It is with great sadness to announce that Colin Herridge passed away last Monday night at Kingston Hospital.
Colin was born in 1940 and attended St. Pauls Junior school, followed by Surbiton County Grammar School before going on to study at Nottingham University where he gained a BA in Economics.
While studying at Nottingham in 1962, he was selected at scrum half for England Universities against Scotland Universities. When he was home from university, he played for Old Surbitonians and in 1963/64 season was part on the team that did not lose a game for some 18 months. He was a driving force within the Club and held the following posts:
1st XV Captain: 1965/1966 and 1966/1967
Chairman: 1982-1987
President: 1978-1982
Life Vice President
It was while playing at Fairmile Lane in the early 1960’s that he met the love of his life Sandy, who he married when she was the tender age of 19. They had two children, Amanda and Justine; our thoughts and prayers are with them at this time.
After he finished playing for Old Surb’s, Colin joined Harlequins where he was involved for over 40 years; 14 years as Club Secretary, a member of the board and one of only two trustee directors. He was responsible - with his lifelong friend Roger Looker - in guiding Quins from an Amateur Club to a Professional Premiership Club in very challenging times.
He was also on the committee at Surrey Rugby for many seasons and was Chairman from 1991 to 1993. He sat on the executive board for many years at Esher RFC as an advisor.
While at Harlequins, he served as an executive of the Rugby Football Union Committee, and for years he was Treasurer and team liaison officer, heavily involved in the rebuilding of the stadium and the museum.
Colin was hugely popular with the players for getting the balance just right, and this showed two years ago when his family and Cobham were planning his 80th birthday celebration. Jason Leonard volunteered to help contact past players and to a man they all accepted the invitation, but it is desperately sad that COVID deprived him of the celebration he so richly deserved.
Away from rugby, Colin was extremely successful, having sold the family business to Reuters. He went on to be a Director / Owner of the “Slug and Lettuce” Chain, Hayter’s Sports Agency and Grosvenor Inns PLC.
He also was a founding member and Chairman / Trustee of Ready and Planet Sport Charities, and he would diligently take his turn at car parking duty on a Saturday morning in the rain in his eighties.
But the love of his life apart from his family and Rugby was a good lunch or a Sportsman’s Dinner, which he attended very regularly; Sandy has often been heard saying: “Colin, he would go to the opening of an envelope!“
Rest in peace Colin, you were a gentleman, legend and simply the nicest man you could ever meet. You will be sorely missed at the George & Dragon on a Friday night, at the Stoop and at Cobham RFC.
Tony Balkwill
Sponsorship Director & General Committee Member
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