Very bad news this weekend – we are very sorry to announce that one of the club’s leading figures, immediate past president John Coles died in hospital on Saturday evening.

John had been undergoing treatment for cancer over the past year and was taken back into hospital in Nottingham late last week.

In typical forthright style, John had, throughout his illness, continued his passionate interest in the club, dialling into a life members’ social call only last Wednesday night.

John played a big part in the club over a period of around 50 years, first as a player and first team captain followed by extensive roles as a volunteer culminating in becoming president of the club for the centenary celebrations of 2018-19.

Besides supporting the club’s many teams from the touchline, John also brought his business acumen to Kelham Road and was a key figure in helping to raise the funds to finance the rebuild of the clubhouse.

That project was completed in time for the centenary season and the main bar was named ‘The Coles Bar’ in honour of his contribution.

John arrived in Newark in the late 1960s as a newly-qualified chartered surveyor and went on to support not only the rugby club but many other charities and organisations in the town and area.

He used his contacts from around the world of rugby and business to host a series of ‘Legends Nights’ at the club. A decade of these events was topped when England’s World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson was the guest of honour for the event in the centenary season.

Club chairman Andrew Fearn said: “On behalf of the whole club I send John’s family our sympathy and thoughts at their loss of a beloved father and grandfather.

“John will be forever in the hearts of us all at Newark Rugby Club for his huge contribution and passion for all things Kelham Road. He was a big personality and played a huge part in the club. He will be very much missed but we will also all remember the fun and energy he brought to the club.

Life was never dull when JC was about.”

John with his Grandchildren

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TEAM PHOTO 1972-73 SEASON

John from his playing days

Tribute to Coley - a club 'star' from the start...

Long-time friend Richard Derry gives a personal insight into the life and times of John Coles, the club’s immediate past president, who died on March 1.

Richard writes: In 1969 John Robert Coles applied for a position at Edward Bailey in the agricultural department. Brian Fisher, a leading club figure at the time, was not keen to take on another employer in that department, the interview was very difficult; Brian being quite aggressive, John was not the Oxbridge graduate he hoped for. He however, was looking for a “star” to improve the 1st XV. John got the job!

I first met John a few weeks later. We were due to play an evening match, on the Sunday I received a call from Ken Hunter to say that I would be rested. They wanted to give this new guy a runout, I asked, had he played for the 3rd XV or the 2nd XV, no but he was a bit of a star.

Before I went down to watch, I sat down for supper, halfway through I received a call to tell me to get myself down to the club. I thought the star had failed to turn-up!

I ran on to the field just after kick-off, there was a strange face in the forwards, who told me he was playing open side, I would be on the blind side. At the first line-out I got a tap on my shoulder, and the new guy introduced himself as John Coles. This was the start of a very close friendship that lasted for 53 years. John became captain the following year.

John’s love; after his family, was the rugby club and Newark. He served on the committee for many years, one of his jobs was fixture secretary. John arranged some interesting fixtures in exotic place like Castleford, Thorne, Sandal and Rotherham to name a few.

Thanks mate!

For a time John lived with David Stacy in a flat above Nicholson Bakery on Appletongate. The baker was always surprised to see the boys coming home when he was arriving to bake the bread.

One night they were caught short, a lady who was not very well, was occupying the bathroom. They were desperate and had no choice but to pee out of the second-floor window. It was 3am in the morning and Appletongate was deserted.

Unfortunately, a policeman was walking past. Fortunately for them it was Malcom Davison.

The flat became a regular meeting point for the Force . There are many stories about John and the club which no doubt will be talked about when we can all get together again.

I will remember John as a young player, always turning up late for a game with his kit in a No 9 fertiliser bag, probably from the previous week. His outrageous dummies not only fooled the opposition but also his team mates. He was good at either wing forward or scrum half. Some fly half nicknamed him ‘Barnes Wallis’ for his bouncing passes.

John married Christine and they had three wonderful children. One of John’s proudest moments was playing with Mark in the Boxing Day fixture at Kelham Road.

The Club has lost a great friend and benefactor. We shall miss him and the sweet smell of tobacco smoke coming from the no smoking area on the balcony.

We must also remember that John became a man of Newark. He supported many charities, The Parish Church, The Patriotic fund, The Spire Club, Cancer Relief, Newark Hospice , to name a few. He was a generous man. Few will know about his trips to Asia to support children’s charities and Help the Hero’s.

The world will be a sadder place without Coley .He will be greatly missed by many.

RIP my dear friend.