RIP BILL RAYMOND – STALWART PLAYER AND CLUB MEMBER
BILL RAYMOND – STALWART PLAYER AND CLUB MEMBER
Bridgwater & Albion Rugby Football Club is sad to announce the death of former utility forward Bill Raymond who passed away recently at the age of 89.
Bill joined the Albion ranks in the early 1950’s and became a fixture in our 1st and United XV’s. He was able to play in all three rows of the scrum with great versatility which served him and the Albion teams well.
He was a contemporary of many renowned Albion players who made their mark in the same era as amplified by the team which took on Dr Jack Matthews’ XV in April 1954 where the Albion side was:-
G Barrett; J Baker L Jeremiah DT Williams L Guerrero; A Williams B Bowden; E Bell W Gluk A Gibbs DL Hodge W Scott W Raymond J Gregory HR Bastable.
Whilst the match was lost 12-19 the visitors were a star-studded international XV. Albion’s playing record for that season was also one of the best recorded to date – P42 W25 D8 L9 F333 A166.
As well as accompanying the players in the above XV, Bill also played alongside the emerging Jack Smith, Spud Nash, Bobby Collard Colin Ball and Alan Date amongst others.
After his playing days he continued to support Bridgwater & Albion. His son Ian hooked for Morganians RFC for several seasons – Bill himself being a genuine old Morganian who also served on the committee of the Old Boys Association. Bridgwater & Albion extends its sincere condolences to Bill’s family and considerable thanks for his excellent service to the club.
Scribe
The funeral is this Thursday at 10.30 am at Bridgwater Baptist Church.
Category: Club News
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