I sadly have to report at the start of a new year that the club has lost 2 great servants.
Richard Smith was Chairman of the Club for three years from 1968-1971.
He was one of the main instigators behind the building of the ‘new’ pavilion to
replace the one that had passed its sell-by date. He raised funds towards this
venture by organising summer fetes and various other fund raising events. He
had previously captained the third eleven for two years, 1963/1964 and 1964/
1965.
Richard died in August from bowel cancer and the club has only just become
aware of his death.
I also have to sadly report the death of Geoff Turk on 13th December 2012.
Geoff was probably the longest serving playing member at the club. He joined
the Club as a schoolboy and played during the school holidays whilst at
boarding school in Taunton.
He probably started around 1949/1950 when he would have been 14/15.
He rarely played for the Club on Saturdays, due to his work in the jewellery
business, but he was a regular member of the Gypsies for over thirty years.
After the demise of the Gypsies following the 1987/1988 season he played
for other Sunday Invitational sides including Llamas and Sundowners. He
also travelled the World with the GB vets team (the Ancient Britons), most
memorably returning from Australia with a cockatoo named Arthur that
frequently accompanied him to matches.
He played for every touring side you could mention, including Jack Aboe’s
Sextons in Holland. He also played for England over 70’s
He was an international standard skier and was president of the Hockey
Association Golf Society.
Geoff died following a long battle against cancer. His funeral was a private
family gathering and a memorial service for his many friends in the hockey
world is Friday 1st February @ 2pm at St Andrew’s Church, Cobham, KT11
3EJ.
Can I thank Peter Chapman, Jack Aboe, Tim Collett. Roger McDaniel and
Richard Bligh for their kind words for Richard and Geoff that helped me in
completing this dedication.
Paul King
Chairman EHC