wing forward.
this sort of thing and it is a pity that he may not be seen at the Greenyards
again. His presence means a tremendous amount to Heriot’s as there is We know that Eddie Oxley was a great rugby player who was
little doubt that he has a flair for leadership in this game. His absence undoubtedly deprived of an international career because he was
black; that this charismatic man was a gifted artist and a creative and
successful businessman. What we don’t know is how he coped with
and felt about the social mores of the time; with being a black man
operating in, and apparently embraced by, polite Edinburgh society; a
person patronised with what we now know as the ‘casual racism’ of his
popular moniker ‘Sam’, and yet loved and revered by so many people.
Perhaps Eddie would have hated a fuss being made of the injustice
about his rugby career. Perhaps he might have harboured just a small
degree of resentment. But it would be nice to think of him taking the
degree of resentment. But it would be nice to think of him taking the
high road, riding the tide of prejudice, the covert and overt references,
high road, riding the tide of prejudice, the covert and overt references,
however well meant for the times, to his origins, holding his head high
however well meant for the times, to his origins, holding his head high
and living a fulfilling and inspiring life.
and living a fulfilling and inspiring life.
Eddie Oxley died aged 61 in January 1969.
Eddie Oxley died aged 61 in January 1969.
Alistair Blamire (1964)
Alistair Blamire (1964)