John Jephcott

From the past:

Marilyn's refusal to continue to make allowances for my buggered state after a [soccer] game took their toll and I retired gracefully. Still miss it a lot.

2004

Grew up at West Pymble and went to Gordon West Primary with a number of other likely lads Peter Verrills, Randall Jones, Trevor Remington, John Dawes. Also played soccer together on weekends (what a team)!

Then onto ABHS where I, and as it appears many others will never forget Goldstein’s dramatic entrances to class, one hand on his nose, the other pulling down on an imaginary toilet chain whilst protesting “It’s putrid in here boys open all ze windows”.

Other memories include crack of dawn water polo practice with Randall Jones and Dave Wilson, in the freezing Hornsby pool (thanks for the team photo Dave); playing hooker for the first XV and getting regularly belted literally and on the scoreboard; getting caught drinking at the Blue Gum before the school formal with Verrills, Remington, Wilson © and other school perfects - Brown was horrified of course that we had disgraced the school’s name; more drinking escapades after school on Fridays at the Newport Arms and one unforgettable weekend away with the usual culprits and Greg Hancock at Wilson’s old shack, a long hike down a bloody cliff at Burning Palms where we literally drank ourselves under the table playing drinking games devised by Bernie Newlands; table tennis competitions and getting pissed on crème de menthe in Wilson’s garage.

Anyhow, some brain cells must have survived all this underage drinking and I managed to get through the Leaving Certificate and decided to do law (more accurately someone decided for me). Eventually an offer of a place at Sydney University arrived (straight A’s were certainly not necessary in those days and me thinks a number of others must have dropped out before they finally offered it to me)

By this time however I had got a job and was working as an articled clerk for a solicitor at Dee Why and decided to stay on for the practical experience and do the part time SAB Course (correspondence initially, lectures after work at night, studying and assignments at weekends). I must have been bloody mad and wasted a lot of good drinking and partying time).

Also early on rolled my old FJ and landed in hospital with a smashed up right hand requiring a couple of operations and bone grafts to fix it. Next time I won’t put my hand out the car window to stop it rolling!

Joined Bilgola Surf Club about the same time as Randall, plenty of body surfing, perving and the odd rescue as I recall. Anyone else remember Randall’s raunchy bucks night at the club or have stories about the infamous Tim Bristow. Also played a bit of rugby for the article clerks team.

Eventually got through the law course and was admitted as a solicitor in 1970. Shortly thereafter ventured out and practised at first in partnership with my brother-in -law at Newport and in the city and then on my own in the city.

Same year 1970 married my beautiful wife Marilyn, built a house at Terrey Hills and two sons followed in quick succession, Martin now aged 30 and Kim 29. Both are now married themselves and doing well in their chosen fields (not the law so unfortunately I haven’t been able to have a decent holiday in over thirty years and have no one to offload the business onto).

Whilst living at Terrey Hills got involved in the local Volunteer Bush fire Brigade (what a buzz and adrenaline rush it was speeding to a fire with truck lights and sirens blazing and rushing headlong into the bush at the nozzle end of a hose to attack an advancing fire). Eventually gave in up after about 15 years when it all became too safety conscious and regimented for my liking (no more taking booze in the truck to drink with the crew after fires, no more bush bashing in the truck or direct attacks on fires etc).

Needed something else to do so took up soccer again over 30’s then over 35’s and continued playing Sunday mornings until a couple of years ago. Eventually after about 20 years the injuries (broken leg, wrist and busted ribs etc) and Marilyn’s refusal to continue to make allowances for my buggered state after a game took their toll and I retired gracefully. Still miss it a lot.

Moved to Wahroonga in 1987, renovated an old house and still happily living there although developers are circling. Still practising as a solicitor in the city, and have kept in touch over the years with Pete Verrills, (my first real client), Randall Jones, Bill Whitting and Bernie Newlands. I’m so lucky to have good mates who are good clients’ as well.

Marilyn now works with me full time and despite the odd demarcation dispute we enjoy working together. We now have four wonderful grandchildren, two girls aged almost 5 and 2 and two boys aged 3 and 2 months to keep us on our toes. They are great fun in small doses!