SENT in by Hilary and Mike Wreford of the Okehampton and District Local History Society is this superb black and white picture of Okehampton Columbines hockey team of 1952/52 which may stick in the mind with some older Times readers.

Mike said the team included Majorie (Minnie) Measures, the popular French teacher and deputy head of Okehampton Grammar School, who was an outstanding sports woman.

She skippered the Columbines for many years having already captained the British Universities and went on to be a regular member of the Devon county side and later a selector for Devon and the Western Territory sides. 

As a teacher, she was instrumental in selecting some of the outstanding school girl players for the town such as Val Rees. Ivy Trant, Beryl Guscott, Diana Furse, Hilary Bird, Jennifer Cook, Marie Slee, Pat Penfold and others. who played for the school in the morning and the town in the afternoon.    

Mike said: 'While Minnie's hockey skills were apparent, it was not generally known that she had been selected to represent England in the 1940 Olympics — but the outbreak of war caused the cancellation of this event, and, like so many people, her life was altered for ever.

'In the front row, Janie Mortimer was an outstanding sportswoman, and her husband Denzil too was denied a glittering career in sport.  

'Denzil, who arrived in Okehampton as a newly qualified teacher, was a footballing centre forward with lightening pace and cannon ball shot. 

'Football league scouts chased his signature, and he played a few games as an amateur for Exeter City; however when the mighty Arsenal came calling it was too good an opportunity to miss.'

Mike said Denzil travelled to Highbury where he was met by Exeter-born, England international Cliff Bastin, before signing league forms before the Arsenal management duo of Georgh Allison and Tom Whittaker. 

However, war broke out shortly afterwards and the league programme was cancelled after three games and Denzil was denied his career. 

During the war, he rose to the rank of captain in the Tank Regiment, but suffered a serious head wound that naturally prevented him from heading the ball. 

After the war he retuned to Okehampton as a teacher and in his first season for Okehampton Argyle he scored a record 84 goals.

'As a teacher he was was much respected and was a strong disciplinarian, becoming headmaster at North Tawton Secondary Modern School and later a deputy head at Okehampton College.'