News

A Tribute to William Robert (Billy) Pritchard

It is with a heavy heart that we post this sad news that Billy Pritchard has passed away.

After months of ill health and hospitalization he has lost his battle with his illness which he was desperately fighting with a positive mind set.

Our club will be a far poorer place without his help, guidance and influence as he was held with the greatest respect.

Our kind thoughts and condolences go out to his wife Ann, son Owen and all their family at this immensely difficult time.

Billy was a lifelong member of our club and held senior positions over a long period of time.

He was the club secretary, youth secretary, treasurer and latterly club chairman on each of these occasions he led the club from poor times to guiding us into holding a secure future with his honesty, straight talking and ability to resolve the issues that were facing our club with diligence and hard work combined with those he trusted working with him to mould the direction the club needed to take.

Those who knew him best have made a point of saying Billy was a loyal friend who gave his time.

Without question or enquiry and believed hard work is always rewarded.

As a younger man Billy was an excellent all round sportsman excelling at basketball, cricket and rugby his personality created lifelong friends amongst team mates and opponents.

I’ve asked a few to put some thoughts and memories together as a better tribute to him and will look to post these in the near future.

We have had a number of other clubs contact us wishing us to pass on their condolences as he was held in high regard by them and within the wider rugby community.

Billy’s influence and guidance will be sorely missed and we as a club can only be poorer because of it.

We hope to let everyone know of his funeral arrangements soon and hope we can at this most unusual of times be able to show as a club and individuals how much he was regarded and cared about.

May he find the peace and respite from his illness and suffering in a better place than he has been may he find the referees of the games he is watching agree with him at last and that the whiskey (His favourite tipple) is of the highest quality.

Rest in Peace Billy

Darrell Williams Chairman