Robert Bryan CULBERTSON

   User ID: ID.243.

  General Notes:

Robert Bryan CULBERTSON Born 17-Jul-1889 at "Avena" Albert Road, St Mary Cray, Orpington. Announced in The Times, Saturday July 20, 1889 Photo taken by William Whitely Ltd of London in April 1907 - aged 18 years. Went to St Edwards Public School, Oxford where he played in the 1st XV rugby team. After school played for London Irish Rugby Club. Served in the First Kent Bicycle Regiment in the first World War and was posted as far as India. After the war became an engineer and worked for The Gas, Light & Coke Company in the Kensall Green area of London. Married Violet Victoria BOLINGBROKE an actress from Hastings. Her nickname for him was "Bunty." They lived for many years at Peace Close, West Horrington, Near Wells, Somerset. Paper clipping Rugby Club looking for new ground. Members of the Mendip Rugby Club will be looking for a new ground to take the place of the one they now use at the Mendip Hospital, which is to be sold. They were asked to do this last night (wednesday) by the club's secretary, Mr. R. Sheldon, at the annual meeting held at the Fountain Inn. Mr. Sheldon said that although planning permission had been turned down for the land on which their field was situated, it was possible that their ground would be in a lot of about 16 acres, which would sell for around £200 an acre, and so be out of reach of the club financially. Mr. Sheldon said that if all else failed they could use the ground at Slab House, which had previously been used by the club. He appealed to evryone to keep their eyes open for a piece of land, ideally about three acres and level, that they could buy, with help from the R.F.U. The meeting was also rather a sad occasion for the members. Their chairman, Mr. R.B. Culbertson announced his intention to resign. He said it was with regret that he resigned, but he did so owing to his deafness. "The time has come for a younger and more active man to take over, especially as the St. Thomas' team have joined us," he said. Team Spirit He expressed the hope that the older members of the club would give every help possible to the St. Thomas team and teach them to play the game in the right spirit. He said that when he first became chairman, there were many members who wanted to disband the club. In his opinion this was because there was a lack of team spirit. "No team can carry on without team spirit," he said. Year by year, since then, they have done better and better, he said. This was due to the tremendous feeling of team spirit that now existed in the club. Mr Culbertson thanked evryone for all the helpthey had given him in his years of office and wished the club the best of luck for the future. Dr. W.E.W. Bridger, the clubs' President, said they could not let the occasion pass without a token of appreciation to Mr. Culbertson in a tangible form. A handsome silver tankard, which will later be inscribed, was presented to Mr. Culbertson. A fuller report of the meeting will appear next week. After his wife Violet fell down some stairs in Wells, Robert & Violet sold Peace Close and moved to the East Hill Hotel, Hill Brow, Liss, Hampshire. Died at Royal Treloar Hospital, Alton, Hants from cancer.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: Gas, Light & Coke Co. Engineer.

Robert married Violet Victoria BOLINGBROKE, daughter of Alberto BOLINGBROKE and Emma Sarah PACKHAM, on 29 Oct 1921 in Hollington, Sussex. (Violet Victoria BOLINGBROKE was born on 28 Mar 1897 in St Mewan, Millington Rd, Hastings, Sussex, died on 8 Nov 1973 in Whitehanger Nursing Home, Haslemere and was buried in Weycombe Road Cemetery, Haslemere.)