John Vivian Pullin was born in Aust, Gloucestershire, on 1 November 1941 and educated at Thornbury Grammar School. After graduating at Cirencester Agricultural College he became a farmer in his home town. A hooker of world-class, he played 296 games over 17 seasons for Bristol and led England in 13 of his 42 internationals between 1966 and 1976. He toured with the British Isles to South Africa in 1968 and Australasia in 1971, playing in 27 games, including seven tests. At one stage he was, with Ireland's K W Kennedy [q.v.], the world's most capped hooker. A popular Barbarian, John Pullin played 19 times for the Club, toured South Africa in 1969 and south Wales on four Easter tours, and was captain against Newport in 1970 and Leicester in 1974. He also served on the Club committee from 1981 to 1985.