Mike was born on 16th September 1940 in Hampden Avenue, Thame. The first record of him playing rugby was in 1959 for Shuttleworth Rugby club whilst attending Shuttleworth Agricultural Collage near Bedford.

His early working life was in agriculture, including a spell selling livestock feed supplements.

Our first record of Mike’s involvement in the club is when he took responsibility for the bar management at our temporary home, Bledlow Cricket Club, in the 1967-68 season. Our first sight of him as a playing member was in the 1971-72 - 3rd team photo. He was also a member of an early club tour at Easter in the 1972-3 season, when the club went on tour to Bournemouth. This was also the year of the club moving to Towersey. Mike was involved in the erection of the new clubhouse, which was completed by volunteers on a shoestring budget. This included Mike acquiring bricks from a part closed/completed development, in Windsor Great Park.

With the opening of Towersey in 1972 the clubhouse and bar were run by a group of volunteers which included Mike.

In the 1977-78 season the then club committee, on the recommendation of John Besley, the club Treasurer, appointed Mike as Club Steward, on a part time contract. Our first paid employee and a legend was born.

Very quickly the clubhouse became the second pub in Towersey.

In the 1978-79 season the Oxen (veterans) team was formed, and Mike became a feature performing in the second row. Sadly, after sustaining a leg injury during a particularly long walk to the pitch at University Vandals, he was forced into premature retirement.

During his years of stewardship, Mike was known for his uncompromising stance with those players who chose to chance their arm by slowing down payment of their dues. This would result in them being upended and shaken until the money dropped out of their pocket. This approach to enforcement also went on tour with him. On the 1975-76 season tour to Barcelona, a now retired committee member, was seen being held by his feet over a balcony, his offence is still not in the public arena.

At a black-tie dinner to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the club the RFU Chairman, Mr Ian Beer, presented Mike with a silver salver in recognition of his services to the club. Our guest speaker on this occasion, Bob Norster, realising he was in the presence of Chinnor ‘Royalty’ insisted on making the same presentation in order to rub shoulders with Mike.

During his time with the club Mike was also a member of the ‘Deighton tours’ annual Thames barge trips from Madon, Essex. This he did for over 40 years. His party trick, when it came to time to lift the anchor, which weighed in at one ton, a two-man job, was performed by Mike on his own.

After the club acquired an old Ford Tractor and slitter and given his agricultural background he was often seen on the pitches, in Thame, maintaining the ground.

Mike was to continue as club steward until he retired from the role in June 1999. During his time as club steward, he never sought any form acknowledgement but somehow his retirement managed to get published in Rugby World! At that years AGM Mike was made an Honorary Life Member of the Club.

One of his hidden talents was as a cake maker and decorator, providing various club members with wedding, birthday, and christening cakes. He also provided Christmas cakes for the Club Christmas draw.

At Christmas he would open the Club every Christmas Day for a pre-lunch drink for members and their families. He would buy all the ‘regular customers’ their first drink to show his appreciation for all the drinks they had bought him throughout the season. Such a kind and thoughtful act.

In the club’s formal history, the following footnote in some small way sums up Mike:

“Mike’s retirement could not go by without a mention, and I know this will causes him some embarrassment when he reads it. Mike is one of the most loved members of Chinnor Rugby Club. He was an institution as a player, to whom in the line-out you threw in underarm if you wanted him to catch it. The man who, when asked to upgrade the bar till, started to use two-pint pots, one for notes the other one for coins. The man who would do physical damage to get your car keys off you, when you were not fit to drive, but would then drive you home himself at the end of the evening. There are just so many stories about Mike that it would take another book to do him justice. He’s still to be seen at the club, clearing up the beer glasses, and driving the tractor when he sneaks in unnoticed. I now need to go into hiding, he has a long reach”.

Mike was known for his cowboy bootlace ties. A fashion item he picked up from his many trips to Canada to see relatives.

A couple of his friends will be telling tour stories and the odd anecdotal tell at the Wake……

Obituary attached.

As you may have heard, sadly, Mike died peacefully last Sunday 28th April 2024.

His funeral will be held at St Mary’s Church, Thame on Wednesday, 22nd May 2024 at 2pm. This will be followed by his wake at Chinnor RFC Club.

In order to plan hospitality arrangements, could you please let me know if you and your partner will be attending. My email address is bobandpatmitchell@gmail.com.

Kind regards.

Bob Mitchell

docx

Mike Pearman - Rugby Club Obituary

17.1MB

Download