As Britain rebuilt after the war, Oakham RFC entered a decade of renewal and community spirit.
The 1950s saw the fixture list grow, new teams added — and in 1955/56, under captain J.T. Hibbitt, Oakham enjoyed one of its most successful seasons ever.
Of 32 matches, 23 were won and three drawn, with a record 423 points scored. The standout result? A huge 70–0 win over Boots Athletic ‘A’, with Ivor Knott and Norman Fowler racking up the points.
A second XV was fielded for the first time, and the social side of the club thrived with the Annual Ball and Christmas Party becoming fixtures of their own. Despite National Service and even the Suez fuel crisis, Oakham always found a way to play — hiring coaches when petrol ran short and proving that rugby really does bring people together.
The original black and white clubhouse photo marked 1955/56 is likely actually to be from 1958/59, as the ball being held seems to say 1958— and an as-yet-unnamed gentleman in a hat, perhaps a coach or long-time supporter, reminding us of the volunteers who built this club from the ground up.
The 1950s: a decade of revival, records, and real rugby values — built on teamwork, friendship, and community spirit that still defines Oakham RFC today.