I have just been informed that sadly, Fred Rodgers one of our prominent members over many years has died recently and although it somewhat short notice, his funeral is on Tuesday 17th. May at the church of St. Christopher Bare in Morecambe at 12:30 pm.

Fred first came to Billingham Rugby Club in the mid 70s at a very late stage of his career and played with, among others, Mike Riby. His Rugby life started at school in Gateshead and at Gateshead Fell Rugby Club and he went on to represent England U18 schoolboys. After university in Newcastle he entered his career as a teacher and lecturer of science and engineering to older pupils and young adults and for many years he worked abroad. On returning to UK he lived in Billingham (built his own house on Thames Road, in fact) and played his rugby for Stockton Rugby Club before joining Billingham.

Once a member at Billingham he also helped John Morris with the organisation of the Billingham Sevens the main competition in Durham County circles for the annual rugby sevens, competing for the Watts Moses Cup. In the days of Billingham ICI this was a massive day out for club teams and their families and was held at the athletics ground and the rugby pitches on Central Avenue.

Later in the mid 80s Fred started a team for under 16 boys, essentially the first taste Billingham had of junior rugby and although that didn’t take off at the time it was a fore runner to the Bill Woodhouse era. Thereafter he was an important figure on committees at the club culminating with his efforts with the group who successfully claimed the lottery grant which enabled us to build the clubhouse at Greenwood Road.
In fact, I firmly believe, that without Fred’s number crunching and financial acumen, we would not have succeeded in convincing Sport England to grant us the money at that time. I share this news of his passing as I know many of us liked Fred as a friend and fellow club member and I intend to pass on our condolences to Mary, his widow at the earliest opportunity.

John Ker
President
Billingham RUFC