Tuesday, 29 September 2020

For Sergeant Matiu Ratana...


Many years ago, in a universe not actually too far from here, Scrobs was an ardent player of the real man's game, Rugby Union, and enjoyed several years of strain, beer, Gold Leaf and the occasional injury, often from stupid occurrences like tripping up in the only hole on Lewes 1st XV's pitch, which was deceptively flat...

One of our serious opponents was East Grinstead, and we used to take them on, at their old ground just down from the High Street. They've moved their club further away now, and in fact, a few years ago, I went to that superb place to watch my old club win the Group Final, which meant more beer, definitely no play, but no fags, sadly...

As you may know from Scrobs passim, our Second XV captain was a concert pianist, and knew every song ever written from 'Poor little Angeline' (disgusting but hilarious), to 'The Engineer's song', (crude but effective)! Singing after a match was mandatory, beer flowed from jugs, and a good time was had by all!

It may have been East Grinstead, I can't remember, (they were always a tough team to beat), but one club would make a fabulous rendition of 'Green grow the rushes-o'.

When the line 'Three, three the rivals' came on, the whole lot of them would charge us, beer in hand, and the result was usually mayhem, with trousers drenched etc. It became a bit tiresome after the eighth verse, so we put our mugs down and returned the compliment with even larger shoulders! It quietened everyone down after that and we reverted to hymns and arias...

This post is dedicated to Sergeant Matiu Ratana, the policeman who was shot by that scumbag asshole in Croydon. Sergeant Ratana was two months off retirement, and one of his leisure pursuits was rugby coach at East Grinstead RFC. They miss him terribly already.

https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/croydon-police-officer-death-east-19002023

And I never knew the man - I wish I had.

8 comments:

Thud said...

What a sad end for a great man after such a career, he deserved so much more.

Goosegirl said...

There are no words one can possibly say to express the sheer waste of a good human's life. I'd be no good as a police officer as if that happened to a mate of mine I'd happily drag the bastard into a padded cell and subject him to the most slow and excruciating torture imaginable.

A K Haart said...

For an open and shut case such as this we should bring back hanging. It would be interesting to know how many would volunteer to pull the lever.

Goosegirl said...

It'll have to be a jolly long lever!

Scrobs. said...

Absolutely, Thud.

It makes me furious that such scum get over here and create chaos. We deserve better from The Home Office, especially as we have to put up with paying for the incoming illegal bastards in Kent.

Scrobs. said...

Well said, Goosey!

I have pure contempt for such bad people. Perhaps I'd remove the padding first too...

Scrobs. said...

Quite a few, Mr H!

As GG says, a lever from here to Lancaster would be a start...

Goosegirl said...

Remove the padding? No way, because you don't want him to die before you've done with him by banging his head on the wall or whatever. There are certain scenes from Hannibal towards the end, another from The Pit and the Pendulum and one from The Green Mile, but I couldn't possibly comment on which one to start with and which one would be best for the final denouement.