Roger Uttley (OBE) appointed School Governor

(08 March 2010)

We are delighted to announce that Roger Uttley, OBE, the former England rugby international and British Lion, has joined the Board of Governors of Durham School. Roger was capped 23 games for England, both in the second row and the back row (five times as captain). He also played in four tests in the back row for the British Lions on the undefeated 1974 tour to South Africa.

Roger was born in Blackpool and played first for Fylde then Gosforth, before finishing his career at Wasps. He also playd for Northumberland and the Barbarians.

He coached the successful London and South East Divisional side in the mid to late 80s, before working with Geoff Cooke to coach and guide the England XV, captained by Will Carling, to the final of the 1991 World Cup.

Roger was also assistant coach (forwards) to the 1989 Lions side that won the test series against Australia.

In 1997 he was asked to manage the England XV, a job he enjoyed doing despite it coinciding with the infamous tour to hell. Due to cutbacks within the RFU the post of manager became financially unviable and he lost his position along with 30 other RFU employees.

Roger's day job has always been teaching and for twenty-six years he held the post of Director of Physical Education at Harrow School, before retiring in 2008 to look after his wife.

Roger is a former President and a current council member of the children's medical research charity“ Sparks”; he is also an honorary member of “Wooden Spoon”, the charity for disadvantaged children and young people and Chairman and Trustee of "TTT" (Torch Trophy Trust), a charity dedicated to helping and recognising the efforts of volunteers in the grass roots of sport. Sir Bobby Charlton is its President.

Roger is married to Kris, formerly Headmistress of St John's C of E School, Stanmore in Middlesex. They have two sons: Simon is a film screen writer and Ben is an actor and owns his own production company.

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Monday, 06 September 2010

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