Tag Archive for: obituary

Tony Wesley

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Passing of Tony Wesley

It is with great sadness that we announce that Tony Wesley passed away peacefully at home at lunchtime on 30th April 2023, ironically, on Julie’s birthday.

Tony was a hugely influential and much respected member of our club. Few, if any, have done more for Welwyn RFC.

His club CV reads as follows:
• Club Captain 1966-68
• Mini/Junior Chairman 1972-77
• President 2004-07
• Life Member

However, these achievements only tell part of the story. Tony played in the 1st XV for many years and carried on playing down the sides imparting his experience on to younger players once his 1st XV days were behind him.

He was also instrumental in setting up the Mini/Junior section of the club in 1972/73 and was the first M/J Chairman. Welwyn were ahead of the game on Minis/Juniors and were featured on BBC2’s Rugby Special in 1976.

In recognition of his achievements, he was made a Life Member of the club and was appointed President in 2004.

Our deepest sympathy goes out to his wife, Julie and his children, Steve and Clare.
He will be much missed.

Funeral arrangements are:
• 11.45 on Thursday 11th May 2023
• Harwood Park Crematorium, Watton Road, Stevenage SG2 8XT
• Club tie/blazer
• Family flowers only, please
• Donations can be made to Age UK c/o JJ Burgess
• Afterwards at Knebworth Golf Club, Deard’s End Lane, Knebworth SG3 6NL

Please let me know if you are intending to go so that I can advise the family on likely numbers.

Mark Elliott
President
president@welwynrugby.co.uk

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 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.

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.

Passing of Steve Jones (Bishop’s Stortford)

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Steve Jones 1956-2020 (Bishop’s Stortford)

Bishop’s Stortford RFC announce the passing of Steve Jones.

Steve was a former member of the Met Police with strong Welsh ties who Captained BSRFC & HRFU (1984-88) as a hooker. Great leader in both 15 and 7 aside formats. Had been living in Anglesey for a number of years. Great character who will be remembered by all who he met.

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