FORMER STAFF OBITUARIES
MIKE WILLIAMS 1940-2024
Mike will be remembered by most Old Sennockians for his passion in developing the individual through team sports , particularly rugby . This passion , allied to his genuine warmth , sympathy , humour and an often-extravagant charisma , made him a memorable colleague , leader and friend . Outside the school he was Head Coach of Sevenoaks Rugby Club , former player and 1st XV Vice-Captain of Blackheath RFC .
Robert Michael Williams was born in 1940 and grew up in Blaydon , County Durham . He was educated at Oundle School and later Bristol University where he was a member of the UAU ( Universities Athletic Union ) winning side in 1962 . It is no exaggeration to say that his arrival on the teaching staff of Sevenoaks School in 1970 and his appointment as Master in Charge of Rugby revolutionised the attitude to team sport in the school , inspiring vigour and enthusiasm in team coaches and pupils alike . He changed the tone : no longer ‘ play up and play the game ’ but ‘ play up and win the game ’.
Just three years ago , Brendan Gallagher of the Daily Telegraph wrote a series of articles entitled ‘ Great Rugby Schools ’. All the expected schools were listed : Rossall , Haileybury , Wellington , Millfield … and Sevenoaks . The big difference between Sevenoaks and the other schools was that our greatness was achieved over a much shorter period , specifically 1972-96 : Mike ’ s coaching era . Described as a ‘ human dynamo ’ by Gallagher , Mike demonstrated truly outstanding coaching skills . His knowledge of the game and his passion to develop rugby at Sevenoaks bordered on the obsessive , and his techniques certainly had the desired effect . Stuart Thresher ( OS 1981 ), who went on to play rugby professionally , was one of the first beneficiaries of the extraordinary coaching programme Mike introduced , which included pre-season tours to the Brecon Beacons and daily training sessions to strengthen every aspect of the players both physically and mentally . The method was subsequently described in one of Mike ’ s publications , Water into Wine .
134 OLD SENNOCKIANS