The ILKLEY Rugby club flag flies at half mast to signify the passing of a true stalwart of the club, Chris “CD” Hume, as President, Honorary Life Member, a player of distinction, an administrator and latterly, a volunteer.
I first knew Chris in his capacity as an accountant whose firm were our company’s auditors.
A colleague at work persuaded me to forsake Leeds United and make a return to my school sport - rugby. So I arrived at Stacks Field to a warm welcome from the captain, Steve Couling and the many wonderful friends to be who populated the ILKLEY RUFC teams, including CD.
Chris was a fixture in the 1st XV in his position of hooker at which he was one of the best. Many said he would have played for Yorkshire (and higher) had he not chosen to concentrate his energy and attention on a lovely wife Diana, a young family Richard and Steven, and a budding career in his chosen profession at which he was to excel. Of course, playing rugby with his friends was top of the agenda for Chris.
No doubt his business colleagues could regale his outstanding credentials as a capable and astute accountant and business advisor.
Chris was renowned for his tenacity and his ability as a traditional hooker who deployed every trick in the book of the dark arts of front row play. His front row mates Ian Arundel and Ronnie Shackleton helped out and between them they could get under the skins of the much bigger and more famous opponents of the top clubs at the time such as Morley, Sheffield, Headingley etc.
His lightening strike and almost elastic hips were recalled recently by two seasoned and experienced props. One recalled a referee on the back pitch was watching closely in the scrum, having already noted a couple against the head. Chris took a third he had no right to. The referee blew and said, “I don’t believe what I’ve just seen. Scrum again.” Sure enough CD repeated the feat!
Chris was always last into the old concrete bath (no showers in those days!) at Stacks Field, which was usually black with mud and stone cold when he got in with a half smoked cigarette. It was a mystery how he managed to get clean (as much as was possible in that bath) and keep his cigarette above the water line, but he did it with alacrity.
One of the early Ilkley tours to England internationals was to France for which we had a specially minted jumper with the tricolour embroidered. He wore this jumper till it was almost threadbare. On a subsequent trip to Scotland he was presented with a limited edition print for some important event or other, we think for his 50th birthday. He was wearing that jumper but Diana promptly committed it to the bin on their return. (Yes, we did go on tour with wives/partners!)
I have so many memories of a great friend, but the one that sticks in the memory was in a training night when Chris was playing out his career between 2nd and 3rd XV’s. In the lineouts Chris was marking a young 1st XV captain Dennis Wood, who moved on later to captain Wharfedale. Chris got so far under skin of the young tyro that a string of expletives was followed by a wild swinging southpaw…..which missed. The premature end of training was called.
I remember the late post-match evenings in the club, then to the Rose and Crown and finally back to Humes with all the older teammates and their wives. Chris and Diana were generous hosts and they enjoyed a good party or three with their many friends.
During and after his playing days he had a long stint as club treasurer and a long standing committee member and latterly a volunteer doing gate duty and other jobs for the club he loved.
Chris was a true gentleman in all senses of the word. He was thoughtful, clever, attentive, diligent and loyal to a fault. Simply a nice person.
We will miss him.
We send our condolences to family and many friends.
RIP
John Hope
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