Tom O’Reilly is looking for information and photographs of Christchurch Rugby Football Club from the 1950s and 60s.

He played for the club during the 1953/54 season, and then when on leave from the RAF up until about 1961.

He has found some references to the club’s matches in 1954 Christchurch Times.

He thinks the club may have started its life playing at Stanpit, and is certain they played on the grounds of a private house along Burton Road in Christchurch, owned by a Don Hope.

The only picture he has is from a cutting in the mid 1950s when Christchurch played Cardiff at Staplecross.

They are named as, back row, left to right, Hunt, Hardwick, Ward, Wilson, Lawrence, Rideout, Davies and Hope. Front row, Frost, Moss, Thompson, Cook, the captain; Bulstrode, Tyler, Gosling and Anthony.

Other members of the team who played at the same time as O’Reilly are Wilkinson, Kirk, Rees, Sheppard, Abbott, Browne, Goldfinch, Soloman, Brown, Wigman, Young, Pearce and Woodward. Tom is in contact with Bill Gosling and Ken Moss, who also attended Christchurch Secondary School with him. He would like the other players to get in touch.

Contact Tom at tforeilly@hotmail.com or Echoes.