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Fylde RFC mourns death of club member
3:18pm Thursday 13th March 2008
Fylde RFC has announced the death of Gordon Aplin, last night in hospital, after being taken ill a couple of days ago.
Gordon was an institution at the Woodlands and was universally liked by everyone who came into contact with him.
He would have been 94 next September.
Gordon was educated at King William's College in the Isle of Man and spent the first part of his life in Manchester.
He spent the Second World War as an officer in the Royal Artillery Regiment where he rose to the rank of major.
He worked as a company secretary for a firm in Manchester and continued working long after passing normal retirement age.
He played rugby for Ashton-under-Lyne Old Boys and subsequently qualified as a referee within the Manchester and District Referees Society.
Only a month ago he was the honoured guest of the Society at their Annual Dinner at the Woodlands and received an inscribed glass tankard to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his joining!
His support for the club was unwavering - he was at the Woodlands only 10 days ago to watch his beloved team beat Macclesfield.
Gordon moved to the Fylde Coast in the mid-1960s and was recruited to the Club's newly established Gates Committee on which he served faithfully for 40 years until 2005.
He has been variously chairman of the Gates Committee, Membership Secretary and, between 1994-6 as Club President.
He was known by many people around the rugby world as he acted on many match days as 'meeter and greeter' for visiting officials from other clubs.
In his Gates duties he served in all winds and weathers in a period when the facilities and car parking arrangements were primitive to say the least.
Apart from serving the club so loyally, Gordon knew how to enjoy himself.
He went on many overseas Fylde Vikings tours to venues such as Belgian, France and Spain - and until in his 80s.
But, as we all know, 'what goes on tour stays on tour!'.
His wife died some years ago and he has lived recently in an apartment in South Park, Lytham.
The club, its members and supporters, have lost a great character and a great man.
The club sends its sincere commiserations to Gordon's daughter and grandchildren who live in Sweden.
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Gordon receives a gift in recognition of his service to the Club & on his retirement as Gates Committee chairman in 2005 when 90 years old, from Bill Beaumont & former Chairman Malcolm Jones
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