Club History, Players Peter Gartrell

Born in Morrab Road in 1918, Peter was a former pupil of St. Erbyn’s School, Penzance. He later followed in his grandfather’s and father’s footsteps by taking up dentistry.

His training took place at Guy’s Hospital before the war where he was the only ‘Brit’ in their then, very strong rugby XV. Most of the players were South Africans and, not being able to speak Afrikaans, Peter claimed that he hardly ever got a pass! (A modest comment as any side would have been foolish not to have used his obvious talent.)

He remembered being on a Cornish tour with Guy’s and playing at St. Ives when an old woman whacked him with her umbrella after he had scored a try in the corner – not the friendliest of welcomes on one’s return to the Duchy!

The incident, however, did not affect the post-match activities. Indeed, the players became perhaps a little too exhuberant because the Police were summoned to the team’s hotel the morning after. Players were interviewed, with the first being asked ‘What’s your name?’ The reply was given ‘Otto Hallamandres’, the next ‘Oscar van Statler’, and so on. The policeman did not know they were South Africans and warned them to stop larking around. Everyone was apologetic, but whilst the questioning was going on someone had taken the opportunity to fill the officer’s helmet up with liquid – further elaboration is neither necessary nor recommended! Peter played for Penzance when able and also gained his first Cornish ‘cap’ in 1938. During the 1939-45 war, he served in the Royal Navy as a Surgeon-Lieutenant, returning afterwards to his practice in Morrab Road.

Just prior to his return, Rex Carr wrote to him in the Navy asking if he could persuade Guy’s to come and play the Pirates in our opening match. Peter’s charming and smooth-talking approach not surprisingly worked and he captained us in our first-ever game which was played against Guy’s Hospital on the 22nd. September, 1945.

He then had the honour of again playing for Cornwall, but he broke his leg in a match played against Devon at Plymouth. To complicate matters he caught tetanus, nearly died, and his rugby career was sadly ended.

Peter Gartrell was one of life’s gentleman characters who exuded a very real ‘joie de vivre’. He died at his home near St Buryan in 1998 aged 80.