Over the last month I have been lucky enough to look through Neil's newspaper clippings and records of his playing days and rugby passion from the last half century. From his early days with Hilmians, the bus leaving Cross Hills at 12 noon, through to his colossal role at Pontefract as a player and a patriarchal figure for so many years, the memories are very vivid. The clippings were, Neil said, lovingly kept by his mother, and they offer a rich archive of material about his life in the sport he loved. Sadly our last two conversations were about some of those precious memories of games, incidents, characters and half forgotten features from his time as a player and as Club Captain. His combative role and fierce desire to win was often complemented by a more mercurial and witty capacity which added to his large personality and made him an ideal figurehead, communicator or leader. Though all at PRUFC attest to his reputation as a huge presence and a man in full, he had that additional wisdom and flair for language that allowed him to puncture the bubble of my sententious musings on many a Saturday afternoon with the witty ripostes and infectious chuckles. That in itself will be a large lacuna for all of us who have shared in his varied, eventful and irrepressible feel for life. So many feel proud that they have known you, Neil. Rest in peace.
Over the last month I have been lucky enough to look through Neil's newspaper clippings and records of his playing days and rugby passion from the last half century. From his early days with Hilmians, the bus leaving Cross Hills at 12 noon, through to his colossal role at Pontefract as a player and a patriarchal figure for so many years, the memories are very vivid. The clippings were, Neil said, lovingly kept by his mother, and they offer a rich archive of material about his life in the sport he loved. Sadly our last two conversations were about some of those precious memories of games, incidents, characters and half forgotten features from his time as a player and as Club Captain. His combative role and fierce desire to win was often complemented by a more mercurial and witty capacity which added to his large personality and made him an ideal figurehead, communicator or leader. Though all at PRUFC attest to his reputation as a huge presence and a man in full, he had that additional wisdom and flair for language that allowed him to puncture the bubble of my sententious musings on many a Saturday afternoon with the witty ripostes and infectious chuckles. That in itself will be a large lacuna for all of us who have shared in his varied, eventful and irrepressible feel for life. So many feel proud that they have known you, Neil. Rest in peace.
