MARGARET DINNING
Margaret Dinning, who died in Suffolk on the 19th September 2019 aged 94 years was the widow of the late, great, Bill Dinning, the most influential player and administrator in Tynedale RFC’s long history, who died in March 2007. Margaret herself was a lifelong supporter of Tynedale RFC and a constant help to her husband. She left two daughters, Catherine and Jane, and a son Roger.
As a Rutherford Margaret was born into Tynedale RFC’s most famous rugby family, and with so many relations who enhanced the rugby club’s standing it seemed natural that she should continue that dynasty by marrying Bill when he was establishing himself as a player in the blue and whites. Together they produced another Tynedale star in their son, Roger.
Throughout her life Margaret provided constant encouragement and rugby support for Bill, Roger, the club and all the players at Tynedale RFC.

DAVID BARKER
David Barker, ex-player and lifelong fan died at home on 16th October 2019, aged 82 years.
David was educated at the Sele School, Hexham and Barnard Castle School in County Durham. He then trained as a dentist at King’s College, Newcastle, now part of Newcastle University - where he played for Medicals RFC. In 1960, after graduating, he served his National Service as an army officer in Northern Ireland, where he met Mary his future wife.
(Mary died recently on the 10th May 2020, six months after her husband).
David’s early life was spent at the family home at Bywell Avenue, Hexham, adjoining Dene
Park, Tynedale RFC’s ground at that time. His father Joe was President of Tynedale from 1968 to1970 - so the family had very close links with rugby.
As a player David played equally well at scrum-half or fly-half and he was an excellent kicker. After retiring from playing he served as a team manager, a selector, Assistant Treasurer and was a member of various committees at Tynedale RFC for many years. He attended all first team home matches, and also travelled to many away games, often travelling huge distances, with friends, to support the team.

EDWARD TAYLOR
Eddie Taylor, who died on the 9th December 2019 played as a full-back for Tynedale 1st. XV from 1960 until 1964.
The Club’s Annual Report for 1960/61 said - "An encouraging sign has been the display of the Hexham Grammar School boys who, whenever available, have been pressed into the Club's service. With young players of the calibre of the Forster twins, D. Blair, G. Fairlamb, N. Fox, and E. Taylor the future playing strength should be improved." That was certainly the case; all of those players made impacts on the senior rugby scene.
The 1964 Report shows Eddie amongst the leading points scorers for season 1963/64. Eddie was a very capable full-back, and could also play fly-half. Good under the high ball, a sound kicker and very calm and secure, he seemed to have a low centre of gravity, and was really quick when he needed to be.
In later years he continued, even at a distance, to show a great interest in everything that was happening at the Club.

ALAN CHARLTON
Alan Charlton died on the 10th December 2019 aged 81 years. Alan had also attended the Sele School. He was a talented footballer and a very capable cricketer, but it was when he went to Hexham Grammar School in 1949 that he was introduced to the game of rugby, and he really starred.
By the time he left school to serve Articles with a firm of Accountants he was playing in the Tynedale 1st XV and the Northumberland county team, as a hooker. A change in the laws meant he moved to the back-row and he played for the club until 1960 when he left to complete his National Service with the armed forces. By then he had qualified as a Chartered Accountant.
Upon his return he captained the team in 1962/64 for two seasons, and again in the 1966/67 season. He showed his versatility by moving into the backs, where he played scrum-half, flyhalf, centre and full-back. He was an excellent goal kicker, so, wherever he played, he was top points scorer for season after season,
Some good judges have always maintained that Alan was the most talented all round Tynedale rugby player that they had seen in the last 70 or so years. Even in his last season,1968/69, he played 29 1st XV games; 10 matches at scrum-half; 3 at fly-half, his preferred position, and 16 at full-back. What a player! What a competitor!
After retiring from playing in 1969 Alan was the club’s Hon. Treasurer from 1969 to 1971.

HARRY ARMSTRONG
Harry Armstrong, a true rugby stalwart, died at home on the 10th January 2020, aged 86
years (though he always appeared much younger!)
Harry played for the Tynedale 2nd, 3rd and 4th teams throughout the 1970s and 80s, founded the Worriers touring team, coached the Grasshoppers and went on to become a founder member of Prudhoe Hospital Rugby Club, now known as Prudhoe & Stocksfield RFC.
In his prime Harry had played for many years for the first team at North Durham RFC (since 1988 combined with Gateshead Fell to make Gateshead RFC). When he moved to the Tyne valley Harry became an invaluable and enthusiastic member of Tynedale RFC.
In season 1971/72 Harry, then aged 38, played 19 times for the club and then for the club’s teams until in season 1976/77, when whether because of injury or proposed retirement, he became a selector and Team Manager at 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th XV Tynedale matches. That lasted for 14 weeks, then his name started to reappear on the team sheets as a player, and for the rest of that season, from Jan 1977, he played 13 times.
On and on he went. He coached mini players, and it was in season 1979/80 that, aged 47, he played for the 3rdXV v Westoe, and we think that was his last appearance in a Tynedale shirt.
At Harry’s funeral friends from the old North Durham club, Tynedale Rugby Club, and Prudhoe & Stocksfield rugby club all joined in the toast to Harry, with applause for his life and his devotion to rugby.

J.M.D. (MIKE) COULSON
Mike Coulson, a club stalwart and past President passed away on the 4th. August 2020 at theage of 81. A retired teacher, Mike became an invaluable active member of the Club when hehung up his boots as a senior referee, having made his name as a well- known and respected official throughout the North of England.
Mike fulfilled many volunteer roles throughout the Club over many years and he epitomised the type of person who is essential for proper rugby clubs to run smoothly.Mike coached in the Club’s Mini-Junior section and, for 11 years prior to the Club’s promotion into the National Leagues, ran the touchline at Tynedale 1stXV matches home and away (only missing the occasional game when skiing took precedence).

Upon Tynedale’s promotion into the National Leagues in 2000 Mike continued to referee junior and friendly fixtures and acted as the 1stXV’s 4th official at home matches.Mike also filled the demanding role of Membership Secretary and was always around to lend a hand in the clubhouse, be it collecting empty glasses or serving behind the bar when things got hectic.
For many seasons Mike travelled around the country on 1stXV away trips, hardly missing a match, and along with his wife Joan took on the vital job of providing sandwiches for all on those away journeys, as well as providing the Hexham Courant with match reports for those games. Mike and Joan also for years took it upon themselves to provide and launder the ball boy/girl bibs for 1stXV home matches. Mike was rewarded for all his club involvement when he was elected Club President from 2004 to 2006.

Mike’s time at the Club did not always run smoothly for him; he survived and fully recovered from a severe brain haemorrhage when still relatively young and he later suffered disabling heart and kidney problems, both of which necessitated major surgery. Mike, however, dealt with these setbacks with incredible fortitude, to the amazement of friends who knew what he had endured, and his friendly manner, infectious smile and energetic lust for life continued unabated until the last few years, when he suffered a deteriorating illness.

REV JOHN HOWARD
Rev John Howard passed away peacefully at Burn Brae Lodge, his family’s Residential Home on Prospect Hill. He was aged 90 and had been a committed supporter of the club from the time he moved back to Northumberland in 2009.
As a Methodist minister he served the Church in various parts of the country and continued preaching at local Chapels until 2016.
Perhaps surprising for such a committed follower of Rugby, was that he had been quite a successful football referee in the 1950s and early 1960s. Then, on moving to Cornwall in 1965 (where football was both poor and frowned upon) our Saturday afternoons were spent travelling the county watching Redruth, or Penryn, or Penzance & Newlyn - when Cornwall produced such greats as Stack Stevens, Bonzo Johns and Roger Hosen.
Moving to the North East in 1972 he became a member of Percy Park and then in 1980 he went to College in Birmingham and church postings to Carlisle, Attleborough and Tamworth meant he wasn’t always assured of a good rugby club to follow. Hence his joy moving to Hexham and joining Tynedale in 2009.

JOAN DODD
Joan, wife of ex-treasurer Neville and mother of Gordon and Graham was a mainstay of the Ladies committee, who provided valuable help and income to the Club. For many years as well as being a keen follower of the 1stXV.

The 2019-2020 season was cut short from 20th March 2020 due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Points were awarded to each team in the league based on their completed results prior to the season being abandoned.

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Annual Report 2019-2020

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