Alan Gibbs – Obituary

Alan Gibbs, Past President and Life Vice President of Hertfordshire Referees Society, Life Member of Hertfordshire RFU and Vice President of Hertford RFC, has passed away after a short period in hospital. Prior to that Alan had not been in the best of health for a while but had maintained an interest in matters of Refereeing and rugby in general.

Alan was appointments secretary of the Hertfordshire Referees Society for 22 years and during that time he did more than anyone to gain the Society a nationwide reputation for the quality of its referees, despite the lack of any senior clubs in the county. His excellent networking developed relationships with other Societies throughout the land which enabled Hertfordshire’s aspiring referees to gain experience of “first class “ rugby with exchanges to Clubs such as Bath, Gloucester, Redruth, Coventry and Loughborough College. As a result some of Hertfordshire’s referees reached the higher echelons of refereeing a legacy that continues to this day with the success of our current crop of young referees.

Alan started out in rugby as a player with Old Citizens before moving to Barnet in 1957 on the opening of their new Byng Road clubhouse. He played for all the sides at Barnet except the 1^st XV before in 1965 the roar of the whistle lured him away from playing. In fact he ran touch for the 1^st XV for half a season before refereeing his first match in March 1966, Barnet v Warlingham.

He then joined the Society the following season where he remained active until 1979, when he retired to become Hertford’s 1^st XV touch judge, Alan claimed that his most enjoyable game was a Presidents’ Cup match, Royston v St Albans, which the home side won 50-nil, whilst he perspired neat gin! It was a Sunday match!

The Society soon spotted Alan’s administrative talents as he became Assistant Appointments Secretary in 1968 before taking on the full job in 1972. He continued in that role until 1994 and remained involved in appointments and exchanges until 1997. Alan was elected Chairman of the Society in 1986 a post he held for four years and on relinquishing that post he was elected a Life Vice President of the Society. In 1994 Alan served as President of the Society for a two year spell.

As he gradually handed over many of his Society duties, Hertfordshire RFU took up the slack. He served on the Executive Committee from 1993 to 97 having already been on the Competitions Sub-Committee since 1984. He also was County Fixture Secretary 1994-97 and was on the U12 committer from 1994 to 1999, chairing it for two years. In 1999, Alan was elected a Life Member of Hertfordshire RFU.

Away from rugby Alan played cricket, inter alia, for Chipping Barnet and Hertford and enjoyed music, particularly Opera, from Verdi to Gilbert and Sullivan. His other great passion was railways and on many an away trip he could (and usually would) tell you about every branch line and redundant station you passed on the journey.

On his retirement from work, Alan relocated to Sherringham where he continued to be involved with Rugby, becoming fixture secretary and referee contact for Holt RFC. However the move also enabled him to get involved with the North Norfolk Heritage Railway, which runs from Sherringham to Holt. For a number of years Alan was a volunteer guard on the train reliving his boyhood dreams.

Alan will be remembered throughout Hertfordshire rugby and in the wider field of refereeing for his generous spirit and outgoing company. Many a tale can be told of adventures on exchange and to dinners and social functions throughout the land. He will be missed.

Our sympathy goes to his wife, Gillian, and children Andrew and Charlotte.

Funeral Arrangements

Friday,
16th December
1.00pm
@ Cromer Crematorium
Afterwards
@ Holt Rugby Club