The Shiplake community was delighted to welcome British and Irish Lions rugby legend, Willie John McBride for a conversation with Headmaster, Mr Tyrone Howe on Monday evening.
Each week during lockdown, the Headmaster will be holding 'An Evening With...', with some interesting people from the world of business, media and sport to talk about their lives and careers.
Talking to us from his home in Northern Ireland, Willie John began by telling us all about his childhood and upbringing.
He said: "I was born in 1940 and grew up on a small farm. They were tough years as my father sadly passed away when I was four, leaving my mother - a brave woman - to keep up the farm. We had to get up, work on the farm and then walk the three miles to school each day."
Mr Howe then asked whether growing up on a farm contributed to his raw physical strength on the rugby pitch. Willie John agreed that it certainly helped. There was no such thing as gyms in those days, all he remembered was hard work.
And it certainly helped when they played the teams in New Zealand and South Africa who all came from farming backgrounds.
Nowadays Irish players get identified very early on through schools and academies. Willie John actually only played for one year in school, because he didn't have time. He had to get home early and work on the farm. He actually got into rugby accidentally.
He said: "My house at school couldn't put out 15 players one day, and asked if I would play to make up the numbers. I didn't have a clue as to what was going on, but the next thing I knew, I was in the Ulster Schools Team, and then went through the Ulster trails and made the Ulster team. I then worked harder and harder and got an Irish trial - and once you get a taste for that, you want to stay there and not leave. At the age of 17 I was playing for Ulster and then played my first test for the Lions at 21."
And how did he feel at that first test running out onto the pitch?
"I remember being in the dressing room in Cape Town, I was so worked up. It was the biggest day of my life."
Willie John went on three Lions tours which all ended in defeat. The first tour, they didn't even have a coach! He wasn't planning on going back for a fourth tour. Rugby in those days was an amateur sport and he had to get back to his job in banking. However, he was convinced to return again for another tour to New Zealand in 1971 and then again in 1974 as captain and he has no regrets. It was the first time the Lions had beaten the All Blacks in a test series. And he played with some rugby greats too, Gareth Edwards and JPR Williams to name a few!
'It was a privilege to play in that team and with that back line behind me."
Mr Howe then talked to Willie John about their time in South Africa during Apartheid, and the work they did in playing local tribes and visiting local schools, as well as his famous '99 call' during the 1974 Lions Tour when little was done to stop on-pitch violence from the opposition.
In closing Willie John gave this advice:
"Don't accept second best. Aim for the top. At the time you may not achieve it but just keep going. In my very last match for Ireland, I scored my first try for my country."
Thank you very much Willie John for an insight into your life and amazing rugby career.
Feedback for Willie John McBride:
“An hour really well spent - what an inspiration Willie John is. Great to hear the views of someone of his generation when sport was so different. Thanks again to all involved.”
“The Willie John interview was outstanding at so many levels. Sports, preparation in sports and life, leadership, teamwork, adversity and lessons learned in early childhood that can last a lifetime. The Headmaster has a second career as a broadcaster if needed. Very impressive. Thank you for the invitation. Memorable stories always last a lifetime.”
“Just wanted to say thank you for a great talk between Mr Howe and Willie John McBride. What a fabulous man and a great storyteller. We really enjoyed it and thank you so much for putting the talks on. Great way to alleviate the boredom of lock down.”
“A quick one to say last night's chat was really enjoyable, good questions and Willie John McBride was a fantastic guest. Loved the story about him picking grain at 2am and the stuff about the 74 tour was great.”
“Will you please pass on my thanks to the Headmaster for including me in the Willie John evening shown on Zoom last night. It was an excellent interview, with great content and I thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Well done Shiplake College! I will happily donate £25 to the Wooden Spoon Charity.”
"These Monday evenings are such a brilliant idea, last Monday’s was so inspiring so a huge thank you for arranging them. We’re all looking forward to next Monday’s particularly if the dogs are all in attendance! We’ll try and get our son to take a selfie with our dog watching Olive and Mabel! As ever a huge thank you to you all for all you are doing to help us all get through this extraordinary time – the motivation and support you are providing is exceptional.”
“Please forward my thanks to Tyrone Howe for setting up this interview with WJM and some great questions for this amazing man to respond to in such a modest way with some amusing stories. And some interesting learning curves about life for College pupils to emulate.”
