Bob died last week at the phenomenal age of 98. Such is the pattern of life as it moves from generation to generation that barely a handful of current club members will have known Bob and certainly the majority will never have heard of him.

And yet Newark Rugby Club would not be what it is today without John Robert Wilkinson. He served twice as president of the club, firstly from 1949-52, and secondly from 1960 to 1962. He was still a trustee at the time of his death and had served as a trustee for over 50 years and his interest in the club never waned.

It was Bob and Sam Derry who were the driving forces of Newark Rugby Club in the decade following the Second World War. It was Bob and Sam that led on the momentous decision to buy the field that is now the first team pitch in 1948.

When the next momentous decision was made to buy the guard room at the former Army Camp on Hawton Road in 1963 it was Bob who bid on behalf of the club. That guard room is now the clubhouse.

Bob then had a key role in building the clubhouse because he and Sam owned the building company known as William Smith based in Millgate, Newark. It was William Smiths who painstakingly reassembled the old guard room and, of course, all the work was done at cost.

Bob was also a tremendous ambassador of the club serving on the Three Counties and holding office of match secretary for a staggering 14 years between 1951 and 1965. He went on to become the president of Three Counties from 1967 to 1969. He was a very good referee for 20-30 years and president of the referees’ society.

A shrewd and successful businessman Bob was chairman of the civil engineering business Newark Development Company as well as William Smiths. Bob also played a very active role in many aspects of Newark life. He served as a magistrate for 30 years and was mayor of Newark in 1966. He was awarded the OBE in 1973.

Bob was a man who played a major part in making the club what it is today.

Tribute by Brian Fisher