Unfortunately, I also have some sad news to relate. My old mate John Crust passed away on the 13th of January 2013 in Lincoln. He was one of the HOBNOBS that you didn't have an email address for. His son Joe who lives here in Australia tells me that he died very suddenly from an aortic aneurysm. His wife Peggy survives him but but she herself is not in the best of health. Fortunately, she has a son and daughter over there to help her.

John was a pretty rough diamond and besides being a Black Belt in Taekwondo had been in the Parachute Regiment. In the '60's a couple of us who were drinking mates with John in Abingdon cajoled him to come and play for us because we were very short of players that weekend. He said that he knew "bugger all" about rugby and so of course with his build he was picked at hooker. He became a legend instantly when he came on to the field wearing a pair of Hush Puppies. I'm not sure but I think he got rather angry at loosing the first scrum! He was a delight to be around, always a joke, a quick wit and a very happy smile. He played for a few years and became a close friend of many before leaving Abingdon to go up north to Lincoln.

He was a bloody good bloke.

Regards, Frank Freeman