John, fondly well known as “Clanky”, was one of Tynedale Rugby Football Club's true greats and as well as the Rugby Club, John contributed massively in other sporting and community spheres.

A Great Man!

RIP JOHN

John's funeral service will be held at the Holy Cross Church, Haltwhistle on Thursday 11th December at 11.30am.

Players from the 1stxV and Colts matches line up to give a minutes applause in memory of John

“CLANKY” – A TRUE TYNEDALE LEGEND

John Malcolm Clark, or Clanky as he was more commonly and affectionately known in the Tynedale area was born in July 1937. He went up to Cambridge University, an achievement of which he was particularly and rightly proud, before completing his qualifications as a
Chartered Surveyor.
John returned to Haltwhistle in 1967 and joined the family land agency business of J M Clark
& Partners, which was founded by his ancestors in 1847, where he acted for many well
known Northumberland and Scottish estates and held the honour of a personal
appointment as Agent to the Greenwich Hospital Trust.

John was a great man for community. He served on Haltwhistle Town Council for 50 years
from 1973 and represented Haltwhistle on Tynedale District Council for 18 years, being
appointed an Honorary Alderman for his services to Tynedale.
He was Chairman of the Policy and Resources and the Housing Committee.
At a ceremony held at Haltwhistle Methodist Church on 21st November 2023, Clanky was granted Freedom of the Town in recognition of 50 years dedicated service to the council and the Tyne Valley community.

John’s godfather was Douglas Smith, who founded Smith & Walton Paint Works, which for many years was the major employer in Haltwhistle. John served on the Smith Trust for over 40 years overseeing many donations to Haltwhistle and the surrounding area, including a very generous £50,000 for providing gym equipment at the new Leisure Centre.

John played cricket for Haltwhistle for many, many years mainly as a batsman but he very occasionally was asked to bowl his unusual but memorable leg-breaks. John also looked after the Haltwistle Junior cricket side and was made a vice-president of the West Tyne League for his services to junior cricket.

Many people recall going to Featherstone to play and watch cricket, including generations of Tynedale rugby players, chartered surveyors and others in the community who have benefited for John’s limitless hospitality.

John played for Tynedale Rugby Club for many years before taking on administration and
training of the Colts team and his trademark overcoat and scarf would grace the touchline
over the next 30 years. John was lovingly excentric, he made many friends in rugby circles
and his commitment and dedication to colts rugby is legendary throughout Northumberland and the Scottish Borders.

John was made a Life Member of Tynedale Rugby Club in 1980 in recognition of his immense contribution to the club and the sport of rugby in general.

Many former players and supporters have found memories of joining John in the old Colts
hut for a piece of cake and a wee dram after the match.
John typically resisted the calls to utilise the relative luxury of the “new” clubhouse in favour of his beloved characterful but semi-deralict ex-prisoner of war hut.
He supported participation on the pitch and, just as importantly, identity and social engagement off it.

Critically for the club, John would drive miles out of his way, collecting players from their
homes and taking them down to training on a Thursday evening and to matches on a
Saturday, determined that the lads should have the opportunity to play rugby.

John resided at Featherstone Castle, a Grade 1 Listed castle near Haltwhistle. The estate had housed a former POW camp for German and Italian prisoners during WW2. He regularly invited our Colts to tour the castle, as well as many other local historical societies, and showed the lads the haunted rooms and allowed them the run of the place.

Up until last season John was regularly seen in his car parked alongside a pitch, unable to
leave the car but eager to discourse over affairs of the rugby club and, of course, the action
across on the Colts pitch.

It is no exaggeration to say that John created a legacy with the colts, solidifying the pathway into senior rugby at Tynedale, for which the club will be eternally grateful.

Rest in peace Clanky.

MORE THAN AN EX-TEAM MATE

John played for Tynedale teams (including the 1stXV) in the late 1950’s and the 1960’s. His last match was for the 3rd XV at home on the Broad Close pitch at Hexham v Berwick II on 17th April 1971. He partnered Tommy Little in the second-row that day.
As John captained the 3rd XV for that 1970/71 season, he also attended 24 Sunday morning selection meetings at the Club.

A rumbustious forward, (whose enthusiasm far outweighed his ball skills according to some
observers), little did Tynedale realise the blessing when John decided to hang up his boots
after a long playing career.

Colts rugby had begun in the 1964/65 season, but the early enthusiasm faded and it wasn’t until 1971/72 that the Colts restarted in earnest, with a fixture programme of some twenty-seven matches being played.
The big step forward came when the Colts “mentor”, the Pied Piper, decided to concentrate all his efforts on the Colts.
John trawled the Shires of Northumberland and West Allen for players; and he and Jim Bell
often got home in the small hours, having safely delivered their brood.

Always prepared to stand his ground in committee, at Tynedale or County level, quietly
reasoning and persuading, nothing fazed this champion of youth rugby.

John was grudgingly respected in his own county, revered by his players and the border clubs, either for the after-match hospitality, his training ‘picnics’; or because Scots were amazed to hear that he lived in a Castle.

It was said that Tynedale could never repay John’s selfless dedication to the Club. The club
tried: he was President from 1988 to 1990 and had been elected an Honorary Life member in
1980. Even when honoured with Presidency of the Club messages flowed to Tynedale, or
wherever the 1st XV were playing, with progress reports of his beloved Colts.

D.F.HAMILTON

It was often said that John Clark deserved a medal the size of a frying pan. The Colts of 2010 presented him with one. A really lovely and generous man.