He was introduced to the club by Jamie Scott, both members of the Kowloon Hash House Harriers - a primary Valley recruiting ground in its early years. John Barrett, newly in town, relates how Jamie invited him to come along to a Valley AGM and during the course of the election of the committee, someone said “What about that bloke sitting down the back ?”- and thus John Barretts ‘Valley For Life’ association began. Jamie himself, evaded election to the committee by not turning up to the AGM he had invited John to come along to.

Valley RFC - Womens Hockey
John first made his mark as a “legend" in 1981 when he introduced the first Women’s section – through hockey - to join, up to that time a men’s only Valley RFC. So, 2021 marked 40 years since the establishment of the Valley RFC Womens Hockey Section.

He was approached early in the year by a number of HKFC women’s hockey players, including Rowena Smith, seeking his agreement to the forming a Valley RFC ‘Women’s Hockey’ section. Rowena wanted to establish an alternative 1st Division club which could compete along with the then 1st Division powerhouses of HKFC and Kowloon Cricket Club. So one day she just rang up then Valley Chairman, John Barrett and asked if they could join.
In those days, consultation within the Valley RFC committee hierarchy was such that you were only consulted about decisions after they were made, so John and Rowena just went off to the Mongkok Ladies Market shopping for women’s hockey kit.

He brought his claim for the cost of the Women’s Hockey kit, together with the news that the previously ‘men only’ Valley RFC now had 20 or so women members-along to the next committee meeting. Initial adverse reaction from a clearly shocked- ‘men only and rugby only' committee quickly dissipated as time consuming administration tasks, socials, newsletters and so on -were enthusiastically taken over by the Ladies. ‘What a great idea it was adding a Women’s Hockey Team !’ the committee told him at the end of the season !

And the fledgling 1981 Valley Women’s RFC team did really well, finishing 3rd in the local Woman's Hockey League. Undoubtedly their admission to membership of the then rugby club in 1981, is one of the more enlightened decisions that Valley RFC ever made, since it was their joinder with Valley RFC that led to the establishment of a Valley RFC Mens Hockey Section, a Valley RFC Womens Netball Section (1988) and in due course, a Valley RFC Womens Rugby Section (1989).

Valley RFC - Rugby
There are more than a few ‘John Barrett - legend’ Rugby Section stories.
Heres a couple that spring to mind

The day Valley RFC played the All Blacks - Thur 29 March 1984
Just before the 1984 HK Sevens, the Canterbury Rugby Union, New Zealands then champion team and holders of the Ranfurly Shield, told the Hong Kong Rugby Union that their team containing 7 All Blacks, was coming to watch the Hong Kong Sevens tournament - more All Blacks than there were in their Sevens team participating in the tournament.

They wanted to know if the Union could organise a game for them. Understandably, the Hong Kong Rugby Union officers were not keen on the idea, primarily on the grounds that what with the Sevens, there was enough rugby going on as it is.

So John organised a Valley ‘Presidents’ Select Team inviting a player from all of the other Union voting clubs to be a part of it. Hong Kong Football Club offered their pitch and facilities and organised sponsorship through another New Zealander and HKFC Club Captain Dave Bouzaid, of New Zealand Insurance. And of course New Zealand Insurance paid for ground hire, after match function, booze and food - all on promises that the South China Morning Post would make special mention of the hosting of the event by Club and of New Zealand Insurance. Which, since Jamie Scott was also SCMP rugby correspondent at the time, was not a problem.

A few Canterbury players for his ‘Valley Presidents Select Team’, were included, several All Blacks as well as former All Black and then Canterbury coach Grizz Wylie. The All Black Fullback, Andrew McMaster, complained about having to play for Valley - “My God, please don’t make me play for them-please!”
Another Canterbury player was overjoyed that the Canterbury coach Grizz Wylie, was going to play for Valley - “I hope I get my hands on that bastard. I don’t even mind if I get sent off!”
It was the week of the HK Sevens and about 3,000 or so spectators, including participating teams packed into the Club ground to watch 7 All Blacks do their stuff. Canterbury scored about 10 trys.
Valley Presidents scored 2 or 3-all of them by then All Black Wing, Craig Green, who didn’t at all mind having to play for the Valley side.Grizz Wylie, their coach made a brief appearance, but was smart enough never to get into a contact situation.
Inevitably, there was a punch ups-but between the legendary All Black, John Ashworth and Murray Davie, (playing for Valley) both of them Canterbury team mates on holiday on opposing front rows. And so it was on Thur 29 March 1984.

The Rugby and Hockey Playing and Training lights at Happy Valley
For the first 15 years or so of its existence, Valley RFC Rugby and Hockey had to train in half light and darkness on Pitches 5 and 6 in Happy Valley. Representations by Valley and the Union to the Urban Council for their installation fell on unsympathetic ears.
So John got together with another Kowloon Hash House Harriers member, Noel McCaffery at that time responsible for building and construction projects at the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, designing and drawing up plans and budgets.
We might as well do both the Rugby and Hockey pitches ! they concluded.

Costs for the Happy Valley playing and training lights came in at HKD $12 Million and Noel confirmed that the Jockey Club had offered to pay for it ! Valley RFC really do owe a lot not only to John but also to the Kowloon Hash House Harriers

Continuance
John’s association Valley and Hong Kong rugby continued for a couple of decades after his Chairmanship.
He was Valley RFC’s Club rep on the Union Committee and was part of the 1988 group that led to the Unions inaugural Development Programme and the engagement of George Simpkin as its Technical Director. He also served as Hong Kong Team Manager at the 1990 and 2000 Asian and other regional tournaments, as well as Pac Rim Tournaments. He was made an HKRFU Life Member thereafter.
He remains a regular supporter at Valley’s rugby matches and at Valley RFC social events.
And he still continues with the Kowloon Hash House Harriers having just last week chalked up his 1500th Run.

Happy 90th Birthday John Barrett !