Charlie may also have been the oldest player to ever play for the club as he regularly turned out for the vets into his mid 60’s which allowed him to fulfil his wish of playing in the same team as his two boys Jim and Tom.

Prior to joining Hertford he played his rugby at both Chingford and (I believe) Barnet and in the 1980’s supplied a three handled trophy that for many years added a bit of spice to games between his 3 teams. He also played representative rugby for Eastern Counties.

He was also influential off of the pitch, being involved in the very early stages of mini rugby at Hertford and was a recent past President of the club and the first Chairman of The Hale Club.. He was a generous member of the patrons club and a very enthusiastic participant and organiser of the infamous ‘Old Farts Christmas Lunch.’ Even into his 80’s nothing could stop Charlie from going on tour.

An enthusiastic sportsman Charlie would also be seen during the summer at his other favourite local haunt, Hertford Cricket Club where he used to coach a youth side and I don’t think it was coincidence that he set up home mid-way between the two clubhouses!

For me, my overriding memory of Charlie will be his enthusiasm for encouraging the youth to participate in local sport. Be it from his encouraging chats when I was a teenager playing for the vets and catching a lift in Charlies Ford Granada, to his Presidential days when he would always be asking me for updates on our youth rugby.

Perhaps the reason for this is partially explained by his very moving address to all the mini and youth players on remembrance Sunday three years ago. He told of his days in the North Atlantic during WW2 and how he remembered the boys who never came home. To him, to this day, they are still “Boys in shorts”.

Charles became a widower in his eighties after the death of his first wife Judith. Always one to live life to the full Charles found love a second time round in his 90’s and had several happy years with Beverley.

Our condolences go out to Beverly and his three children, Jim, Jo and Tom and their families.

Arrangements for how Charles life will be celebrated will be posted when they are finalised

A live well lived, thank you Charlie and goodnight.

Ged Murphy