Dennis Easby, who was President of the Rugby Football Union from 1994-1995 and club Captain 1950-51, died aged 92 on Monday 31 July 2017.
Dennis Easby began his career in rugby with our club where he was club captain and fixtures secretary. He was also Secretary, President and RFU representative for Berkshire County RFU. He then moved into refereeing and ran the line at a Twickenham international. It was though in his year as RFU President that he became famous, or infamous to some, due to his sacking and reappointment of Will Carling, following 48 hours of national furore and Carling's apology.
Outside his house in Emmer Green there was such a throng of reporters that Dennis contacted the neighbour at the end of his garden, scaled the dividing fence with the help of a ladder and drove off from the neighbour's house in the next road !
Carling was clearly way out of order in talking of "57 old farts " as he did, but nonetheless this was a seminal moment in the history of British sport. It became obvious that international sport could no longer be run by amateurs,albeit able and dedicated ones. There was a strong sense too that the balance of power was swinging decisively towards the stars playing sports and away from those administering them. Carling's criticism took no account of the fact that only the self- employed ( solicitors like Dennis, or farmers ) and those of a certain age could spare the time to administer international sporting bodies.
Dennis was in every way a good man and history will surely judge him kindly.

A tribute from Berkshire RFU.