Mike's Funeral Service
Mike's funeral service is on 19th August {Wednesday} at Whitley Bay Crematorium (3.00pm) with only a small number of guests following current restrictions.
The Funeral Cortege will commence from Mike's home at 21 Carham Close, Corbridge, NE45 5NA at 1.50pm on Wednesday and proceed up Crofts Avenue, down Aydon Road and through the village before crossing the river and visiting Tynedale Rugby Club (circa 2pm) where the procession will pause in front of the clubhouse before continuing the journey.

Tuesday 4th August 2020

Sadly the Club has to report that club stalwart and past-president Mike Coulson passed away this morning at the age of 81 following a period of deteriorating illness.
A retired teacher, Mike became an invaluable active member of the Club when he hung up his boots as a senior referee who was well known and respected throughout the North of England.

Mike fulfilled many volunteer roles throughout the Club over many years and he epitomised the type of person necessary 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 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 be it collecting empty glasses or serving behind the bar when things got hectic,

For many seasons Mike travelled around the country on the 1stV away trips, hardly missing a match, and along with his wife Joan took on the important job of providing sandwiches for all on these away journeys - he also provided the Hexham Courant with match reports for these away games. Mike and Joan also for years took it upon themselves to provide and launder the ball boy/girl bibs for 1stXV home matches.
The list goes on……..

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, appeared to take all of these health issues in his stride and his infectious smile and energetic lust for life continued unabated until the last few years when, cruelly, he suffered a disabling illness.

At this difficult time the Club’s thoughts are with Mike, Joan, Andrew and their family.
RIP Mike.

In these sad times and with so much doom and gloom around it's worth sharing a couple of lightly amusing anecdotes involving Mike during his years at the club:-

Mike Coulson's affinity for Cumbria (taken from the original, and best, Tynedale RFC website)
Mike's determination to make his return trips from Cumbria as difficult as possible continued after the recent Round Robin event at Aspatria. Mike lost the keys to his recently acquired Golf and had to beg a lift home before returning the next day with a replacement set of keys. There's absolutely no truth in the rumour that his passenger on that day, Simon Clayton-Hibbott, threw the keys away in a desparate attempt to avoid another ear battering on the return journey to Hexham.
This latest incident follows an incident 3 years previously at Wigton when the Players coach departed with Mike still talking in the bar (now there's a surprise!). On that occasion Mike hitched a lift and used British Rail before re-uniting with his comrades in "The Dyvels". We love you really Mike!!

Semtex Sarnies
Mike and Joan supplied sandwiches and bananas etc. on away trips as mentioned above. The sandwiches came in paper bags marked 'C' (Cheese), 'H' (Ham), 'T' (Tuna) etc.
After 2008 when the team was promoted to National One, those away trips included not just bus and rail journeys, but also flights to Plymouth, Newquay and Jersey.
Meticulous as ever, before the first of those air trips Mike rang Newcastle Airport to confirm that it would be OK to carry the food on to the aircraft to feed the players and supporters. He was told that the plastic bags containing the sandwiches would need to be scanned. He was then asked what the sandwiches would contain, and when he told the official the reply was "the others are ok but we cannot allow tuna - it is too much like semtex!"
When the team arrived at the airport for the first trip and the baggage was being scanned Mike raised the question of tuna again, and was told that whoever had given him that information was talking absolute rubbish - so he carried paper bags marked with a 'T' on to planes thereafter.

Many tributes flooded in on social media following the news of Mike's passing. Some of these have been copied here:-

Andrew Vipond
I’m very sorry to hear this sad news. I have many fond memories as a youngster of Mike around the club. A lovely guy. My thoughts are with his family

Christine Ann Marshall
Sending condolences to Mike's family. He was a lovely man who always looked after us when we visited the club xx

Alister Thomas Grant
So many great memories of Mike on and off the field, always happy to stop and chat when ever we met and full of praise and encouragement for every person at the club. Heart felt condolences to both Joan and Andrew.

Angus Whitelaw
Sad to hear this news. Mike was genuine nice bloke and always the friendly face to welcome old and new people to the club. Will be a great miss and my thoughts go to Joan and the rest of the family. RIP Mike

Will Halford
Great man and always pleased to make time to talk to everyone he met. Will be sadly missed.

Paul Walker
known Mike for about 45 yrs he never changed in that time always asked how you were what you were doing and always had empathy for the players usually producing an enjoyable game of rugby to play in . A fantastic guy on and off the pitch or away from rugby saddened at his death rip lost a great friend

Calum Bruce
So sorry to hear this news. My deepest condolences to his family and I am sure his contribution to Tynedale Rugby will not be forgotten.

Tudor Griffiths
Sad loss. Always polite and helpful to match officials over the years.

Paul Barber
Condolences to Mike's family what a great bloke sadly missed.

Phillip Levinson
RIP Mike a true gentleman your rugby friends and many others will miss you.

Mae White
Sad news. Mike and I taught together at Walbottle Grammar School. Fond memories of a lovely man and my thoughts are with Joan, Andrew and family.

Silver Sheldon
Love and hugs to a great couple. Most certainly was the epitome of all things rugby along with a wonderful supportive wife.

Marcus Davison
So sorry to hear this, Mike was part of all of our lives at Tynedale and will be sadly missed.

Jenny Walton
Very sorry to hear this sad news. Mike was a true gent and will be sorely missed.

Emerson Brown
Mike was a constant source of encouragement during my junior years at the club and a man who I only have fond memories.

Keith Johnson
Sorry to hear this. Many memories from over the years
Regards to the family

Craig Dodd
So so sad to hear absolutely the most nicest man I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.

Andre James
Terribly sad news. A wonderful man. He will be very much missed.

Thomas Lavelle
Oh what a lovely man. He was a real gent. I'm very sorry to hear this!

Philip Belgian
so sad - a very special man to the club and and as a person.

Edward Hawkins
Really sad news sorry to hear this. Condolences to Mike’s family.

Barry Smith
Absolute Gent, rest in peace Mike

Carole Holywell
Upset to hear such sad news, lovely man, and even manage to pull a good pint on the odd occasion. Always nice to talk to even when he was under the weather. Condolences to his family RIP Mike xx

Graeme C Fox
Sad to hear this. An absolute gentleman and will be sorely missed by all

Richard Parker
So sorry to hear this news knew mike since my colt days at tynedale he referred me on a number of occasions playing senior rugby! always was up for a chat no matter what in the club house after a game even when I was playing for gosforth!! My thoughts and best wishes are with Joan and family in this sad time!! Will raise a glass of for you mike over here in and remember you very fondly

Wendy Vickers
So sad to hear, he was a true gentleman. Thoughts are with his family

Alan Lowdon
Sad news.. lovely genuine man. RIP Mike

James John Mattinson Pearson
Very sad news - another stalwart and true gentleman bites the dust.

Scott Powell
Sad news, RIP Mike

Neil Forsyth
A fine referee and an absolute gent and friend in the bar after the match.

John Cockburn
I remember Mike from my time at the Club. Great guy.

Elaine Arkless
Sad news. I've known Mike since he taught me Chemistry at Walbottle Grammar School! Sending condolences to his family.

James Shotton
What a lovely man he was.
Many, many memories of bus trips back from 1st team games or Saturday nights out in Corbridge circa 1995-2000.
Always smiling and laughing.

Alan Rogers
Really sad news. A great guy. Really enjoyed getting to know him while I was at the club xx

LF Clarke
Very sad news our love goes to Mike's family xx

Sheila Johnson
Our thoughts are with the Coulson family at this very sad time. I am sure Ali will have a pint waiting for him , Mike will be a great miss to Tynedale RFC.

Kaye Parker
Always a smile and Always a Gentleman. Such sad news to hear today Mike was such a lovely man. Sending our love and thoughts to Joan and family Xxx

James Mattinson
A lovely gentleman who will be sadly missed. RIP Mike

Gary Taylor
Mike will be a big miss at the club, a really nice bloke who had time for everyone and never made a fuss, our thoughts go out to Mike's family, may you rest in peace.

Sarah Martindale
Thinking of Joan and her family x

Andrew Laidler
Such sad news
a wonderful gentleman and friendly familiar figure who will be sadly missed by so many at tynedale.

Liam Donkin
Rip Mike

Brian Tilley
One of the most pleasant people ever to be associated with Tynedale. Shared the press bench with me for many seasons and was never shy of advising officials where they were going wrong. Suffered a major brain haemmorhage when still a relatively young man but⁷ bounced back superbly. Wrote all the Courant reports for away games for many years - a clubman through and through.

Ken Fairbairn
Mike was Tynedale President when I held the same role at Alnwick.
Pauline and I will always remember the good company of Mike and Joan at the events we attended together.
Our best wishes to Joan and the family

Kevin Habberjam
Thinking of you all at this time. He was a wonderful man and also a gentleman

Emma Burgess
Thinking of you all at this sad time.

Gary Rutherford
Such sad news.
Tynedale RFC meant so much too him.
Will always remember his post game chats , especially after the 3rd pint !

Brian Richardson
My name is Brian Richardson from Carlisle Mike and me were very lucky to get kidney transplant in 2006 will never forget u Mike great man

David Parker
Whether talking rugby, my brother's temperament, or adivice on officiating or teaching...in my early years in the profession Mike was good and sought after company and a bloody good bloke. My thoughts are with his family and the club.

David Ritchie
Great guy. Really sorry to hear this. Some wonderful childhood memories of Mike coaching us at mini rugby. A real champion of Tynedale.

David Coulter
A great man who knew the club inside out. Sad to hear of his passing

Thomas Cleghorn
Mike...Top man in all respects

Richard Ponton
Very sad to hear - a lovely man. Thoughts are with his family. RIP Mike

Sep Visser
Very sad news. Rest in peace Mike.

John Gray
Sad news - rest in peace.

Cameron Baty
Very sad news, great guy!

Graham Harrison
What a servant to the club, lovely chap

Ian Douglas
So sorry to read this sad news. He was a lovely guy.

Chris Chomse
Sad news a really nice person

Emma Lissington
Sad news, such a nice chap.
Lots of love to his family xx

Andrew Neal
Very sad news RIP Mike

Eni Gesinde
Sad news will be greatly missed.

Peter Cromarty
Really nice bloke and good ref. Thoughts are with his family

John Paul Leonard
Very sad news ,Top man

Dale Medlen
Sad news lovely man had time for everyone big miss to the club. Rip Mike

Angus Charlton
Very sad news. My condolences.

Joanne Cuthbertson
Remember him fondly. RIP

Colin Earnshaw
Sad, sad news. Rest peacefully Mike.

Victoria Norton
Very sad, a lovely man.

John Hardy
Sad rip mike

Jean Fearon
Very sad news. Thinking of Joan and family.

Clive Robson
Smashing fella rip Mike

Andrew Burns
Sorry to read this, what a great bloke!

Craig Wrightson
Very sad, absolutely one of the nicest blokes going. Condolences to his family RIP Mike

Mike Robinson
Sad news indeed

David Gibson
Very sad news, he was a real gentleman. RIP Mike

Jack Nelson
Lovely man. RIP

Will Shields
Sad news indeed

Barbara Ducker
Bless him

Michael Dungait
Sad to hear.

Daniel Armstrong
RIP Mike

Kenneth Yeoman
Very nice man

Chris Brown
Very sad to hear this, Mike provided some of my best rugby memories at Tynedale through junior rugby. His legacy is that I’m coaching now and if I have half the impact mike did I will be a success. Thoughts with his family

Ben Marshall
Sorry to here this, a great club man who will be missed

Stewart Thomson
Truly lovely man, very sad news. The world would be a better place if more people were like Mike.

Gina Ferguson Hanning
LOVELY LOVELY MIKE . Many a drink on a sat night in corbridge years ago after a match . Always enjoyed our catch ups . Such a lovely couple Thinking of you Joan and the rest of the family / friends .
RIP MIKE

Graham Ward
Sad news. RIP Mike, a true gentleman.

Philip Oakenfold
Very sorry to hear this sad news.