Old Yardleians RFC: Club News
Tributes to Faintly and the funeral arrangements
Fri, 15 Aug 2014 12:00
We have received details of Dave Hall's funeral arrangements as follows:
The service is to be held at 1:45pm on Tuesday 19th August at;
Weymouth and Portland Crematorium
Quibo Lane,
Weymouth
DT4 0RR
The wake after will be held at;
The Corner House Inn
49 Straits,
Easton,
Isle of Portland
DT5 1HG
Should anyone attending want to stay the night, 'Enoch' Wallace's wife Karen, is the manager of The Portland Lodge Bed and Breakfast.
Karen can be contacted on 01305 820265 (mention 'Enoch' for mates rates!).
Some words from David Collen:
Below I have jotted a few thoughts about Faintly, which you may wish to share with the VPs and members at large.
Faintly was a legend at OYs in the 60s and 70s. His easy charm, and love of all things alcohol, made him the club's own George Best, he was never short of female company.
The soubriquet 'Faintly' stemmed from a late drinking session and card school, at Robin Sismy's house. Dave paid a visit to the bathroom and managed to fall down the stairs, with an enormous clatter. The card players barely looked up but Robin's sister wondered aloud 'whether that was Dave she heard faintly coming down the stairs' - and it stuck.
Dave was an Old Moseleian, who came to the club with the Plume crowd in search of after hours drinking. His early contributions to club life were mainly social, his Bonfire Night barbecues being memorable indeed. On one occasion he fell into the fire and 'Big Al' Harrison grabbed him, shook the hot embers from him, and Dave carried on as if nothing had happened.
He played some rugby, mostly as a scrum half, in the 2nds and 3rds, but his major contribution was as coach to the newly formed Colts XV. Dave gave up many hours organising training and arranging matches, on Sunday mornings, while the rest of us were still abed. Many outstanding players got their first taste of OY culture and fellowship, through Dave's stewardship of the Colts.
Dave came from a happy sociable family. Once, after a particularly heavy Club dinner, I woke up on the floor, at Dave's house, with no memory of how I got there. As I came to, his mother, who clearly knew the score, was already dishing up the full English.
Dave realised his true vocation when he married Sheila and they moved to Dorset to run The Punchbowl Inn, at Portland.
Dave and Sheila often took day trips to the Channel Islands, on their days off from running the pub. Wendy and I met up with them for lunch, on their last trip, in Guernsey, and we spent a happy time reminiscing about times past.
Sadly Dave's lifestyle caught up with him and he suffered a stroke in 2006 and a heart attack in 2007. In retirement Dave and Sheila lived happily in Portland, where he was well loved by the village community.
Our thoughts are with Sheila at this sad time - for Faintly it was a life lived to the full.
A tribute from Ian 'Enoch' Wallace:
Long before the character of Del Boy Trotter there was Dave 'Faintly' Hall. The flat cap and sheep skin coat covered in fag ash and beer stains - some said it had a life of it's own.
I met Faint shortly after he came back from South Africa. He worked tirelessly getting the Colt's team set up and playing regularly on a Sunday morning. This was originally frowned on by our leaders at North Midlands and so Faintly worked closely with Tony Heapy (Old Centrals), Jigger Singh (Aston Old Edwardians) and George Watkins (of Old Edwardians).
Referee's were as scarce as rocking horse droppings and therefore we had our regulars in Jeff The Ref, Steve Hales and Roger Rees.
Their foresight led to a very healthy Sunday morning set up allowing many young players the chance to play. Faintly can claim to have encouraged some of the best Y's ever produced. To name a few, Nigel Burrows, Paul Gower, Chicken, Smoking, Brains, John Lonie, Lee Perks and the list goes on.
As social secretary, Faintly was always at the bottom of something happening. The Sunday night darts where the opposition only wanted to play us away due to our interpretation of the licensing laws. Has anyone other than Faintly heard of the "supper license"?
I recall as a young prop playing in the 3rd team at Old Silhillians. Faintly volunteered to hook. So after his warm up of 6 pints of mild and 20 fags we left the changing room. Tony Meads commented that Hilton was in for a rough afternoon after spotting ex-England tight head, Graham Creed. Unfortunately, he was coming back from injury and made his way to the 3rd team pitch. I of course had never heard of this chap but spent the afternoon examining parts of my body I couldn't even see in the mirror. After Creedy had his fun with me he popped poor old Faint's ribs and sent him in pain back to the bar. Creedy then turned his attention back to me. Bad, bad afternoon!!
The number of memories I hold for Faint are countless and non bad. I never heard him say an unkind word about anyone. He would always help if he could and constantly encouraged me and countless others in drinking games and teaching us songs you couldn't sing in front of your Mom.
I feel so sad that he is no longer with us as he played such a big part in me growing up, and becoming a life long supporter of the Y's. I am sure that I am not alone when I say that!?
Regards, Enoch.