Lasting memories of Meads reduced to tears; 1967 All Blacks memorabilia to go under the hammer

Seeing Colin Meads reduce to tears after being sent off at Murrayfield 42 years ago is one of the lasting memories of the 1967All Blacks baggage master Richard Walker.

Walk’s memorabilia collection from that All Blacks tour goes under the hammer at Sotheby’s in London next week.

Walker, now 62, speaking from Shorne, near Gravesend in Kent, said he clearly remembers much of that day in the win over Scotland after Meads was ordered off.

``One of my lasting memories of the ABs was when Colin Meads was sent off in Scotland, and to see such a player reduced to tears over the incident was very moving and spoke volumes of the great man. He always had a back massage from me prior to each match, and that was very special,’’ Walker said.

``My personal memories on that tour include being driven, on my own, from the south of France to the north with the baggage in a van. Unfortunately the van driver didn't speak any English and I was unable to speak French - a very boring journey. At the border between Spain and France at Biarritz, I was hauled over to border control for taking photos, when we were supposed not to, and was nearly arrested, much to amusement of the All Blacks.

``I was given Brian's jersey at the end of the tour together with other shirts - I can’t remember the details. After the tour I was also baggage master on the Wallabies tour of Britain in 1967, but after that I had to leave cricket professionally and get a full time job as my father died in May 1968.’’

Walker had been on the Lord's Ground Staff at the time the RFU were looking for someone new to act as baggage master for the tour, and as the secretary of the MCC and the secretary of the RFU, John Tallent, were friendly, it was thought that a cricketer needing winter work would be the ideal candidate. Walker applied and was chosen for the job.

He got to know all the players very well, and from Day One they treated him as one of their own, and they have him the nickname of Rocket.

``I joined in with some of their training runs, which was quite a challenge! Unfortunately I have not kept in contact with any of them, although I have followed some of their careers with interest. To be connected with such a fabulous side was a great honour and experience for me. They won every single game except the final one versus the Barbarians, and this was due to the fantastic skill and talent of each team member and the absolute dedication of the side.

``Everywhere we went their behaviour was always impeccable, and UK fans idolised them. They were particularly disappointed not to be able to go to Ireland owing to the foot and mouth situation, as they felt the match would have been one of their hardest games. Another incident was the dock strike at the time, which held up the gear at the docks, but this was remedied in time for the first international.’’

Walker’s Brian Lochore’s 1967 jersey and other memorabilia items from the tour will be auctioned in London on May 12. The sales are conducted by Sotheby's associate auctioneer for sporting memorabilia, Graham Budd.

Lochore’s jersey along with a silver fern blazer badge and a player-issue black and white scarf is expected to reach up to stg800.

Touch judges flags from the All blacks games against England, France, Scotland, Ireland (game cancelled) and Wales are each expected to make up to stg300.

Other memorabilia from the 1967 tour includes one lot comprising a file containing official photographs, original press photographs, luncheon and dinner menus (some bearing autographs), match programmes and tickets, souvenir newspapers and a folio of press cuttings; and two books on the All Black tours of 1963-64 and 1967 which may sell for stg800.

A signed dinner menu for the 1935 Cambridge University v All Blacks match may reach stg350, while an after-match dinner menu card for the famous 13-12 victory for Wales over New Zealand at Cardiff on December 21 1935, should sell for about stg400.

A signed dinner menu for the famous 'Prince Obolensky match' England v New Zealand played at Twickenham on January 4 1936, is expected to reach stg350 while an official programme for the match between London and the All Blacks at Twickenham during the Invincibles tour of 1924-25 is valued at stg250.

Ends

Media advisory: For further information, photos, interviews or comment contact Graham Budd on 0044 7974 113394 or Kip Brook at Word of Mouth Media NZ on 0275033855