Obituary – Alastair Milne

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Alastair Fenton Duffus Milne – an obituary

Herts RFU send our condolences to Alastair Milne’s family and to all at Barnet Elizabethan’s

Alastair Milne sadly passed away on December 26th.

Alastair was born on 4th June 1932 in Petercultar, Aberdeen. Initially educated at Aberdeen Grammar School, where he played rugby & cricket.

Moved to London in 1946 when Alastair’s father bought a pharmacy in New Southgate. Attended Highgate School where football took over from rugby. Was also in the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) where he was an excellent shot & represented the school at Bisley.

After school he was employed on the family farm to gain experience before entering the Royal Agricultural College. However national service got in the way, initially in parachute training with a view to being dropped into the Korean war zone. Fortunately, this was postponed & he was posted to Osnabruck, Germany where he played rugby and skiing (in Alastair’s words not much time for work!). This period was followed by 10 years with the Honourable Artillery Company in City Road, London.

During this time, he was employed by a Ford main dealer & as production manager for Lesney Products (match box size models of cars). He also worked with Shell Mex & BP in the heating oil market. In 1971 he launched M&G Marquee Hire Ltd where a number of Barnet’s younger Colt’s members honed their muscles on erecting marquees. This business was eventually sold in 1993 & Alastair retired in 1996.

Alastair joined Barnet Rugby Club in 1952, playing in the 1st XV as well as spells in the Hertfordshire 2nd XV and North London. He joined the Barnet Executive committee in 1967 and became membership secretary in 1977 until his death on Boxing Day. He was made a Life Member in 1974 & was also our international rugby ticket secretary. He was also a Life member of the Truants golfing society.

In addition to rugby and cricket, where he played for Chipping Barnet becoming their President in 1976, Alastair love of golf resulted in him joining Hadley Wood Golf Club. He was captain there in 1965/66. He has run the rugby club’s golfing society since 1968 & became an honorary member of Royal Cromer Golf Club, where the society have spent a golfing weekend in early October since 1948. He also organised trips to Edinburgh every other year to coincide with the Calcutta Cup Scotland/England rugby weekend.

His other love was organising lunches & dinners, having formed the Fork & Bottle Luncheon Club in 2014 (previously known as the 80s Luncheon Club). He was also instrumental in organising the Truants annual dinner.

Clearly a man who had wide interests in sport and enabling others to share his enjoyment through the many events and meetings that Alastair organised. He will be enormously missed by so many at Barnet Elizabethans as well as by the members of the Truants, Hadley Wood and Royal Cromer Golf Clubs and his many friends in Edinburgh.

Funeral details will follow.

Passing of Bev Clarke of Bishop’s Stortford

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Death of Bev Clarke (Bishop’s Stortford)

Please see below the obituary for Bev Clarke of Bishop’s Stortford RFC as provided by the club.  Herts RFU send their condolences to Bev’s family, friends and all at BSRFC.

This morning (28th Feb) we learnt that Bev Clarke, a giant in Stortfords history had passed away overnight aged 84.

Bevan, or as everyone knew him Bev joined the club in the late sixties as a late convert from the round ball game. Despite being in his thirties and never having played rugby seriously before, he quite remarkably was soon playing tight head prop for our 1st XV This was almost entirely due to his uncommon physical strength and fitness.

He and Bob Green were apparently a formidable comedy double act and kept the rest of the team royally entertained pre & post-match.

Bev was though notorious for always being late for team meets in advance of away games

He was a skilled entrepreneur and that leadership & drive were soon put to great use to move the club forward.

He became Club Chairman in 1973 a position he held for 7 years until 1979

He was then Club President for 4 seasons 1979- 83 before switching back to being Chairman for another 12 years from 1983 until 95

It was Bev who we have to thank for the construction of our existing clubhouse. Despite the previous timber frame and plaster board version having only been built in 1971 less than 15 years later Bev in his second stint as Chairman oversaw the building of the brick structure you see today.

He was also the father of Stortford’s most famous son, England & British & Irish Lions No.8 Ben

In more recent years he rarely missed a home league match when he met up with his huge number of friends at the club who will of course mourn his loss today.

But it is to his family, Wife Doris, Daughters Julie & Sarah, Son Ben and Grandchildren most notably Christian that we would like to extend our condolences.

Few can or will ever match Bevs service and contribution to the success of our club

Thanks Bev.

BevClark

Obituary – Joe Weed

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Joe Weed, long serving President of Hemel Hempstead (Camelot) rugby club, passed away at the end of January at the age of 89. He suffered a fall and broken hip earlier in the month and then developed Covid symptoms. Our sympathy goes to his son, Gareth, and rest of his family.

A proud Welshman, born in Tredegar, Joe had been a member of Camelot for over 60 years, having joined the club in 1959. Prior to that he had played for Hendon, generally at fly half, for several seasons.

Joe’s playing career at Camelot was cut short in by a head injury whilst playing for the 2nd XV (Knights) in 1967. However, he almost immediately took up the whistle and joined the Hertfordshire Referees Society. He soon became one of the leading referees in the county, remembered by Daryl Hayler as a referee who “always gave a smile when he used to penalise us which always diffused the situation!”. One of the highlights of his career was, when in Japan on a business trip in 1977, he refereed a Japanese Varsity match between Tokyo and Nagasaki Universities. Much to his amazement this was in front of a very large crown and, we believe, television cameras.

Joe also became involved in the organisation of the Society, serving on the Committee between 1972 and 1978, during which time organised a highly successful dinner-dance for the Society.

In 1984 as Joe’s refereeing commitments were slowing, he was elected Chairman of Camelot, a position in which he served 16 years. During this time, he oversaw a significant extension to the Club house, an improvement in playing standards and a reorganisation of the Committee structure.

Then in 1990 he was elected President of the Club. On his retirement as President in 2019 he was elected President Emeritus in recognition of his 60 years service to Hemel Hempstead (Camelot).

Although Joe had been struggling in recent months with ill health and had become quite frail, he maintained his sense of humour and still loved a good laugh. Brexit and the ‘meddling French’, Boris Johnson and the Welsh squad for the upcoming 6 nations were his favourite topics of conversation.

Joe always made everyone welcome to Hemel Hempstead with his warmth and ready smile. He will be missed by family, Camelot and all his friends in the wider Hertfordshire rugby community.

(with acknowledgements to Jon Clapham and Gareth Weed)

Passing of Colin McArdle (Barnet Elizabethans)

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Death of Colin McArdle – Barnet Elizabethans

It is with sadness that Barnet Elizabethans have announced the passing of Colin McArdle.  Colin not only was a  parent of 3 boys who play at the club but also an age group coach too.    Colin played his own rugby at Finchley RFC and he will therefore be greatly missed by all those who knew him at both clubs.

Colin was a keen cyclist and played a key role on the Tour De Herts fundraising day in September which Herts Rugby covered at the time.

The family have started a fundraising page in memory of Colin raising funds for The Anthony Nolan foundation through which Colin had received a bone marrow transplant giving him some additional time with his family and those around him.  At Herts Rugby, we are more than happy to promote the fundraising campaign.  If you’d like to donate please click here.

The BERFC obituary can be read here : https://www.berfc.co.uk/news/colin-mcardle–rip-2597730.html

Passing Of Joe Weed Hemel Hempstead Camelot

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It is with great sadness we have to note the death of Joe Weed of Hemel Hempstead. His son Gareth informs us ” dad passed away on Saturday evening, Jan 30th, on Letchmore Ward in Watford General Hospital. As you know Joe had been struggling in recent months with ill health and had become quite frail, that said he maintained his sense of humour and still loved a good laugh. Joe had a fall at home on Jan 8th when he broke his hip and was admitted to WGH. He was operated on and during his recovery from surgery in hospital tested positive for Corona-virus on Jan 25th despite having had his first dose of the Pfizer-Biontech vaccine on Jan 7th. He was moved to Letchmore ward, a 28 bed ward all treating patients with COVID symptoms.”

Joe’s full obituary written by David Williams can be read here and the entry on Camelot’s website : https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/camelotrugby/news/camelot-mourns-a-legend-2597572.html

Graham Walker Obituary

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Firstly on behalf of all Hertfordshire Rugby I deepest offer condolences to Jo and the rest of Graham’s family.

David Williams and Mark Elliott have put together an obituary which can be found on our news page by following the link below:-


Graham Walker Obituary

Sad News for all in Hertfordshire Rugby

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It is with great sadness that we report that Joanne Walker has advised that her husband past-President, County player, coach and all round larger than life rugby character Graham Walker has passed away peacefully last night. He will be missed by all at Letchworth RFC and throughout the Hertfordshire rugby family.

Our condolences to his family and all his rugby and police friends at this sad time.

 

Passing Of Janice Brook Bishops Stortford Honorary Secretary

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It is with incredible sadness and deep shock that we announce the passing of Bishops Stortford RFC erstwhile Honorary Club Secretary Janice Brook.

A full tribute written by Perry Oliver can be found on our News page by clicking on the button below


Click here

Ali Mills Old Albanians

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It is with sadness that we have to report the recent death of Ali Mills. An obituary for Ali can be found on the Old Albanians website by clicking on the link below.

https://www.oarugby.com/news/2005-14-ali-mills/

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