Obituary
The Club was saddened to learn that Stewart Laird former 1st XV player and club stalwart, passed away last Sunday morning 10th February 2013
The memorial service will be at Putney Vale Crematorium at 3.40pm on Tuesday 26th February Stag Lane. London SW15 3DZ - all club members are welcome to attend.
Stewart had recently travelled to London from his home in Northern Ireland for the funeral of John Mallinson. Some days after, whilst still in London, Stewart fell ill and very sadly passed away in hospital last weekend.
Stewart will be fondly remembered by Club members for his amazing repertoire of songs with which he entertained many into the wee small hours - particularly back in our Horsenden Hill days. Stewart played at the club in the 1970 & 80s and was a well known figure, more recently he was a regular attendee at 1871 lunches.
All at the Club extend our sympathies to Stewart’s family.
Les O’Gorman - Hon Secretary
Valedictory
What sad news regarding Stewart, he was the first player to take me under his wing when I first turned up to play in September 1974 from college. He, John & Pat, Dennis McCanny etc looked after us and made sure all us youngster got back from away games no matter what state.
I recall my first saturday evening after a game at 2am on a Stewart lock in when the police arrived just to check the clubhouse was OK and then took their jackets off and joined in the sing song and a drink or two.
I just saw the news about Stewart on the website. How terrible. I played with him on a number of occasions when he captained the 2s. A great hooker and prop. Talking about his singing. I remember one occasion when we played up at Barnet. After leaving the club we went to a local pub up that way. There was a band playing and it didn’t take long for Stuart to jump up on stage. From memory he sang an Elvis song. Blo*dy brilliant. I haven’t seen him for years though. What a character. We will never see the like of Stuart again.
Two unmarried blokes chatting at the bar and Stuart said to me “I think you are like me. Travel the world looking for the perfect woman and when you meet her discover that you are not the perfect man” There are too many tales to tell most of which bring a smile.
Unforgettable!
It was very sad to read of the passing of John Mallinson and of Stuart Laird following on from Stuart attending John’s funeral. My thoughts are with the respective families.
I would be obliged if you would consider placing the following on the website on the 1871 section it is a memory of Stuart Laird. George Haley ~ Former player 70s/80s. If you can place the photo (circa 2002/3) Stuart is on the left as you look at the photograph in the shirt and jeans I am on the right as you look in the Guinness T shirt and Chinos, the dogs were mine.
A story that comes to mind from seeing Stuart [n n n~never repeat a song] Laird on the Quiz Show 15-1 I enquired if they would pass on my details to Stuart to chat over old times, they obliged and duly had Stuart on the other end of the line. In the conversation I mentioned I was travelling down to France [from Germany where we live] for a holiday and Stuart said he had a ‘Students [?] Travel Card’ for the French Railway system, so why not meet up in Strasbourg, about the nearest point on our mutual journeys. Totally mad in some ways but what the heck you don’t often get the chance to see old friends when you leave the old country.
It was an eye opening moment for my wife when we met and the first question she asked after we eventually left Stuart at a Cafe in the main Square was “how on earth did the waiter understand his French!” For those that never met Stuart he had an accent that made Dennis McCanny sound like a 1950’s continuity announcer on BBC Radio 4 [or the home service as it would have been].
It was good to meet and chat about old times, old tours and remember the many friends that we missed from those halcyon days at Horsenden Hill. Glad to see Monty, Bob, Les and Derek remember him just as I do. Unique even in those days and at a Rugby Club that boasted many characters, he was truly a memorable part of Ealing’s history.
