Rob Cassidy – 30th Nov 1951 – 20th February 2013
It is with much sadness that we report the untimely death of one of the club’s long standing stalwarts Rob Cassidy, who died recently following a short illness.
Rob, was a hugely talented all action open-side flanker who started his playing career at Chosen Hill School and went on to play for Cheltenham Schools , Gloucestershire Schools ,South West Schools and for the England Probable’s against the Possibles in the final England School Boy trial which was held at Liverpool Rugby Club on 25th Feb 1967.
He was then selected as travelling reserve for the England International matches home and away against Wales at Twickenham on 22nd March and at Cardiff Arms Park on 22nd April. In those days travelling reserves did not receive an “England Cap” but he was allowed to buy an England Tie!
Rob joined Chosen Hill Former Pupils when he was just twenty years old having started his senior career at Gloucester Civil Service RFC. He quickly became an ever present member of the first team squad forming a formidable back row with the likes of John Ashford, Fred McLearie and Steve Edwards. Recurring ankle injuries cut short his playing career and at the age of twenty five he had effectively stopped playing.
Enjoying the camaraderie of rugby, and with most of his close friends still playing at Chosen Hill, Rob soon joined the committee and he took over as Club Secretary in 1981 when the incumbent Secretary Pete Watson moved North with his job.
Always a stickler for strict routines and doing things his way, (a trait that he inherited from his father John), Rob was one of the dedicated team of volunteers that helped plan, arrange the finance and then build the Brookfield Road clubhouse.
There are many fond memories of Rob or “Cass” as he was mostly known, and among them perhaps some of the most memorable relate to his relationship with his early cars.
Residents of Melville Road in Churchdown once had their peaceful Sunday morning disturbed as the clock moved inexorably closer to twelve noon and Cass, who was laying on his back beneath his jacked up car, became more and more agitated as he tried to remove the exhaust pipe and get a new one fitted so he could get to the Churchdown Club for opening time.
With dad John peering down through the open bonnet, Cass remarked that he “could not move the old pipe” “then hit it with a f…….. hammer” came the cry from John. Most people in Melville Road must have heard the goings on as hammer hit exhaust pipe and expletives about the degree of difficulty filled the air. Suffice it to say that they abandoned the car repair and still made it to the Churchdown Club for opening time!
Another time, Cass, who had a wonderful command of the Queen’s English, was heard muttering obscenities after the reverse gear on his Austin 1100 packed up and he had to push the car backwards into a parking space on the Dowty car park.
A technical author by profession, Rob ran his own business - Cotswold Documentation Services - and over recent years had become the club’s main sponsor, providing the finance for much needed playing kit and ground equipment.
Rob leaves his widow Barbara, children David and Victoria and grandchildren, and of course he will also be greatly missed by all his friends at Chosen Hill.
His "Service of Rememberance" will be held at Gloucester Crematorium on Friday 8th March at 1:00 pm.