NAME
Eric Abbott (1 North 1921)

CLAIM TO FAME
Formed the Old Cranleighan Hockey Club. He was an ever-present in the side until the war, scoring 62 goals in the 1928–29 season, which remains a club record.

PROFILE
Eric Abbott was one of the driving forces behind the establishment of the Old Cranleighan Club at Thames Ditton in 1928, and he actually found the site while walking across fields on his way home from work. Abbott, who was playing top hockey for Richmond, realised there was a one-off chance to set up a hockey club to run alongside the burgeoning OCRFC, and turned his back on possible international honours to form the OCHC. He was an ever-present in the side until the war, scoring 62 goals in the 1928–29 season, which remains a club record. He also played OC rugby, cricket and golf and captained the tennis side. He remained close to the School up to his death in 1996 at the age of 90. His legacy resulted in the prestigious Eric Abbott Awards “for pupils who can contribute significantly to the life of the School”.