Dear Members

Firstly, wherever you are, we send you our very best wishes, and that covers your family tree as well, and hope all is well. This letter has celebrations but also casualties too – we have lost 8 members in all – 6 members and 2 wives of members who are classed as joint members really - I stressed that in our very first newsletter. So in memory of our members I will pay tribute to them first of all.

Firstly we lost Fred Cheshire, he was 92 and lived in Swindon. He joined the Tics in early 1938 from Newport and was a Deputy Head of a large school. Roy Stabb lost his wife Flo, who always used to come to our do’s. Steve Winter lost his wife Margaret – Steve was our first Treasurer, and we used to pop down to the pub they ran in Dittisham on the Dart for a Social Evening. We then lost Barry Loxham one of our younger members – his wife Chris was a brick throughout his long illness. Norman Long who was our second President died a few weeks ago and lived at Bishopsteignton with his wife June – he was a true Welshman. Then Terry Hempton who wore Paignton, Torquay, Exeter and St. Luke’s jerseys, plus Devon - his wife Sandie lives at Churston. He was a schoolmaster at Seaford.
The next to go was Peter Ingram, who was our first Secretary and set up our Constitution for us. Peter lived at Brixham with his wife Pat – I knew them as youngsters and both were from rugby playing families.

Finally, last Tuesday, Malcolm Baker passed away suddenly on a break in Lourdes – he was with Barney Bettesworth helping with the handicapped children they take there every year. His funeral will take place on 4 September in Paignton. That’s a total of 8 family bereavements, 7 local ones, so we were able to support their families and organise flowers.

Now to the playing side of the Club at the end of last Season. On the 21 April our 1st XV won the Devon Senior Cup against Paignton at Queens Park. It was a lovely day with a picnic atmosphere and a crowd of about 3,000. Several marquees were put up for the occasion. The 2nd XV and Extras both won their respective leagues.

The Club Dinner at the ERC went very well with about 320 present. Later on at the Club AGM at dust storm blew up and resignations of the Executive Committee occurred. A second meeting was held later at the Grand Hotel chaired by Barney Bettesworth and sanity prevailed. A special sub-committee has been set up, chaired by Barney with co-opted members and top Business Consultant from Plymouth University to plan a new business approach for the Club aimed to be in position by the New Year see ( www.torquayrugby.co.uk.) We wish them well with wise counselling for a positive outlook for the Club’s future – that we can all support 100%.

Now to ourselves – we are OK and have recently elected a new Chairman. Ted Caunter found that he had to stand down and at our Committee Meeting at Dave and Pat Godfrey’s house on the 16 August, the Committee voted in Dave Winser – all being in favour. I thanked Ted for all he had done so well for us. I am sure Dave will follow suit. He lives at Exmouth but is always at First Team games. It is quite legal for a Committee to appoint a Chairman between AGM’s if the circumstances warrant it. I was given legal advice on this from my Army HQ at Exeter.

Our Biennial AGM will be held on 29 September at the Clubhouse when we will be sponsoring the match and would appreciate any donations to help cover the cost (£500). Cheques should be made payable to Tic’s Past Players Association and sent to Dave Godfrey, Grenville, Hampton Avenue, Torquay, TQ1 3LA.

Our Christmas Dinner will be on Friday, 7 December 2007 at the Clubhouse – always a super evening to meet up with old friends, and seems to get better each year.

Now – what happened on my 90th? I’ll try to be as brief as I can!!!! It all started on the 14 April when I was invited to lunch by Brixham Rugby Club at their game with Taunton, and I was spoilt afterwards. Then over the weekend around the 23 April I had 3 parties. One with my family only, then at the Clubhouse on the 28 April, where I was given the biggest surprise of a super presentation of “This is Your Life” – and the BBC couldn’t have done it any better – I never had a clue!! I was given to understand that it was an ordinary Reunion Get Together of our Past Players in that spirit, but he A Team as they called themselves, headed by Malcolm Baker, Ken Evans, Dave Godfrey, Dave Robinson, Allan Forsyth, Peter Gratton-Davey, John Donovan and Maggie Wood. There were about 120 people in attendance and it started with Allan Forsyth doing the Michael Aspel part of unveiling the script starting with my early family life as a schoolboy playing in the England Final Trial with a poisoned foot wearing half a boot – I was a Hooker then. Then on to my working days leading into my rugby with Brixham and the Tics over 21 years with many County games – but my highlight was in the Services in Italy playing for United Services surrounded by Internationals, and I held my place in all 4 games.

John Claydon read a letter from Francis Barron, the Chief Executive of the English Rugby Union, and letters from Mike Davis read by Malcolm Baker and John Lowe from Australia read by his daughter Monica. With the ERU letter was an England VIP Tie and tickets for the RU Museum. Others using the Microphone were Stan Foster, Dave Godfrey, John Friend, Maggie Wood, Harry Colclough, John Lawrence from Central Church. John Donovan presented me with Martin Johnson’s book with his birthday greetings. Then Major Don Jellard of Devon and Dorsets Assocation spoke about my army involvement and how I was selected for the President’s Award in June – where I was presented by General Shortus, the first time ever, from nearly 4000 members.

All this was controlled by Allan Forsyth and each Speaker’s special bit was projected onto the Big Screen with pictures – also a video was made from it too. All this was a big surprise to me. To all of you that took part and those who attended, also to all of you that sent me a card (I had over 160) a Big Thank You. I’ve been spoilt rotten as the old saying goes. There – end of story, I have felt a bit overwhelmed – wait until you get to 90 to find out what it is like yourselves.

I sent a letter of sympathy to Tewkesbury Rugby Club, for the loss of the two members of the Club – a father and son – who lost their lives pumping out water from the Clubhouse and were overcome by fumes of the pump, and also asked for that sympathy to be passed on to the family, and if the Club could do anything to help the family to let us know.

God Bless

Freddie Friend