We are sorry to report the death on 21st January 2024 at the age of 78 years of John McGregor Pescott, a former Tynedale RFC player and part of one of the club’s most famous rugby families.

John qualified as a Chartered Accountant after attending Hexham Grammar School, spent time in Africa, and after returning to England held various posts in local companies. His final appointment was as Managing Director of the North Shields branch of DFDS, the Danish shipping company. He remained Newcastle’s Honorary Consul of Denmark after his retirement.

John’s father Jack Pescott was a well- known Hexham character, a Town Councillor for more than 40 years and Hexham’s Town Mayor in 1979.

John first played rugby for Tynedale in 1960, and made his first team debut at loose-head prop against Gala away in 1962, aged 17 years.
He continued playing for the club until, on the 25th April 1970, after playing for the 1st XV the previous week, he was chosen for the 3rd XV at home. The reason was that he wanted a last game with his old drinking pals as he was getting married (to Jennifer) the following week before going to Zambia!

After returning to the UK, John’s last match for Tynedale was against Percy Park in April 1974, which was ironic because, living then in Tynemouth, he joined Percy Park rugby club.

He retained both his Tynedale and Percy Park memberships until his death.

John’s family has been connected with Tynedale RFC for more than 100 years.
Davie Forster was John’s grandfather. He was vice-captain of Tynedale, when Benny Plummer was captain for six seasons, from 1919 to 1925 and then club captain for the 1925/6 and 1926/7 seasons. Davie played for teams which won two cup-finals 13 years apart, and in 1927 he it was that stepped up to kick the conversion which meant Tynedale beat Northern 5-3.
As Private Forster of the Northumberland Fusiliers Davie had served as batman to one of Tynedale’s greatest pre-war players, Lieut. Col. William Robb. For conspicuous gallantry in saving the latter’s life on the Somme by carrying his severely wounded CO, under heavy fire, to a place of safety 600 yards away, he was decorated with the Military Medal. (A Military Cross if he had been an officer then).

John Pescott’s uncle, Davie’s son, David Forster, after playing for the club before the Second World War, was killed escaping from a prisoner-of-war camp in Italy.

Alan Pescott, John’s cousin, played on the wing for Tynedale teams, and then for the 1st XV in 1973. He has lived in Australia for many years.

John was always proud of all of these strong family connections to Tynedale Rugby Club.

We send our condolences to his wife Jennifer, his daughters Katrina and Louise and his grandchildren.

D.F. HAMILTON