Passing of Tony Wortley

Please see below the obituary for Tony Wortley by David Williams.  Herts RFU send their condolences to Tony’s family and friends.

Tony Wortley

The Hertfordshire Referees Society and Hertfordshire RFU are sorry to learn that Tony Wortley passed away recently.

Tony was a leading referee in the Herts Society in the 1970’s and ‘80s, covering matches at all levels in Hertfordshire and beyond, and was a member of the RFU County Panel for a number of years.

Tony served on the Society Committee looking after training from 1986 to 1989. Following a break he returned to the Committee as Chairman for the 2000-01 season before being elected President for a two year term, 2002-04.

Tony will be remembered not only for his excellent refereeing but also for his style of keeping his spare watch and whistle on “lanyards” which stretched between both pockets of his shorts. Although Tony rarely took any expenses offered he often accepted a few beers, to take home for later consumption, in a large polythene container he took with him for that purpose.

Although Tony had little contact with rugby in recent years his contribution to Hertfordshire rugby will not be forgotten.