It is with great sadness that I received news this week of the passing of a great servant of Teignmouth RFC, Barrie Rendle. There can be few who have been involved in the club longer and been more instrumental in the upkeep and sustainment of our club.
Barrie first came along to the club back in 1965 on the invite of John Hayman, the then Treasurer. From that day on Barrie put his full heart into the club often spending long hours to ensure his standards were kept. His beer was well known for being the best in Teignmouth and his knowledge of keeping real ale was second to none. In time he became integral in organising events for the club including social events and organising trips across Devon to play skittles and darts. Indeed, darts was a great love, and he captained the club’s B team for many a year.
His wife Eleanor would often join him and his children in ensuring the club was in pristine condition. In fact, running the club is in the family blood with his daughter Sharon who worked for the club between 1985-2015. He was not shy of being involved in the social scene and would often be caught with the karaoke microphone belting out ‘atrocious’ renditions of Titanic and such like.
Born in Hayle, Cornwall, Barrie was a war baby (1942) and his father was a soldier who moved to Cornwall when posted with his unit. The oldest of four boys he was schooled locally attending Teignmouth Secondary School. He lived in French Street, Hutchings Way and Kingsway. He had been employed in various roles; he had worked in a butchers and delicatessen in town, as a labourer for Harris Builders and was a refuse collector for the council until he was knocked over and moved on to look after the washrooms on the Den. He did all this whilst still working at the club and would often be reprimanded for putting his time at Bitton Park first. He retired in 2007 but continued to put many hours each day into the club.
Barrie was an extremely fit and able man. He showed strength beyond his size when moving equipment around the club. He would walk up and down the hill from Kingsway each day and only rest for 15 minutes to enjoy his sandwich and banana. He seemed to know everyone, from our members to those who visited from other groups within the town. His smile was infectious, and he charmed the old and the young. Mind you, he had a temper too and he would let you know if something was not being done correctly or to his standards. I was often on the wrong end of this when I first became involved as the Operations Manager. Although his bite was sharp it was impossible to dislike him, and his advice was always sound.
A true ‘font of all knowledge’, Barrie had many a tale to share about the club and its members. He was extremely proud of his family and hosted his own daughter’s, Gemma, wedding at the club. Unfortunately, he lost Eleanor in 2007 and his son, Martin in 1996. On the death of his wife, he knew no other place to find solace than to retreat to the club and take his mind off this sad event. Those that knew Barrie would understand this, the club, was his life. He is survived by his 3 daughters, Sharon, Sarah and Gemma, his 2 sons, Jeffery and Philip and his 6 grandchildren.
Barrie Rendle epitomised the club’s ethos and its community spirit. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him, we have lost a great friend and servant of Teignmouth Rugby Club.
Mark Brookfield
Chair
Teignmouth RFC

Barrie’s funeral will take place at St James' Church at 11am on Tuesday 9th January. He will be buried in the family plot in Teignmouth Cemetery and the wake will take place back at the club house afterwards.
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