Jackie Moffat, a hugely popular member of the Cumbria rugby union family, has died at the age of 86.
A stalwart of the Moresby club, both as a player and official, he was also a key member of the Cumbria rugby union set-up for many years.
He served the county as kit-man and was part of the party which lifted the County Championship at Twickenham in 1997.
Tributes to a “top rugby man and a top bloke” were led by the former Cumbria captain Mark Richardson.
“He was just an all-round top man. Everyone connected to the county, when he was with us, will have stories to tell with affection.
“He did so much for the Moresby club, not just as a player but as an official and driving force for them relocating to a new ground and the opening of a new clubhouse,” he said.
One story that many related was when Cumbria were playing Devon away in 2002 everyone got off the train at Exeter station and Jackie just happened to say – ‘who’s got the kit?’
When there was no reply Jackie jumped back on the train and was running up and down the carriages looking for the kit. Then the whistle blow, the doors shut and the train leaves the station.
Most who witnessed it said Jackie was waving at them all, smiling like a basket of chips.
When he returned to the team hotel three hours later he was full of it, how he had ended up at Newton Arlosh! He probably meant Newton Abbot but everyone loved the story – and he got the kit back.
Ten years after the Cumbrias triumph at Twickenham in the County Championship final the players clubbed together to buy Jackie a special watch to mark his contribution to that victory.
He also received a special presentation from the county later to mark his services to Cumbria Rugby Union.
It was well reported that Jackie could have become Cumbria RU president, he’d certainly earned the right, but chose not to accept the high honour because it involved too much sacrifice at the grassroots.
It would mean him not having enough time to devote to up-and-coming Colts of the game, not in any coaching capacity but ensuring they got the right care and attention and their names got mentioned in the right ears when it came to representative honours.
Typical of Jackie and his wife Evelyn was that when they celebrated their diamond wedding in September, 2018 they asked party guests to make donations to Hospice at Home West Cumbria rather than bring presents.
As a result a total of £946 was collected on the night and they later explained they had decided to raise money for the charity because they believe it “does a great job”.
The couple had married at St John’s Church, Bigrigg, on September 8, 1958 and they had originally planned to marry at 1pm but had to move the ceremony forward to 10.30am so some of the guests could play in a rugby match for Moresby.
Straight after the ceremony several of his team mates headed to the game while the newly-weds caught a plane to the Isle of Man for their honeymoon.
The pair had first met at the Queen’s cinema in Whitehaven, aged 14, while watching a western film. They were engaged at 18 and married at 21. After the wedding, they lived in the pub at Scilly Banks, which Jackie’s parents owned.
The couple set up home at Rannerdale Drive in 1971 and stayed there for 28 years. They lived at Churchill Drive, Moresby, for nine years, and then made the decision to downsize to a house in Hensingham.
Jackie began working life on a farm at Holmrook then worked for Border Plant Hire until his retirement.
Evelyn was employed by the paper factory in Cleator, and later Eclair’s cake shop and cafe on Church Street, Whitehaven, and then the John Paul Jones pub.
Jackie leaves wife Evelyn, daughter Sandra, and grandson, Alan. Cumbria rugby union has lost a fine servant.
