1ST XI CRICKET SIX ASIDE RUNNERS UP 1992
- UNDER ELEVEN RUGBY NDUME SEVENS WINNERS 1990
1ST XV RUGBY NDUME SEVENS 1993
- DIGBY BUTLER PH (1989-93)
DIGBY BUTLER WAS BORN ON THE 12TH AUGUST 1979
As I was looking through old school magazines, I came across this moving article written by Digby himself when he was ten, which I would like to share with you.
This sums up Digby in many ways. It shows him to be a very caring person always wanting to share his experiences with his friends. His fondness for his family and pets,
RUGBY 1ST XV HILLCREST RUGBY TOURNAMENT WINNERS 1992
as well as his keenness for art and sport.
He came to Pembroke in 1987. He was in what was Form two under the guidance of Dave Allen. Immediately he was very popular amongst his friends as many of his peers would vouch for.
Digby was talented in all areas of the curriculum. He was a very talented artist and amongst one of my most treasured possessions is a cartoon he drew for me as a leaving present. It is cartoon of the 1993 1st XV which had an unbeaten season and also won the Ndume Sevens. You can make out the entire team with their different characteristics and it is not difficult to pick out the curly haired slightly overweight coach thumping his hands together to exalt more effort from the team. However Digby did not need much encouragement to do this.
Digby always gave his best often punching way above his weight. I do recall the 1990 Ndume under Eleven Sevens final versus, which was coached by Richard Wesley and myself. It was a very closely fought contest! When suddenly a big Kenton boy broke clear from a ruck. Digby took it upon himself to halt the progress of the large purple shirted Kenton forward. He literally flew at the boy from three metres with his shoulder and a huge grunt. The Kenton boy was stopped in his tracks. Not entirely legal but very effective!! Pembroke won the tournament. He was also part of the highly successful 1st XV in 1993 which also won the Ndume Sevens. He also took the disappointment of not being able to go on Pembroke’s tour to Zimbabwe and South Africa with the usual Digby dignity. He played for the 1st XI cricket as an unorthodox leg break bowler. He bowled around the wicket. He was so effective I actually opened the bowling with him. He was also part of the 1st XI Hockey which won the Kenton six aside tournament.
He took a great deal of pride in everything he did and this played a huge part in his successful academic results. I noticed looking through past magazines he more than often won the effort prize. He eventually achieved the ultimate and was awarded a scholarship to Dauntsey’s in England. Where he again achieved great deal, before he joined the army.
So I was very sad to hear of Digby’s untimely death. It has given me a great deal of pride to relate my these memories of Digby’s Pembroke schooldays.
Thank you
Rob Harte