Field stands as tribute to Morris Philps

‘‘Its a huge honour but I would rather be out the back doing something else.’’

That was the reaction from Leamington School’s long-serving groundsman Morris Philps when he had to stand in front of the school to be honoured.

Principal Mike Malcolm at a special ceremony honoured Philps on the rugby ground he created which now bears his name, ‘‘Philps Field’’.

‘‘When we want something done we always call on Morris and this time we needed to establish our ground for rugby and it was done just like any other request I had made and every other principal before me.

‘‘We needed the rugby playing field moved from one end of the school grounds to the other and Morris knew exactly what was needed and how to do it.’’

Malcolm related the story of a parent who was assigned to order some fertiliser.

The parent spoke to the supplier who remembered Philps fondly in his time when he was a boy at the school and had the product delivered at no charge.

Philps who has put in over 40 years at the school and was uncomfortable with the attention thought it was ‘‘terrible people making a fuss’’.

When the plaque bearing the name of the field was presented, Malcolm told the school Philps ‘‘would have to erect it himself because no one else was allowed to’’.

Philps in his speech made mention of seeing five generations of family come through the school in his time as groundsman.

He said he has no thoughts of not seeing the next lot.

Following the presentation a ribbon cutting ceremony which was ‘‘danger tape’’ two junior rugby teams from Leamington and Tauwhare played a game in front of the school and other members of the school com- munity including [parents and grandparents.

Before the game the young players formed a V shape and performed an extended version of the All Black haka.

In honour of the day the Tuawhere School donated a shield to go to the victors of future annual clashes between the schools and if it wasn’t at rugby one year it could be a netball game.

At the end of the rugby game the students were rewarded and all enjoyed a hot sausage wrapped in bread and smeared with tomato sauce.