DUDLEY Kingswinford Rugby Club are mourning the death of former chairman and president Graham Robbins, who passed away this week.

Mr Robbins, 71, who had been ill for several months, battling bladder cancer, died on Tuesday (May 29).

He leaves behind wife Joan, son Darren, daughter Nicola, granddaughter Sophie and four grandsons, Tom, Jack, Harvey and Zach.

Mr Robbins had been a stalwart at DK for almost 50 years, much of that time as chairman and then, in later years, as club president.

Current president Ken Crane, who took over the role from Mr Robbins last year, led the tributes to a man he described as ‘remarkable’.

Mr Crane said: “Graham just seemed to always be around and he was involved in the club at all levels.

"He was a remarkable man and a figurehead for our Colts section.

“As they moved into senior rugby, he made sure they were looked after and played rugby in the right way.

“He was a supporter, did a bit of refereeing but it is probably coaching with the Colts that he is mainly known for and he was a very good coach.

“Kids really took to him and many players who went on to play in the first team were brought up on rugby by Graham.

“He was just a great guy, loved by everyone – not only by people at our club but he was also the welcoming face of DK and was loved by opposition clubs too.

“He will be missed by us all because he was a friend more than anything else. He loved his rugby, loved the club and was steeped in it.

“I’m sure my words will be echoed by many and there will be a huge hole at DK where Graham used to be.”

Graham, originally from the Isle of Man, joined DK in the early to mid 1970s initially as a player but would become a key figure off the field.

A club statement on the DK website said: “The heartfelt condolences of the whole of Dudley Kingswinford go to Joan, Darren, and Nicola and the rest of Graham’s family.

“Graham was one of those guys that you immediately associated with DK, and his presence will be missed at first team games, both by the DK stalwarts and the committee men from all the clubs we play.

“Graham’s memory will burn bright at Heathbrook.”