Respice Prospice | Bill Taylor RIP

Bill Taylor RIP

Date: 02-04-2025 00:00

Type: Deceased

Section: Adults

Obituary

Bill Taylor (1934 -2025) RIP - Legendary Colts Manager and Vice President

Bill passed away peacefully on Wednesday last in the presence of his family at St David’s Nursing Home, Castlebar, Ealing, where he had been cared for admirably during his last days. He had been suffering from cancer for over a year but remained active and interested in the success of all sections of the Club until the end. He was, without doubt, one of the greatest servants of the Club in the past half century. After running the Under 16s from 1980, when his son Paul played for them, he took over in 1982 as Colts Manager from David Inwood who had established the Ealing Colts four years earlier. With his characteristic energy and administrative skill, and supported by his late wife, Frances, he took standards to an even higher level. Bill was a pocket battleship of a man, a committed Irish republican socialist, who as a skilled toolmaker came to London and worked for London Transport. He naturally was a strong supporter of the Engineering Workers Union, for which he eventually worked as a regional organiser in the Thames Valley. After retiring from the union he served on Industrial Tribunals for several years to help to ensure fair treatment for employees. His eloquence and advocacy were admired by all and he could rarely be bested in argument, perhaps only by Frances who was a wonderful supporter in all his endeavours. He applied his skill and experience to build teams which not only won matches but produced the fine players who took Ealing into the National Leagues as a Club to be reckoned with.

Rhidian Jones

Bill's funeral will be held at Breakspear Crematorium, Ruislip, HA4 7SJ on Wednesday 16th April 2025 at 2.15 pm where all are welcome. The wake will follow at Tir Chonaill Gaels, Berkeley Avenue, Greenford, UB6 0NZ, the Club’s former clubhouse, and in order to make the arrangements his daughter Jean would like to hear from anyone who would wish to attend.

Jean's contact details are: 07742 668476; taylorjean1258@gmail.com

Eulogy

BILL TAYLOR AND EALING RUGBY CLUB

I was honoured when Bill asked me to say a few words, in this very place exactly 15 years ago today, on 16th April 2010, about his late wife Frances’ association with the Club. I said then that I always saw them as the Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn of Ealing Rugby Club. A pocket sized dynamo, with silver hair and silver tongue, always up for a debate, and a beautiful and feisty woman, strong but with a smile which could melt snow.

I am equally honoured that Jean and Paul invited me to speak today.

Bill was initially more of a soccer man than a rugby follower, although he was a scholar of our game when it came to Irish rugby legends and my visits to see him in St David’s Nursing Home usually involved Bill’s memories of seeing Jackie Kyle, a Belfast Doctor who was named the Greatest Ever Irish Rugby Player by the Irish Rugby Football Union in 2002. Bill saw him playing in Dublin during the late Forties when in 1948 Ireland won their first Grand Slam.

He also told me he appreciated the rugby culture in which:

We have Laws not Rules
The referee - called Sir (or sometimes now Ma’am) - is always right even when wrong;
Only the Team Captain, or Pack Leader, can speak to the referee; and
Any dissent is immediately punished - even in international matches - by the scrum or penalty being advanced by ten metres nearer the offender’s try line; and
After knocking seven bells out of each other on the field players can socialise afterwards in complete harmony

Of course these tenets of faith have been somewhat dented by the arrival of the professional game. But with such principles Bill was content, when his son Paul came down to play in the Under 16s at Ealing, to support that team, and very soon, with his organisational flair, he was managing them,

Bill loved the strong Irish connection that our Junior Colts team had and apparently expressed utter joy when they beat London Irish under 16s 62 - 0 at Sunbury. One of his young players then thought Ealing even outsang them after the match too and Bill was utterly delighted.

In 1982 he took over as Colts Manager from David Inwood who had established the Ealing Colts four years earlier. With his characteristic energy and administrative skill, and supported by Frances, he took standards to an even higher level. He applied his skill and experience to build teams which not only won matches but produced the fine players who took Ealing into the National Leagues as a Club to be reckoned with.

In the course of time Dave Inwood’s Colts became Bill Taylor’s Colts, and he created a renowned Ealing Colts Sevens Tournament, which ran for many years. As a sponsor of it, I still cherish the memory of presenting an eighteen year old Laurence Dallaglio of Wasps with the winner’s trophy thirty five years ago.

Bill was later awarded a Vice Presidency. That is a much prized honour in our club which cannot be purchased, and is only given for significant service normally over a considerable period.

But as all here can surely recall, the abiding memory of Bill is the fluency he had in argument, refined in the service of his fellow workers, which can seldom be staunched even if the other party raises his arms in surrender and mutely agrees.

The only time I have seen him meet his match - other than with Frances - was when driving him to an away game some years ago, and he took issue with my satnav over the route. The disembodied bossy lady pressed on regardless, and, on this occasion, even Bill had reluctantly to concede defeat.

As we shall hear, he was a staunch supporter of trade unions and expressed his personal happiness to me when I was appointed a director of the unions’ bank, Unity Trust Bank Plc, and later became a member of the Supervisory Board of Thompsons, Solicitors to many unions.

Each person here will surely have a personal memory of him to treasure, and so he will live on for ever in our hearts, enriching our lives for the future as he did so much in the past.

Rhidian Jones

Valedictory

If anyone would like to leave a message here then email menschairman@ealingrugby.co.uk

Paul Clarke

Bill was to me, as he was to many a guiding light, supportive and never judgmental.

He renewed my love of Rugby that had diminished at school. He allowed me to love the game, both watching and playing. I hope I have managed to pass on that love to others.

May he RIP as he sails high through the uprights.

Piers Dingemans

A club stalwart and a true gent.

Jon Harrison

Very sad to read that. He was a wonderful character around the club. I enjoyed his company immensely as us Celts stuck together through the low days of 2003! RIP Bill. Xx

Frazer McMillan

Very sad .. a great servant and a true gentleman.. RIP Bill

Brendan O'Flaherty

Coach Steve Nethercote leading a minutes silence by the current Ealing Colts to honour Bill Taylor, the founder of the section some 40 years ago.

Steve Nethercote

Bill was an inspirational man. In fact before he took on the running of the Colts he ran the club’s first junior set up in what was called the Junior Colts. A collection of 15 and 16 year olds largely from Cardinal Wiseman, Northolt, Ealing Green and even Harrow School. I was one of that motely crew and Bill was instrumental in developing many of us to go on to represent the club at all levels over many years.

Bill loved the strong Irish connection that our junior Colts team had one of my fondest memories of those days was Bill‘s utter joy when we beat London Irish under 16s 62 - 0 at Sunbury I think we even outsang them after the match too and Bill was utterly delighted

Bill was a fantastic supporter of the club at all levels a super, convivial and friendly fella always happy to chat and he will be sorely missed

Go raibh maith agat as an saol a chaith tú linn

Les O'Gorman

He was a true legend.

Ollie Miller

Sad news. What a wonderful man. I used to love his insight of the game and a general chinwag in the bar after matches . RIP Bill

Phil Cotter

Sad news. Lovely bloke. We heard he was ill the other weekend at the club. Didn't realise this ill. RIP

Adam Hulmston

May he rest in peace.

Paul Hoban

RIP Bill… ar dheis De go raibh a h-anam dilis.