It is with great sadness we report the passing of former Southport RFC Club President, Robin Porter.
Robin served as a player and on the club committee, notably as honorary treasurer, before being elected club president in 1994 serving in that post till 2002.
Chairman of selectors, Chairman of Schools Committee and a regular referee of the second and third team Rob was a stalwart of the Southport Rugby Club and was always a welcoming presence and an excellent ambassador of the club.
He made his First team debut in 1964 against a strong Orrell First team under the captaincy of Neil Pidduck. In a feature in the Southport Champion to celebrate ‘a magnificent 125 years’ of the club Robin commented that the Southport team in the early 60s was one of the best and it was not until the early 80s that its record was beaten.
“Between those years however, some of the individual players provide the strongest memories. Paul Booth who played first team over four decades from the 50s to the 80s, and another skipper Brian Roberts who always played his best games without his contact lenses were stalwarts in the 70s.
Flasher Evans even managed to get the team to train on Sunday mornings and narrowly lost to Liverpool in the Lancashire Cup”.
The finance director of the family firm Porters Horticultural Ltd, commonly known as Porters Fuchsias, Southport Old Road Formby, Robin originally started out as a Merchant Seaman.
After gaining a BSc in Business Studies, he became a maths teacher, before joining the family firm.
Over the years the firm had been a match sponsor and advertiser in the programme, and apart from rugby Robin was a keen golfer, member at both Formby Hall and Hillside Golf Club and, aptly as far as the business was concerned, gardener.
Funeral Arrangements – Information is given on behalf of the Porter Family:
‘’Rob’s funeral is to take place at Duke Street cemetery at 2.30pm on Tuesday 17th August, there is no church service.
Debbie has requested that all are welcome to the grave side. requesting no mourning dress or sombre clothing, please wear Southport RFC ties if possible.
Following the service, Debbie would like to invite all Rob’s family and friends to Southport Rugby Club for drinks & refreshments and to talk about happier times with friends. It will great see as many as possible there.’’
Robin will be fondly remembered and sadly missed. Our thoughts are with Debbie, family, and friends.
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