"Malcolm had been unwell really since bladder cancer in Nov 2018, then in hospital with Covid in Dec 2020. He has had various problems but from about Dec, has hardly eaten. This last weekend he couldn’t even drink!

He has been very keen on rugby since school, and with old Wirralians until we left for Australia in 62, but his father continued to attend the matches, and either became a referee or was in charge of notifying them for the matches. Malcolm continued to play rugby in Drummoyne, Sydney, andthen in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, he got permission to play league for PAGA. He gave up after our first daughter was born and he was badly concussed in a game, but subsequently trained a team of Papuans, many who played in bare feet for a team called LMS Koki, ( London Missionary society) until we left Moresby to go to Popondetta on the other side of the island, then to Lae in New Guinea and eventually back to UK at the end of 1969.

I still have several recordings on the tv of the recent 6 Nations Games, which he was unable to watch!

However we have watched many games together, though I’m still not sure of the rules! His son in law is also a keen rugby supporter, but for Edinburgh, and thus Scotland! Luckily Malcolm didn’t see Saturday’s match!

The end of an era, for me and for the Club, though he hasn’t done much for it in many years!

Hope this season goes well for Wirral.

Regards, Carole Bennett"