J. H. BENNETT, the English International full-back, is one of the greatest players in defence the game has known. More-over, he has achieved an easy record in International Hockey as a full-back, having now played on twenty-seven occasions for England. Education at Harrow, and subsequently going up to Oxford University, Mr Bennett obtained his "blue" for hockey in 1907 and 1908.

After playing for some period for the now defunct Berkshire Gentlemen H.C., he became a member of the famous Hampstead H.C., and since 1919, has officiated as the hon. secretary. Brilliant form was shown for the South and England and for his club in defence last season; his consistency was remarkable. He has that priceless gift of anticipation; he almost seems by natural instinct and knowledge to divine which way a forward means to travel or to pass. A keen tackler, sound, sure and clean, with that clever lunge forward, he is a judicious ball hitter. Rarely does one see him waste a single pass to a half-back or forward and he plays with rare precision to his left-half. Although now getting into what may be termed the veteran category, yet Mr Bennett is still good for a few more years at the game which he adorns and on which he must leave a lasting impress in regard to hockey history. An all-round sportsman, a keen golfer, and an enthusiastic motorist, the famous England International is a most popular personality. Shortly, one may say that he is a model sportsman, a model hockey back and a model and genial official. All young aspiring full-backs can, with safety, take their guide and pattern from Mr Bennett's style of play, for he shows that pace is not the be-all and end-all in full-back play, but to use one's brains in summing up the strength and cleverness of one's opponents. To play twenty-seven times for his country is a record unapproached by any past or present British International full-back, and it may never again so happen that any other full-back will reach this number of "caps". The record number of "caps" for any British player is, of course, the immortal S. H. Shoveller, whose total figure reaches thirty-five but who could well have gained fifty could he have accepted all the invitations extended to him during his long and wonderful career. At various functions, Mr Bennett's clever post-prandial speeches are in great request, which he delivers in a delightful, humorous vein.

MORE NOTABLE MEMBERS - Ruari Milsted, John Sankey and Beaker Saunders

Another noteworthy election at this time was that of the famous R.L. Milsted, in October 1927. Ruari Milsted never played for England, though he has been described as the greatest English player who never did, and he did practically everything else in the game. He played for the South when he was in the Club’s 2nd XI. He captained Middlesex for eight years, and the South for four. He was invited to play for England in 1934 but was prevented from doing so by ill-health. He was treasurer of the South from 1933 to 1946 and a co-Trustee, with Sir Leslie Rowan, of the SCHA funds. He captained the Club’s 1st XI for nine consecutive years (a record – even longer the Shove), from 1930 to the War, and was President from 1953 to 1960. He was a brilliant right-half and would undoubtedly have had an even longer active career if it had not been for the War.

As it was, his greatest feat was the gathering together of a nucleus old Hampstead players in the later 1940’s, and reforming the old Club after the War. He had gone to live in South London and was, by this time, captaining Purley’s 1st XI. That very friendly club was kind enough to welcome any of Ruari’s old Hampstead companions to play at Purley while they took stock and re-grouped. He was able to track down and collect enough old members to make a re-birth possible by 1950. His untiring efforts were finally rewarded when he played in, and captained, the team which represented the Club in its first post-War game on 21st October 1950 – 22 years and a day from the date of his election.

tial initial;">Another splendid election to the Club, shortly after Ruari Milsted’s, was that of J.C. Sankey who, like Laurie Barnard, was obliged to play in the practice matches and was duly elected in September 1929. John Sankey was not a star player but, because of his tremendous loyalty, he captained the 2nd XI for a number of years when he had a good chance of a 1st XI place. With S.J. (‘Beaker’) Saunders, he was one of two other old members largely responsible for helping Ruari Milsted to get things going again after the War. John Sankey also served a term as President from 1963/66, but his really noble contribution has been as umpire, mentor and constant friend to the lower XI’s for fifteen years and more. He is reputed to have played his last game for the Club at the grand old age of 56 and will, no doubt, be umpiring still when many younger members have been left far behind.