It is with sadness that we advise that David died on Wednesday, 13th August aged 81 years. He has in recent months not enjoyed good health, but attended the Club’s AGM in July and visited the Golf Club at Fixby last Saturday.
He leaves Susan his wife, daughter Helen, sons Richard and John and four grandchildren.
David, affectionately known as ‘Little Boss’, was President and Chairman in 1978/79, joined HRUFC at Waterloo in the 1950s after completing National Service in the Education Corps. It was to be expected that he would have a strong rugby commitment, having a Welsh father and Yorkshire [Colne Valley] mother and this was seen in the courageous matches he played for the First XV in 1958/60.
His early club rugby career commenced with the YMCA and after his playing days, he held many administrative roles at the club – such as Social Secretary, Schools Liaison Officer, Annual Seven-a-Side Tournament Organiser – and as a member of the Finance Committee in the 1960s with Bill Brook, Jim Netherwood and Jack Falck.
The Finance Committee was instrumental in generating funds from various events, including two donkey derbies and an ox roast, which led to the purchase of the Junior team fields at Waterloo. These, of course, were sold for development – which gave the club the funds to acquire Lockwood Park.
David was an enthusiastic rugby tourist, having played in Ireland in 1956/57 and 1960/61, an interest he maintained for many years as an annual visitor to Dublin for the Six Nations International.
David’s business life was in textiles with the family business at Tom Lees and DP Dyers in Honley, who are piece dyers. His enthusiasm for rugby and the many stories he related will be sadly missed.
David’s funeral service will be held at Christ Church, New Mill on Monday, 1st September at 12 noon, followed by private cremation at Huddersfield Crematorium. Family flowers only, please. Donations in lieu if wished would be appreciated for Kirkwood Hospice: c/o Radcliffe Funeral Service, 16 Westgate, Honley, Holmfirth, HD9 6AA or a donation box will be available at the service.
Afterwards, the family welcomes all to Lockwood Park.
