THIRTY YEARS/SIXTY YEARS
It is thirty years since building was completed on the Spectator Grandstand at Tynedale Park, in February 1992. The old stand, built by Italian prisoners of War, had been condemned by Tynedale Council Environmental Dept.

The official opening by Danie Serfontein, President of the RFU, took place in September 1992. Amongst those invited by the Tynedale RFC President, John Saunders to attend the official opening, was Maurice Lowther.

Maurice, who died in 2016 aged 89 years had been a member of the club for 55 years, and served on the Management Committee of Tynedale in the 1960’s. He worked for the Newcastle & Gateshead Water Co. and joined Tynedale RFC after moving from Newcastle to Hexham. Maurice later moved to the North Tyne village of Wall in 1978, where he lived until his death.

Maurice became chief engineer at the company and eventually Managing Director, and was later a member of the National Water Council and President of the Institute of Water Engineers. He was one of the five founder members of the international charity Water Aid.

On receiving his invitation to attend the official opening of the Stand he sent the following letter expressing his regret that he was away on holiday at that time, but saying:-

"It must be about 30 years since the Principal of the Domestic Science College at the Hexham Hydro placed the Rugby Club out of bounds to her girls because of the “goings-on”. I was deputed to visit the good lady and persuade her that her girls were perfectly safe and that our boys were whiter than white.
I thought I had done quite a good job, telling her how we more mature members made sure that there was no “hanky-panky” in the Club House - but all my arguments fell to bits when she declaimed-
“Never mind what goes on in the Club House, I am worried about what your boys do to my girls when they get them in the Grandstand!”
I trust that today’s members of Tynedale will make as good use of the new Grandstand as their predecessors did with old one at Dene Park.
Maurice Lowther

YES, BUT HOW DID SHE KNOW?