Obituary

From “Over the Bar 1994”.

Date deceased is approximate.

Valedictory

Geoff Sykes sadly passed away in early May after a short illness. A Yorkshireman born and bred in Halifax, he came to work for Guinness in London and joined the Club in 1953. His then captain, Terry Conner, says of him that as a hooker, he was the best striker of a ball the Club had ever had. He was also known for hooking the ball from the second row and having the cleanest shorts at the end of the game. He moved to Ruislip and became synonymous with that Club.

Everyone knew Geoff and sometimes he might not quite have agreed with what you said, you coud be sure of lively debate. In more recent years he ran the touch, advised on rugby matters and he, and his wife Ann, very efficiently ran the Thames Valley Rugby Exchange.

Geoff was well known in Middlesex which was much richer for his presence. He will be sadly missed as shown by the church being filled with friends and rugby folk saying a last farewell. We then returned to his club house to raise a glass to an absent friend who, although a Ruislip man, continued to pay his Ealing subs.

Willie Williams & Gordon Griffiths