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Mike Tidy, Jan 20th 1936 to Jan 6th 2023
Niel Kenny12 Jan 2023 - 09:19
Rest in Peace
Mike, who epitomises the word 'Clubman' was born oposite Warlingham's ground on January 20th, 1936. On gaining a scholarship Mike went to Purley Grammer, making O Purleians his natural home for rugby. Mike first played for the club in 1952 making his debut in the first team at the tender age of 17. Mike has been a player, coach and avid supporter to the club for over 70 years! His son Phil writes:
"Gentlemen..
Hope you are all if fine fettle.
Michael Tidy your team mate, captain, coach, friend and our dad died on Friday morning at home in Mayfield. He didn’t give up but his heart did.
He was carried out of his front door “feet first” dressed in Purley Rugby Club blazer and colours tie in the fashion he wanted.
He had nearly finished his 87th trip around the sun and spent most of these years fighting fit and full of life.
Shortly before he passed Sue, Andy and and I had been sat by his bedside drinking his wine, giving him our love and blessings, thanking him for all the wonderful memories and telling him it was OK for him to let go. In his final breaths he would have heard his house full of life, conversation, music playing and people drinking his booze.
Andy had came over from Australia, before Christmas, as dads doctor told us our father had little fight left in him. We kept him out of hospital and he fought on with a smile until the end.
Andy and I got to have a last pint of Harveys Best Bitter with him on Xmas eve with familiar boisterous banter (photo attached). Also we spent our last Christmas lunch as a family although Michael was fading fast.
Michael was a tremendous person to have on your team. A great rugby player, a terrible but keen golfer and a fanatical although hardly green fingered gardener, and a much loved husband and father.
To celebrate his life..…On the 20th of January he would have been 87.. and at Crowborough Golf Club we are going to have birthday party for him. Michael didn’t want any fuss so no funeral service. It would be a pleasure if you esteemed friends could be there and if you could spread the word to anyone else. He has left a small kitty behind the bar and insists on buying you all a pint Harvey’s best bitter. Drinks and some grub from 1pm….
Andy and I are going to try and come to the club for lunch on Saturday 14th as he has to go back to Australia..
If you have any photos we will have a memorial table…. The more photos without his teeth in the better..
Best Wishes.
Phil Tidy"
Greg Sylvester writes:
"It was Mike that took me as a stroppy know it all 17 year old that was a ‘round ball’ advocate and led me into the world of rugby union and I shall always be grateful for the memories and friendship that has delivered. He was a major reason for the PRFC Colts success of the late 1970’s that subsequently provided many players that became mainstays of the club for years to come.
I shared the pitch with Mike and Wink on many occasions and was always staggered at the commitment and skills they showed and also the immense enjoyment they took from participation.
He was hewn and a nugget of a player who certainly did not benefit from the development of gum-shields that future players enjoyed…!!
My personal favourite memory was of Mike, Richard Cheeseman and myself playing golf on a Welsh hillside when one of our balls became located under a gorse bush in a pile of sheep waste and Richard volunteered to retrieve it. As he extricated it he remarked that it was ‘minging’ in there………Mike and I laughed as we had never heard the word ‘minging’…….Mike then took a shot and his ball also shot under the gorse and Mike proclaimed it could just stay in there and ‘ming’……for the rest of the day Mike was referred to as Ming Tidy……silly tour stuff really but I still giggle.
I love the idea that Mike left the house like a Zulu warrior carried on his shield with this PRFC attire on…..top man and a one off."
Mike was always very supportive in everything we have tried to achieve recently, and was a constant presence on the touch line when he wasn't in Australia with his son Andrew's family. Come rain or shine with the side playing well or badly, Mike was there chearing us on and making some constructive comments on how things could be made better. Mike was a true character loved by all and missed by all.
"Gentlemen..
Hope you are all if fine fettle.
Michael Tidy your team mate, captain, coach, friend and our dad died on Friday morning at home in Mayfield. He didn’t give up but his heart did.
He was carried out of his front door “feet first” dressed in Purley Rugby Club blazer and colours tie in the fashion he wanted.
He had nearly finished his 87th trip around the sun and spent most of these years fighting fit and full of life.
Shortly before he passed Sue, Andy and and I had been sat by his bedside drinking his wine, giving him our love and blessings, thanking him for all the wonderful memories and telling him it was OK for him to let go. In his final breaths he would have heard his house full of life, conversation, music playing and people drinking his booze.
Andy had came over from Australia, before Christmas, as dads doctor told us our father had little fight left in him. We kept him out of hospital and he fought on with a smile until the end.
Andy and I got to have a last pint of Harveys Best Bitter with him on Xmas eve with familiar boisterous banter (photo attached). Also we spent our last Christmas lunch as a family although Michael was fading fast.
Michael was a tremendous person to have on your team. A great rugby player, a terrible but keen golfer and a fanatical although hardly green fingered gardener, and a much loved husband and father.
To celebrate his life..…On the 20th of January he would have been 87.. and at Crowborough Golf Club we are going to have birthday party for him. Michael didn’t want any fuss so no funeral service. It would be a pleasure if you esteemed friends could be there and if you could spread the word to anyone else. He has left a small kitty behind the bar and insists on buying you all a pint Harvey’s best bitter. Drinks and some grub from 1pm….
Andy and I are going to try and come to the club for lunch on Saturday 14th as he has to go back to Australia..
If you have any photos we will have a memorial table…. The more photos without his teeth in the better..
Best Wishes.
Phil Tidy"
Greg Sylvester writes:
"It was Mike that took me as a stroppy know it all 17 year old that was a ‘round ball’ advocate and led me into the world of rugby union and I shall always be grateful for the memories and friendship that has delivered. He was a major reason for the PRFC Colts success of the late 1970’s that subsequently provided many players that became mainstays of the club for years to come.
I shared the pitch with Mike and Wink on many occasions and was always staggered at the commitment and skills they showed and also the immense enjoyment they took from participation.
He was hewn and a nugget of a player who certainly did not benefit from the development of gum-shields that future players enjoyed…!!
My personal favourite memory was of Mike, Richard Cheeseman and myself playing golf on a Welsh hillside when one of our balls became located under a gorse bush in a pile of sheep waste and Richard volunteered to retrieve it. As he extricated it he remarked that it was ‘minging’ in there………Mike and I laughed as we had never heard the word ‘minging’…….Mike then took a shot and his ball also shot under the gorse and Mike proclaimed it could just stay in there and ‘ming’……for the rest of the day Mike was referred to as Ming Tidy……silly tour stuff really but I still giggle.
I love the idea that Mike left the house like a Zulu warrior carried on his shield with this PRFC attire on…..top man and a one off."
Mike was always very supportive in everything we have tried to achieve recently, and was a constant presence on the touch line when he wasn't in Australia with his son Andrew's family. Come rain or shine with the side playing well or badly, Mike was there chearing us on and making some constructive comments on how things could be made better. Mike was a true character loved by all and missed by all.
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