Tim Sugden 1952 - 2008

Tim's obituary in the Examiner (reproduced below) sets out the framework of his life, but it only hints at the sort of man he was, and why he was so highly regarded by everyone who knew him.
Quite simply, Suggy was one of the good guys. At work, at home and amongst friends he was fiercely loyal, utterly trustworthy, scrupulously honest and thoroughly reliable.
He wasn't perfect, of course: he was appallingly scruffy - the condition of his cricket kit and golf equipment was little short of  disgraceful, and his casual clothing wasn't much better. He had his little idiosyncrasies: a fondness for scotch eggs and salad cream, for holidays on windswept British beaches, for ill-fitting shorts with ill-matching tee shirts, and an inability to putt.
But that was Suggy: fantastic company, a great friend, and a good man. We will all miss him hugely.

EXAMINER OBITUARY

The following is reproduced from the Huddersfield Daily Examiner on February 26, 2008.

By David Lockwood, Huddersfield Daily Examiner
Friends and colleagues in both the cricketing and business world are mourning the loss of Tim Sugden, who died last week at the age of 55.
For many years, Tim was a well-known and respected batsman with Armitage Bridge in the Drakes Huddersfield League.
He also had a short spell at Bradford Park Avenue and Lockwood in his youth, while also being a member of the Craven Gentlemen cricket team.
Brought up in Berry Brow, he attended St David's Preparatory School, before moving on to Sedbergh School when he was 13.
He was later to become Head of School and received his First XI colours at both rugby and cricket.
Upon leaving school he was awarded a place at the University College, Durham, where he later gained a degree in Economics.
While there he won his University cricket colours playing in the first team for Durham.
Tim also played soccer with Huddersfield Amateurs, where he was first team captain, and from 1965 was a member of Huddersfield Golf Club.
But cricket was his real love in sport and it was at Armitage Bridge where he made his name in local cricket circles.
He racked up 10,000 runs in the First XI while making a century against Scholes in 1998, and in total scored over 12,000 runs for the club.
He also served the club well off the field and held the post of treasurer for 16 years.
In 2002, Tim was presented with one of the prestigious Lady Sykes Candlesticks, awarded by the Huddersfield League to a player who has given outstanding service to his club and cricket.
As managing director of the Sellers Engineering Group he was instrumental in his company sponsoring the Huddersfield Junior Cricket Leagues.
After graduating from Durham, Tim took up a post with Armitage Norton in Huddersfield to study accountancy.
He qualified as a chartered accountant in 1978, joining Waddingtons in Leeds before returning to Huddersfield in 1980 to join Sellers Engineering.
He was soon to become financial director before being appointed managing director.
In 2006, he was made president of the Huddersfield Society of Chartered Accountants.
Last summer he was taken ill while on a family holiday in Portugal with a malignant brain tumour. He passed away last week at Kirkwood Hospice.
Tim leaves a widow, Tracy, and three sons, Richard, Sam and Thomas.
More than 500 people attended a service at Holy Trinity Church to celebrate Tim's life.

           

Edward Hopkinson 1953 - 2009

Edward - an old friend of Philip's, and a friend of all those who play in the Goldthorpe Salver - died in tragic circumstances on the 4th of February 2009. Although he wasn't a regular golfer himself (in fact he wasn't really a golfer at all!), we are all fairly sure that he did actually play in the inaugural competition at Fixby. While that fact can't be confirmed since the records have gone missing, we know for certain that in subsequent years - never one to miss out on a good bash - he always turned up for the post-golf dinner, and we have photographic evidence to prove that in 1996 he came all the way to Silloth (Sally actually drove him up!) to join in the fun. Strangely, though, he appears to holding a soft drink.
Ed's funeral was held at Holy Trinity Church in Huddersfield on Friday, the 13th of February. Sally has given her permission to reproduce (below) part of Ian Pogson's tribute, which had us laughing, crying, and above all, wondering why.

"This is a duty I never expected to do but being asked to talk about a man as fine as Edward is a privilege and one I discharge with a heavy heart. I also see it as my duty to a kind, funny, decent, upright, honest and hard-working man who gave so much to us and was our friend.
It is also my duty to Sally, Sarah and Tom.
Over the past few days I've spoken to many people and apart from a collective disbelief the common thread is one of unqualified affection and love for Edward.
So -  what can I possibly say about someone who we all knew so well and was liked and respected by so many?
Where do I start?
I began writing this last weekend, as soon as Sally asked me.  My first jottings reflected the deeply emotional and sentimental gloom I think we all felt as we tried to come to terms with the shock. I was struggling with all the questions and the confused, desperate, dark, shadowy emotions going through my mind. How should I express my feelings for Edward when I know we all feel the same? Then on Sunday evening Tom rang me - and as we talked he said "not too serious" which came like a shaft of sunlight and suddenly my job became much easier. So if this is too irreverent its Tom's fault.
Somehow Edward escaped the clutches of St David's and the usual Gigg, Worksop or Wrekin.  He actually went to Ashville, so I didn't come across him until my late teens or early twenties. Then this good looking bloke with a red TR6 appeared on the scene accompanied by rumours of derring-do and outlandish feats centred around the Junction Pub at Marsh. He quickly became an anchor-stone of our circle of friends and notwithstanding excesses of Bass Extra Light and Gordons, or equally San Miguel and Larios I can recall many memories - or should I say "flash-backs" - of good and happy times.
We were lucky young people and at that time better off than most. We grew up in an era that applauded eccentricity, tolerated occasional misbehaviour and understood that to get the most out of life you had to experience it and live it hard. Fast forward twenty years and in these puerile, politically correct, health and safety obsessed times I guess that some of our antics would have earned us at least one ASBO and Edward probably two.
So - we have this tall, blonde, good-looking, well-spoken, well-mannered, charming and generous man served up with a good dollop of devil -may-care. Going back to the 70's the rest of us were under no illusion that in the "bird pulling stakes" once Edward came on the scene we had some pretty serious competition.
Things abated a little when Edward started courting Sally but as we all know Sally is absolutely no kill-joy and so the partying went on but now it had style.
To all their friends Edward's relationship with Sally was the most obvious thing in the world. These two people were made for each other.
Two good looking people produced two good looking children, Sarah and Tom and they could be justly proud of great way they turned out. Sarah and Tom's childhood was sprinkled with liberal helpings of love, fun, discipline, good manners and they certainly grew up to know the meaning of the word "hospitality".
There is very little point me going on about Hopkinson hospitality - it is legendary - it cannot be bettered and it puts the efforts of faint-hearts like me to shame. Having said that, they have a huge circle of friends not because they know how to throw a good bash but mainly because they are very nice people.
Edward loved life and Edward lived life to the full; Edward inspired us and he was a great example to us all; His family loved him and we adored him. We admired Edward, we respected him and we always will.
Some sort of fuse blew in Edward's mind. A lesser man might have asked for help but Edward was a gentleman in every meaning of the word and he obviously decided that his problems were his problems and a burden he couldn't share. I am truly sorry for that.
Sally, Sarah and Tom - you are surrounded by friends. Friends who, out of love, affection and devotion to Edward and to you, will be there for you when they are needed."