Oral History Interview: Kulbir Singh Bhaura

Partial Transcript: BHAURA: Kulbir Singh Bhaura, 1935.
SOMERVILLE: When did you first pick up a hockey stick?

Segment Synopsis: Bhaura describes how he started playing hockey in India and the friendships he made.

Keywords: Ajit Pal Singh; Brother; Centre Half; Classmate; College; Hockey Ball; India; Jalandhar--India; Khalsa School Jalandhar; Pitch; Practice; Side Lines

Subjects: Amateurism & Professionalism; Education and Schooling; Recollection of Others--Player; Social & Friendships

Partial Transcript: BHAURA: And then we emigrated to England, um, in 1968, I was the age of 13.

Segment Synopsis: Bhaura recounts arriving in England and how he was able to progress as a hockey player by watching ex international players.

Keywords: Africa; Brother; England; First Team; Friendly Match; India; Indian Gymkhana Hockey Club; Pakistan; Second Team

Subjects: Amateurism & Professionalism; Emigration; Migration; Recollection of Others--Player; Social & Friendships

Partial Transcript: BHAURA: And, at the age of 18, I went for trials for Middlesex, and, I got selected to represent Middlesex, er, at the age of 18.
SOMERVILLE: Is that Middlesex schools or full Middlesex?
BHAURA: Full Middlesex. Senior Middlesex squad.

Segment Synopsis: Bhaura explains why he went for trials for Middlesex; many international players used to play at these clubs during the 1970s.

Keywords: Hounslow Hockey Club; Middlesex (county); Southgate Hockey Club; Teddington Hockey Club

Subjects: Amateurism & Professionalism; Recollection of Others--Player

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: What, what position did you play?
BHAURA: Um, well I used to play, for the club I used to play centre forward. But I knew that getting centre forward position in Middlesex was tough.

Segment Synopsis: Bhaura explains why it was difficult for him to play in the centre forward position for Middlesex. He also describes how he career changed after joining Hounslow Hockey Club.

Keywords: Centre Forward; England; Frederick Scott/Freddie Scott; Hounslow Hockey Club; Hounslow--United Kingdom (UK); Indian Gymkhana Hockey Club; London League; Manager; Middlesex (county); Right Winger; Roly Brookeman; South League; South Premier League

Subjects: Recollection of Others--Coach & Manager; Recollection of Others--Player

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: Can you remember your first international match?
BHAURA: I haven't got a great memory of, I know it was against Belgium at Crystal Palace, and, and it was a very exciting day for me, my parents came and watched, my brother, the whole of the Gymkhama club was there, um, but the match itself, is a bit of hazy, is a bit of a blur.

Segment Synopsis: Bhaura recounts his first international match for England and why he was dropped by the International Hockey Association.

Keywords: Belgium; British Citizenship; British Passport; Brother; Crystal Palace National Sports Centre; Dropped; England; Friendly Match; Germany; Indian Gymkhana Hockey Club; Indian Passport; International Caps; International Hockey Federation (FIH); International Match; Lords; Parents; Squad

Subjects: Hockey Homes, Venues & Stadia; Teams--Men--International; Tournaments--International

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: Any particularly memorable matches that you played in for England before you got selected for GB?
BHAURA: Um, we had a tour to Australia in 1981 and that was a very memorable tour, we had five test matches against Australia and ten state matches and, it was a three, three and a half week tour.

Segment Synopsis: Bhaura recounts two memorable moments during his international career and how these tournaments helped boost his confidence during other games.

Keywords: Australia; Bombay--India; Crowd; England; Goal; Great Britain; India; International Match; Manager; Netherlands; Pakistan; State Match; Test Match

Subjects: Teams--Men--International; Tournaments--International; World Cup--Men--1982 Bombay

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: So then you were playing for GB, er, you played against Pakistan, in your first one
BHAURA: Yes, yes,
SOMERVILLE: Was that in Pakistan or at home?
BHAURA: Er, no, that was in Hong Kong

Segment Synopsis: Bhaura explains why nearly did not qualify for the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games.

Keywords: Bronze medal; Great Britain; Hong Kong--China; International Match; Los Angeles--United States of America (USA); Olympic Qualifiers; Olympics/Olympic Games; Pakistan; Russia

Subjects: Awards--Recognition; Olympic Games--1984 Los Angeles; Teams--Men--International; Tournaments--International

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: What are your memories of those Olympics, it was in Los Angeles wasn't it?
BHAURA: Well, the most standout memory, er, of the whole process, getting to the Olympics was quite harrowing for me and quite challenging.

Segment Synopsis: Bhaura describes how he was selected for the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games, how he trained for this international tournament and his memories of the matches.

Keywords: Amsterdam--Netherlands; Belgium; Bronze Medal; Coach; Crowd; David Whitaker; Europe; European Cup; Hong Kong--China; Hounslow--United Kingdom (UK); Ian Thompson; Inside Right; International Match; Joke; Lilleshall--United Kingdom (UK); Los Angeles--United States of America (USA); Lunch; Manager; Mark Precious; Noise; Olympic Qualifiers; Olympic Stadium; Olympics/Olympic Games; Pitch; Robert John Clift/Rob Clift; Roger Self; Running; Shuttles; Spain; Squad; Training; United States of America (USA); Alan Hargreaves

Subjects: Amateurism & Professionalism; Awards--Recognition; Olympic Games--1984 Los Angeles; Recollection of Others--Coach & Manager; Recollection of Others--Player; Teams--Men--International; Tournaments--International; Training & Conditioning--International

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: And the progress to the, um, the semi-finals you must have reached.
BHAURA: Los Angeles?
SOMERVILLE: In Los Angeles. Was that, um, straightforward?

Segment Synopsis: Bhaura reminisces over his time representing Great Britain at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games. He describes how he and his other team members struggled with the importance of the event and how they were overcome with emotion after winning a bronze medal.

Keywords: Australia; Bronze medal; Centre Forward; Defender; Final; Germany; Half time; Inside Right; International Match; Los Angeles--United States of America (USA); Malaysia; Nervous; Netherlands; Olympic Qualifiers; Olympics/Olympic Games; Right Winger; Roger Self; Sean Kerly; Semi-final; Short Corner; Stephen James Batchelor/Stephen Batchelor/Steve Batchelor; Tactics; Team Meeting

Subjects: Awards--Recognition; Olympic Games--1984 Los Angeles; Recollection of Others--Coach & Manager; Recollection of Others--Player; Social & Friendships; Teams--Men--International; Tournaments--International

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: Before then you played at the World Cup in Willesden, didn't you?
BHAURA: For England, yes.
SOMERVILLE: For England, that was England.

Segment Synopsis: Bhaura describes why he does not value his silver medal as much as the other medals he has earned.

Keywords: Bronze medal; England; Gold medal; International Match; Silver medal; Willesden--United Kingdom (UK); World Cup; Bench

Subjects: Awards--Recognition; Teams--Men--International; Tournaments--International; World Cup--Men--1986 London

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: The following year you went to Moscow, for the European Cup.
BHAURA: Yes.
SOMERVILLE: Was that England again?
BHAURA: That was England again.

Segment Synopsis: Bhaura recounts his experiences at the Moscow 1987 World Cup. He describes his accommodation whilst on international duty, the food and ate and matches he played in.

Keywords: Biscuits; Chocolates; England; European Cup; European Nations Championship/EuroHockey Nations Championship; Food; Gold medal; Hotel; International match; Moscow--Russia; Netherlands; Penalty Stroke; Silver medal

Subjects: Awards--Recognition; Dinners; European Nations Championship--Men--1987 Moscow; Teams--Men--International; Tournaments--International

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: And I understand there was a world eleven selected to play against Australia?
BHAURA: Yes, um.
SOMERVILLE: Was that at the tournament? Or after?
BHAURA: That was after the tournament.

Segment Synopsis: Bhaura explains why he was picked for the world eleven team and what players he played with.

Keywords: Australia; Centre Forward; Germany; Goal; Kaleemullah Khan/Kalimulla Khan; Left Winger; Pakistan; Right Winger; Samiullah Khan; Stefan Blocher; World XI team

Subjects: Awards--Recognition; Recollection of Others--Player; Social & Friendships; Teams--Men--International; Tournaments--International

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: And then, the following year, was the Olympic year in Seoul.
BHAURA: In Seoul, yes.
SOMERVILLE: And you were talking about going to Malaysia.

Segment Synopsis: Bhaura recounts the time he represented Great Britain at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. He discusses the pressure he felt while playing, his other team members and the well wishes he received when he arrived home with a gold medal.

Keywords: Aeroplane; Bench; Bronze Medal; Captain; Champagne; Exam; Family; First Class; Germany; Goal; Gold Medal; Great Britain; Great Britain Hockey; Heat; Hockey ball; Humid; Humidity; India; International Match; Interview; Ipoh--Malaysia; Journalist/Journalism; Malaysia; Olympics/Olympic Games; Perak Invitation Tournament; Plane; Press Conference; Richard Dodds; Roger Self; Sean Kerly; Seoul--South Korea; Silver Medal; Six Nations; Substitute; Sultan Azlan Shah Trophy; Team Meeting

Subjects: Awards--Recognition; Captaincy; Coaching & Management--International; International Travel; Media; Olympic Games--1988 Seoul; Recollection of Others--Coach & Manager; Recollection of Others--Player; Reunion; Social & Friendships; Tactics and Performance; Teams--Men--International; Tournaments--International

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: We tend to forget that most of you were all working full time as well.
BHAURA: Yes.
SOMERVILLE: How easy was it to fit in training for all the matches and tournaments?

Segment Synopsis: Bhaura describes how he managed training alongside full time work and what his training regime involved. He also explains that it was difficult to train as a team because his team members lived far away from each other.

Keywords: Food; Grass; Gymnasium/Gym; Osterley--United Kingdom (UK); Pitch; Rugby; Rugby Club; Running; Shower; Shuttles; Sprinter; Squad; Training; Training Camp; AstroTurf/Artificial Turf

Subjects: Playing Surfaces; Tactics and Performance; Training & Conditioning--Club

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: What did you, what happened after Seoul? Did you just go back to playing for South Middlesex Club?
BHAURA: Um, after Seoul, um, the following season, um, the, um, the national league started and Indian Gymkhana, um, we qualified for the premier division.

Segment Synopsis: Bhaura describes how he returned to Indian Gymkhana Hockey Club after the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.

Keywords: Captain; Coach; First Team; Indian Gymkhana Hockey Club; Middlesex (county); National League; Seoul--South Korea

Subjects: Awards--Recognition; Coaching & Management--Club; Teams--Men--Club

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: So when you reached the grand old age of 40, did you face a decision on whether to drop yourself or retire.
BHAURA: I did, my final season, at Christmas, I, just before Christmas, I think we, I can't remember who we were playing against, it may have been Doncaster or someone like that, and, I got run ragged by a twenty year old.

Segment Synopsis: Bhaura recounts why he retired, his hockey retail business, how he supported his son's early interest in hockey and his involvement with veterans hockey.

Keywords: Christmas; Coach; Doncaster--United Kingdom (UK); England; Family; First Team; Indian Gymkhana Hockey Club; Knee; Masters Hockey; Shop; Son; Training; Veterans Hockey; Back

Subjects: Fitness, Injury & Health; Life Outside of Hockey--Family; Life Outside of Hockey--Retirement; Tactics and Performance; Teams--Men--Club; Teams--Men--Masters & Veterans

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: Did you get involved in any administrative roles?
BHAURA: Er, no. I did coach.

Segment Synopsis: Bhaura describes his involvement with coaching.

Keywords: Badge; Coach; England; International caps; Manager; Olympics/Olympic Games; Paul Barber

Subjects: Awards--Recognition; Captaincy; Coaching & Management--International; Recollection of Others--Coach & Manager

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: So then you concentrated on your business?
BHAURA: Yes.

Segment Synopsis: Bhaura describes his hockey retail and wholesale business and the challenges he faced after kit and equipment was imported from India and China. He also discusses his current involvement with Indian Gymkhana Hockey Club.

Keywords: Business; COVID-19; China; Chingford--United Kingdom (UK); Christmas; Coach; Director; First Team; GRYPHON hockey; Gymkhana; Hockey ball; India; Indian Gymkhana Hockey Club; Junior Match; Pakistan; World Cup; Australia

Subjects: Coaching & Management--Club; Kit & Equipment; Life Outside of Hockey--Career; Life Outside of Hockey--Retirement; Manufacturing & Industry; Retail

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: Um, one of the other things we often ask is who was the best player you played with and who was the best player you played against?
BHAURA: Gosh, um, the best player I, this person has been mentioned before, um, he is where I learnt my hockey, um and his name is X.

Segment Synopsis: Bhaura lists the best players he has played with and against.

Keywords: Darshan Singh Kullar; Goal; Goalkeeper; Gold medal; Grass; Hat Trick; Hockey ball; India; International Match; Midlands; Olympics/Olympic Games; Paul Barber; Pitch; Ric Charlesworth/Richard Charlesworth; United Brothers

Subjects: Awards--Recognition; Fitness, Injury & Health; Recollection of Others--Player; Social & Friendships; Teams--Men--Club; Teams--Men--International; Tournaments--International

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: Um, what about all the friends you have made in hockey? Have you kept in touch with the people you have played with throughout you career?
BHAURA: Um, not necessarily outside this country very well.

Segment Synopsis: Bhaura describes the friendships he has made throughout his hockey playing career and how these are maintained.

Keywords: England; Friends; London--United Kingdom (UK); Olympics/Olympic Games; Willesden--United Kingdom (UK); World Cup; Communication

Subjects: Fame & Celebrity; Recollection of Others--Player; Reunion; Social & Friendships; Social Media

Partial Transcript: SOMERVILLE: And is there a one stand out memory that you always hold with you from your hockey playing career?
BHAURA: Gosh, well it has to be, it has to be winning, um, of the, for me the bronze medal has more value, er, its a funny thig to say but, i hold my bronze medal very dear because of the struggle, er, to achieve that.

Segment Synopsis: Bhaura reflects on his hockey playing career, describing the moment he remembers most fondly.

Keywords: Bronze medal; Roger Self

Subjects: Awards--Recognition; Olympic Games--1984 Los Angeles; Recollection of Others--Coach & Manager; Tournaments--International