MEMBERS of Thurrock Rugby club have been mourning the death of former chairman Glyn Barnett.

Glyn played for the firsts more than 320 times, scoring 40 trys and also representing both Essex Colts and Eastern Counties Wanderers.

He will be missed by many at Oakfield.

Glyn was a keen sportsman and family man.

He was married to Jill and has three daughters.

Glyn was destined to play rugby as his father, Bill, was instrumental in getting the present clubhouse at Oakfield built in the late 1970s.

He joined the club in 1972 and made his firsts debut on March 25 1978 against Chelmsford.

The keen hooker continued to play for the first team for many years during the “Golden Age” of the 1970s and 1980s.

His last recorded appearance on the field for the firsts was in November 1997.

He had the accolade of scoring the first try on the opening day at Oakfield.

Glyn also played for the Chartered Surveyors Sevens against international players like Rob Andrew, Gavin Hastings and Andy Irving.

One of his ex-team mates recalled that he was the most flexible and supple hooker ever.

He said: “He could hook with his head on the floor!”

Glyn had always been a keen swimmer and when the state of his knees forced him to give up playing rugby, he took to the swimming pool, often swimming 40 to 60 lengths of Blackshots pool during his lunch hour.

He was also a keen cyclist and when he reached 50 he took part in his first triathlon.

He went on to compete in two London Triathlons.

Although not playing rugby, Glyn remained a member of Thurrock Rugby Club and became chairman during the 1990s.

That he will be missed was shown by the number of TRFC members who attended his funeral, some having travelled from across the country.