Rye Lad in Royal Tournament

Rye Lad in Royal Tournament

The Royal Tournament this year will be of great interest to a well known Rye family. Mr. & Mrs. E.  Polhill of 8 Eagle Road have just cause to be proud of their only son Graham, who has been selected to run for the Portsmouth Command Field Gun Crew at this unique event.

Graham has always had the ambition to travel and on leaving Rye Grammar School joined the Royal Navy in January 1961. He did his initial training on HMS Rayleigh as an electrical mechanic, and being six months advance in training, was transferred to HMS Collingwood. In November 1962 he was drafted to Malta for eighteen months and during this time he was aboard HMS Ausania. He travelled to Rome, Italy and many more places.

On his return to this country Graham joined HMS  Miner III travelling between Portsmouth and Falmouth and then to his present day ship HMS Vernon.

Graham Polhill
Graham Polhill

Graham is a very keen sportsman and extremely fit. He has won six cups and two silver medals which certainly helped him when taking the tournament test and was the only one of nine to pass.

The test in itself was no mean feat which consisted of a three mile run, negotiate an assault course, then three circuits of the gymnasium, lift 150 lb. above his head once and 120 lb. three times. From now until the Tournament Graham maintains a high standard of training and even on weekend leaves spends a great deal of his time in a track suit cross country running.

To Graham we all extend our best wishes and congratulations and Rye can feel proud of this local lad who has accomplished so much.

From the April 1966 Issue of “Rye’s Own”

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