"Collared" by Bob Thomas. Sam Hawkesley (Rugby School) Australia Tour 2006
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In the life of a sporting pupil at Rugby School. His kit would not be complete without his "Punt-about".
To this day.... most boys in schools around the world wait in anticipation for the "Break time" bell to ring. Armed with their tennis ball they congregate on the school playground. Coats & bags down for goals and a game of sorts commencs. Rules change daily. Number in each side differ pending on who turns up, the rubbish kid who's picked last is told "your in goal", but he doesn't mind because he's still in the gang. Half way through the game players swap loyalty and play for their opponent because one side was getting thrashed. The boy who owns the ball decides he's captain, nobody argues. The ball goes onto a roof and Jack-the-Lad shows off his climbing dexterity in exchange for a cheer from his mates and detention if caught. The break-time bell rings again and coats and bags are collected. "Remember who's team your on for lunchtime" as the boys disperse for their next lessons.
Nothing has changed.
The, 8-Panel Button Ball, "Punt-about" of yesterday becomes the tennis ball of today.
The original "Punt-about".
The "Puntabout" Button Ball circa 1862.
Courtesy of Rusty MacLean esq, chief archivist, Rugby School Museum. Rugby.
This Punt-about Button ball was discovered in a blocked-up chimney behind the wooden panels of Old Big School, the original schoolroom off "Old Quad" Rugby School.
It is the only original known to survive. This Puntabout Button Ball held the remains of one of Richard Lindons very first India Rubber inflatable bladders. Within a very short period of time the rubber bladders shape allowed good pressure into the ends of the ball and redefined stitching techniques removed the need for the "button" and was replaced by the 4 panel buttonless ball.
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The "Punt-about" 7-Panel Button Ball Today.
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William Webb Ellis 200th Birthday (24 November 1806 – 24 January 1872)
2006:
To commemorate the Birth of William Webb Ellis we were commissioned to produce 20 Antique Leather and 50 White with Red Button (England Colours) synthetic Punt-about Buttonballs.
These were handmade, using the original held at Rugby School to create an exact template. The finished result prooved to be highly useable, great fun and a fabulouse presentation gift.
In this year.... Rugby School toured Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia. Which was to become, statistically, the most sucessful in Rugby Schools Touring history. At the end of the season Rugby School played their final match on "The Close" competing against the French team Menton.
On 24th January 1872 William Webb Ellis died and is buried in Menton, France. Thus a very apt finish to an excellent season at Rugby.
The first new inflated Punt-about ButtonBall was presented, by the Author, to Rugby School and takes pride of place alongside the Richard Lindon Puntabout. The second inflated Puntabout ButtonBall was presented to Mr. Simon Brown (head of Rugby Football at Rugby School and 1st XV Coach) Beau Carney, Captain of the 1st XV 2006 Season.
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2009: The ultimate Gift for a Touring Side and for every boy's collection, irrespective of age or gender !
The Authour (Mr. Simon Hawkesley) owns the Intellectual Property Rights, Registered Design and Trademarks to the Puntabout ButtonBall. He is currently talking to manufacturers and we should see production soon.
Keep an Eye on www.puntabout.co.uk and www.puntabout.com !!!