Shammies, Please see attached a note sent to all the Old Boys from Club Legend Phil Newman. Please take 2 mins out of your day to have a read as it truly sums up who we are as a club. Personally, Ive never been prouder, nor more committed to PRUFC, the club we get to call our own, the touring ethos that the club has built and how we have been Bring People Together, since 1883. Yours in Rugby, CTD 1883. Dunny. Lads, Yesterday, a good representation of Petersham members attended the funeral of Ivor Compton in Lithgow. Headed by Reg Newton, and his wife Joy, Reg first met Ivor as he stepped off the plane at Cardiff airport in 1967, and remained good friends with Ivor for the ensuing 47 years. Reg paid his last visit to Ivor the day before he passed away. Attendees were, Life Members - Dunny, Richard Harvey, Jim Carmichael (and Reg), current player and stalwart Thumper Caulfield, along with old boys Whitto, Vol, Tommy Cusbert, Barry Mallett, Bobby King, Phil Newman and Shayne Wolfe (who drove up and left straight away to drive back to Sydney – a great effort Wolfey). Ivor’s funeral was a moving event. Held in a beautiful church in Lithgow, the large number of pews were filled with more than one hundred and fifty people. A lovely service, conducted by a youthful minister who allowed the Family, Welsh and Rugby aspects of Ivor’s life to be entwined with a Christian service. A number of Welsh choir songs, a moving Eulogy from Ivor’s youngest son David, culminating with the singing of the Welsh National Anthem, being sung as Reg had the honour of being one of Ivor’s pallbearers, carrying his casket out to the waiting hearse. Petersham Rugby was given the wonderful privilege of being part of Ivor’s eulogy, a mark of the very special connection Ivor had with our club. Reg Newton lead off and spoke of the first time he met Ivor, the very special times in Gilfach Goch and his ensuing life-long friendship with Ivor. Phil Newman spoke of the very special part Ivor played in the history of our club, the relatively unknown, or unrealised, effort, time and devotion Ivor had put into assisting Ron Mclean in developing and bringing to fruition the first, and subsequent, world tours. Of the wonderful experiences, memories and friendships that individuals have gained, due in no small part, to Ivor’s massive contribution. Of the invaluable culture Ivor’s efforts have helped to sew into the seams of every Petersham jersey, shirt and blazer - that priceless culture of touring - playing rugby in many countries and cities, all over the world. No other club does this like Petersham, and for this, the club owes part of it’s soul to Ivor. Adam Dunn had the tough task of going last and announcing Ivor’s official Life Membership of PRUFC. He spoke of the legacy Ivor’s work had helped to create and how the club would always continue to take that legacy forward. Adam placed a special Petersham Life Membership Jersey upon the Welsh flag draped over Ivor’s casket. Ivor is the only person in our club’s history to posthumously have been awarded Life Membership – a wonderful mark of the esteem in which our club now holds Ivor’s memory. At the following Wake, Ivor’s beautiful and lovely wife Marilyn accepted a special card Bobby King had prepared, from and on behalf of the club, and the love and best wishes of all club members were verbally passed to her. Many Petersham tourists will have memories of Marilyn and another great friend of the Comptons, Yvonne, (who was present at the funeral) who in 1967 were both 19 year old Gilfach Belles. They met and greeted the rugby boys from Australia, and Yvonne told us of how the Petersham tours were such a big part of the Welsh coal mining valley’s social schedule over all those years. In 1972 Marilyn married Ivor. She is a lovely, warm person, she is an absolute delight. The wake had a strong Welsh influence and attendance as many Welsh people from the southern valleys of Wales came to Australia to work in our coal mines following Margaret Thatcher’s closing of the mines in Wales – Jimmy Carmichael took the opportunity to break into a rousing rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” with one of Ivor’s Welsh mates. Now here is a wonderful closing snippet, told to me by Marilyn – Ivor’s wishes are to have half his ashes scattered over their property in Lithgow and the other half taken back to Gilfach Goch, when Marilyn returns for a visit later this year. Now - How “Ivor” is this – before the remains of his ashes are taken up to be scattered in the hills overlooking Gilfach, “Ivor” (safely contained), is to be FED INTO A SCRUM. His wishes – “they kicked the shit out of me when I was alive and playing, they can take one more go at kicking the shit out of me before I go up into the hills” - Wow - how astounding is that – Ivor, we love you – thanks for all the rugby, thanks for all the memories, thanks for everything you have given us. As Adam said, “Ivor’s legacy will continue in Petersham – it is now in our DNA”. In fact Petersham will be back in Gilfach Goch later this year, once again playing rugby in the valley, as part of this year’s World Tour. Maybe Ivor will wander down from the hills to watch, with those final stud marks still down his back, and if our winger on the day mysteriously gets bundled into touch as he is flying down the sideline to be denied the winning try, and nobody seems to be within coo-ee of him – look for the swirling image of a dark haired, solid flanker, making his way back to the hills, with a smile from ear to ear. After that last scrum – may Ivor Rest In Peace. All the best fellas... Phil Newman
Posted on: Thu, 08 Jan 2015 23:22:40 +0000
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