Geof Nichols, the chairman of Spalding Rugby Football Club and founder member of the Rotary Club of South Holland, has sadly passed away after an 18-month battle with leukaemia.
Geof (72) became involved with the rugby club when he moved to Spalding in the early 80s, firstly as a player and vice-president, then as an active secretary on his retirement from the game.
He later became chairman, a position which he held for over 20 years.
His dedication to the sport and the club saw him follow SRFC’s teams every Saturday. He travelled all over the county and beyond until his diagnosis in August 2014 after which he would still receive commentary of the match and produce the match reports each week for publication in the local press.
From the initial stages of a project to relocate the rugby club to a new ground on the outskirts of Spalding, Geof has been a driving force in the work which is still in progress . He has worked tirelessly to secure funding, purchase the land and gain planning permission for the new rugby club complex.
He now leaves this in the capable hands of the committee to realise his dream. Its completion will be a fitting legacy to his commitment and dedication.
Geof was also a founder member of South Holland Rotary Club and a regular attender at weekly meetings until prevented by illness. Over 35 years as a Rotary member, he held a variety of roles both in the local club where he was a past president and in the Rotary District 1070.
He was an enthusiastic District Youth exchange officer responsible for the organization of incoming and outgoing exchange students. He planned educational placements of one year duration and made host arrangements with the families of local Rotarians. His own family hosted a number of students.
He was District Secretary and Conference Manager which involved the administration and support of over 80 Rotary Clubs covering a wide area of the East Midlands. He went on to share his wide experience as a Rotarian when he was elected to the leadership role of assistant governor for clubs.
Geof was an active ‘hands on’ Rotarian who supported his club’s work in the local community. He enjoyed dressing up as a clown as an official collector over many Flower Parades and was the mainstay of the renowned cauliflower stall. He accompanied Santa and the Rotary Sleigh around Spalding over many years helping the club to make a difference to the lives of people in the local community.
Recognised by his fellow Rotarians with an award for his contribution to both local and international communities, Geof was the recipient of an enhanced Paul Harris fellowship.
Geof will be greatly missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife, Sue, and daughters Caroline and Georgina, sons-in-law Michael and Phil and much-loved grandchildren Thomas, Lucy and Freddie.
Funeral arrangements will be announced shortly.
