PAT PAYTON 1928 – 2023
So sad to announce that our longest serving Club member of over 76 years has passed away.
Pat Payton was Combe Down RFC through and through and probably the most influential in the long history of the Club.
Captain, Secretary, Treasurer, Chairman, President and Life Member – the list is endless. He was instrumental in the building of our Clubhouse, changing rooms and of course the Stand named the Pat Payton Stand in his honour. In between his main Club roles, he was Groundsman alongside his brother Mike, Selector and Combination Representative – a lifetime dedicated to rugby and Combe Down RFC.
A friend to many of us for over 60 years, he was hard but fair, which probably describes him as a rugby player as well. An ex-boxer, he covered all front row positions as well as the back row. After his playing days were over, he became a well-known referee who showedempathy with the players and was popular with all the clubhouses he visited as he always loved to lead a sing-song or two!
Pat was particularly proud of helping out with the Colts teams back in the ‘70’s. He also helped Mike Day and John Rust set up and run a 3rd XV and gave up refereeing to take part in these activities. We wouldn’t have expected anything less of him, as he was always happy to support the younger players.
On a personal note, when I first joined CDRFC as a 14 year-old, Pat took me under his wing and drove me down to Taunton and Bridgewater for training with Somerset Colts midweek and on Saturday mornings before going back to Combe Down so that we could both play in the 2nd XV in the afternoon. It was the start of a life-long friendship and one that stood the test of time, with a truly great man.
Nothing I can write or say about Pat can reflect what he truly meant to so many of us at Combe Down RFC. He was one of the nicest, kindest and fairest of men and one that we will never forget.
R.I.P Old Friend
