In October 1976 I started a Psychology degree at the relatively new University of Warwick (much nearer to Coventry than Warwick, there is a story there…). In my first year I lodged in a University run student house in Leamington Spa.
One of my flat mates , Richard Hicks, started the Warwick Bears; the University of Warwick Ultimate Frisbee club.
Along with fellow flat mate Rob Duffy I thought this would be a pretty cool club to join and did so. The club has been in continuous existence ever since making it the longest running University Ultimate Frisbee club in the UK.
I did play quite a few 2nd and 3rd team games and even took part in the 1979 British/European Ultimate championships in Richmond (UK). Never good enough to make the 1st team, although a contemporary newspaper clipping reads:
2nds Hold UJT
Big Jim Waters had a good day up front, plaguing the Londoners’ endzone and is settling in well in his attacking role.
After graduating, I worked for the Civil Service in London. In the early and mid 1980s I played spasmodically in a number of London based teams such as “The Hammersmith Flyovers”, “The Cruise Missiles” and “Cruisers 82” if my memory serves me well.
Though I have not played competitively since the 1986 Warwick 10th anniversary I still take a Frisbee up the park most mornings with the dogs if the weather permits.
In November 2026 the Warwick University club will celebrate its 50th Anniversary.