OLDHAM RUGBY Union Club members are mourning the death of Terry Hurst at the age of 75.
Mr Hurst, who lived in Grotton for over 50 years, exerted a powerful influence over the club for six decades.
As a player and official, his contribution to the club was described as “monumental” by past president Steve Fox.
Mr Hurst, a retired local businessman, joined the club at the age of 16. He played first team rugby and was ‘A’ team captain in the 1962/63 season. Unfortunately his rugby career was cut short by injury at the age of 23.
After his early retirement from playing, Mr Hurst immediately joined the committee and served on this for over 40 years in posts including social secretary, fund raising, team secretary, fixtures secretary, senior vice-president, chairman, trustee, publicity secretary and president.
And when he retired from committee, he kept on many of the roles he had previously and was an active member of the club. He was made an honorary member being only one of five members to hold the honour in over 100 years at that time.
In 1977, Mr Hurst set up the ‘mini rugby section’ which was the forerunner to today’s junior section and this has had many successful years bringing through many senior players over the years. Not only did it supply many local clubs with Rugby Union players it also provided Rugby League with many superstars who went on to play for Great Britain including Terry Flanagan, Steve Molloy, Martin Hall and Richard Russell,
Mr Hurst was heavily involved with the RFU when leagues were first introduced and was on first name terms with many influential people in the game. Jason Leonard, current president of the RFU and world cup winner, and Martin Johnson, England’s winning world cup winning captain being just a couple of them..
Although suffering with Parkinson’s disease for the past 15 years he never lost his love for the game. Until this season, when his illness wouldn’t allow him, he attended most games.
Mr Fox said: “Terry is a great loss to Oldham RUFC and will be greatly missed by them and his family alike.
“I have lost a great friend and mentor. Terry worked tirelessly for Oldham RUFC for 60 years. He was an exceptional club man widely respected by everyone in the wider rugby fraternity.”
Independent sports editor Tony Bugby had known Mr Hurst for over 30 years as he reported on Oldham RUFC.
He said: “When I was made redundant after almost 25 years on the Oldham Evening Chronicle and had a spell out of work, Terry would regularly ring me to enquire how I was doing.
“That showed the caring person he was and he was somebody who touched the lives of so many people.”
In his working life, Mr Hurst was the owner of Oldham firm JCL Engineering which at its peak employed over 100 people and did a lot of work for the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Cyprus.
Mr Hurst leaves his wife Edna having earlier this year celebrated his golden wedding, sons, Graham and Tim, daughters-in-law Janine and Lesley, grandchildren, Lucy, Abby Lilly, Katie and Annie, brother Brian and sister-in-law Laurie.
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