It is with great sadness we have to record the death of Robert Christie “Bob” Gammie, who died in Broomfield Hospital on 25th January 2021, aged 88. He is survived by his wife Julia, son Blaise and daughter Bridget. Our thoughts and condolences go out to them.

Bob was the longest serving member of the club, having joined in 1948 as a schoolboy holiday member, with intermittent appearances in the 1st XV. He became the regular 1st XV hooker in the 1950-51 season and apart from two years, when he was away completing National Service; he continued to play for various teams in the club, ending his playing career in the original Undertakers in a game against the Colts at the end of the 1977 – 1978 season. He literally “hung his boots up” at the end of the game and they can still be seen hanging behind the bar.

Not only did Bob have a long playing career, he also served the club well on the management side, being elected to the committee in 1958 and continuing in various roles until 1993. He captained the 1st XV for three seasons, was elected as Chairman for three years in 1976 and elected President for five years from 1986. Until a few years ago, he would be a regular spectator and supporter at home games and would regularly attend the Mini Festival and other events.

In his profession as architect, he was instrumental in designing the club’s first clubhouse on the other side of Coronation Park, which became the club’s home for 45 years. Outside of Chelmsford RFC, he was a member of Chelmsford Cricket Club and Hatfield Peverel Bowls Club. He became a Justice of the Peace and was on the Board of Visitors at Chelmsford Prison.

It is thanks to Bob that he gave us the impetus to complete the archives of the club, as he kept a cutting of every newspaper article that mentioned Chelmsford RFC. This of course was the basis of the book “100 years of Chelmsford RFC”, and we now have a comprehensive history of the club.

A true stalwart of the club, he will be missed.