sad farewell to club president John Richards

Dudley Kingswinford Rugby Football Club will tomorrow bid an affectionate farewell to club president John Richards, who died following a heart attack last week. The Heathbrook outfit will remember the club legend at St Mary’s Church in Kingswinford at 11am and afterwards at their well-appointed ground. John served the club for 61 years, broken only by his national service in the

Royal Air Force, a time which spanned their move from Penzer Street to their current location.

Before the move, he filled posts as secretary and fixture secretary. Following it, he represented the club as a wing forward, then took up refereeing and for five years served as club president.

Even a few days before his death, he was answering the call of duty, appearing on the team photographs and he organised a lunch every year for former players of the Penzer Street era.

In his business life, John had regular radio shows on BBC Radio Manchester, Merseyside, Stoke and Lincolnshire. He also had guest slots on Radio 2.

His other great passion was real ale and for many years he was the local chairman of CAMRA, championing the causes of small local breweries.

He became an expert on real ale and gave lectures the length and breadth of the country. He published four books and brought out a range of CDs.

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