Niels Hvass

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Passing of Niels Hvass (Tring)

Niels Hvass, Tring Rugby Club Life President, died earlier this month, having been in ill health for some time.

Niels ran the Tring Colts (U19) side for a number of years in the ‘80s as well as turning out for the 5th and occasional 6th teams. Club Chairman, John Ball described Niels as: “One of the most jovial, funny and caring men you will have met. Who would drive us to all the away games, took us for training, taught us how to behave ….. and taught us to drink some foul Danish liquor”

Niels was elected President of the club in 1998 a position in which he served until 2011. He will be well remembered by the Hertfordshire rugby community as a very welcoming host to Tring. We send our sympathy to his wife, his family and all at Tring.

A younger Niels

John Stevens

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Passing of John Stevens (Tring)

John Stevens, a Vice President of Tring, passed away in December after a short illness. He had a long standing association with Tring but also had strong rugby connections elsewhere.

John arrived at Tring in the early’70s from Brentwood and Upminster and soon became Club Captain and then Coach. Later in life he also enjoyed playing scrum half or full back for Tring 5th XV. After a spell of coaching at Hemel Hempstead and then Dunstable, John moved to Higham Ferrers. On his return to Tring a few years ago, John assisted the Club committee on the finances as well as dispensing is advice and view on rugby to all.

Whilst coaching at Hemel Hempstead, John was a member of the Hertfordshire RFU Coaching Committee from 1980 to 1985 and for the last two years was chairman and as such a member of the Hertfordshire Executive Committee. Later whilst in Higham Ferrers he held some senior positions with East Midlands RFU.

Our sympathy goes to his family. He will be missed by all his friends in rugby

Passing of Tony Wortley

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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.

Invitation to friends of Bevan Clarke (BSRFC)

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Invitation to friends of Bevan Clarke

Bevan Clarke’s family have asked that we extend the following invitation:

In case anyone from Herts Rugby would like to join Bev’s family for drinks there is a Memorial Get Together to celebrate his life on Friday 24th September at BSRFC commencing at 2.00pm

Bev’s Obituary was previously posted in March – see here

Passing of Frances Fuller – Life Member HRFU

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Passing of Frances Fuller – Life Member of Herts RFU

We regret to announce that Hertfordshire RFU Life Member, Frances Fuller passed away aged 102, at her Care Home in Kirk Hammerton, North Yorkshire. Frances, widow of John Fuller, Herts RFU President 1982-84, was elected a Life Member for her sterling work in running the Hertfordshire Fixture Exchange for many years. This was of course when everything was done by post or telephone before the day of e-mail websites etc. Our sympathy goes to her son, David, and daughter in law, Carol, who were able to visit her earlier shortly before she died.

The attached picture is of Frances celebrating her 100th birthday.

Passing of Terry Ellis (Bishop’s Stortford)

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Passing of Terry Ellis – Bishop’s Stortford RFC

Unfortunately, BSRFC have the passing of another club stalwart.  Please see below

Terry Ellis

1934 – 2021

Bishop’s Stortford RFC

 

Sadly we lost another great supporter of our club last Saturday

(6th March 2021) when Terry Ellis passed away.

Terry played rugby his whole life, joining Bishop’s Stortford in the early 70’s having relocated to the area. He had previously played for the Combined Far East Land Forces (whilst on National Service), his Grammar School ‘Old Boys’ team (Old Creightonians RFC), Harlequins RFC and Old Westcliffians RFC (now Westcliff RFC).

He began his career as a fly half but latterly at Stortford where he was a tenacious wing forward, representing us in every Stortford team from 1st to 6th’s at one point or another.

His two sons Steve & David also went onto play 1st XV rugby for us, with all three playing in a match organised to celebrate Terry’s 50th birthday.

When he finally retired from playing in the mid 80’s, Terry became our club fixture secretary, a role that he held right up until the 2019 /20 season.

He was a keen golfer and a member of our ‘Stags’ golf fraternity.

His health had noticeably declined in the last 18 months but until that time he rarely missed a 1st XV match, Home or Away, and indeed would often travel to watch the Colts in National Cup matches and some of our Ladies games.

He was also an ever present whenever we held Summer works parties, always willing to do his bit either freshening up the paintwork inside the clubhouse or clearing up outside.

He was a wonderful character and another who’s absence will be noted pitch side & in the clubhouse upon our return to playing.

We would like to send our sincere condolences to his children; Steve, David, Debbie and their families.

Rest in Peace Terry ………. You did us proud.

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

Passing of Bill Watkins – Hertfordshire Society of RFU Referees

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Death of Bill Watkins of the HSRFUR

Bill Watkins being awarded the John Blanchard trophy by Jeff Blackett

We regret to announce that Bill Watkins of the Hertfordshire Referees Society passed away earlier this month. Bill probably had been the longest surviving member of the Society having joined in the mid-1960s. Alan Gibbs remembers him as a very pleasant person who enjoyed his refereeing in a relaxed manner.

When, in the mid-1980s, Bill retired from refereeing he became an assessor and he continued in that role until 2012. Anyone had the pleasure of Bill’s advice in this role will recall his great good humour and his very obvious love of the game.

However, it was off the field that Bill made his biggest contribution to the Society. He served as Treasurer 1979 – 84, after a short break re-joined the Committee in 1988 and was Grading Secretary from 1990 to 2000.

Bill was elected President of the Society in 1990, serving for two years, and in 2006 he was made a Life Vice-President. In addition, Bill was presented with the John Blanchard Trophy as Society Man of the Season for 2009-10.

Although little had been seen of Bill in recent years as he enjoyed a quiet retirement, he will be remembered with affection by members of the Society and the wider Hertfordshire rugby community.

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

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