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Jan Webster
We are mourning the loss of Honorary Life Member, Jan Webster. **Updated with funeral arrangements**
Jan had a heart attack on Wednesday 6th February and sadly died later on in hospital.
The funeral for Jan will be on Thursday 14th March 2019.
at Streetly Crematorium for family and invited guests only at 11.30am
Then there will be a service at St. Matthew's Church, St. Matthew's Close, Walsall WS1 3DG at 1pm.
Jan's family invite you to join them at Walsall Rugby Club to raise a glass and toast Jan's life.
Family flowers only please.
Donations in Jan's memory will be split between Acorns Children's Hospice and Special Olympics City of Birmingham.
Jan Godfrey Webster 24/8/1946 – 6/2/2019
Jan Godfrey Webster who has died aged 72 was an England International rugby player from 1972 to 1975 winning 11 caps , the most notable of those being against South Africa on 3rd June 1972 at Ellis Park Johannesburg. Here England inflicted a memorable first ever defeat of the South Africans on their home soil and ran out victors 18-9. This was to be followed in 1973 by beating New Zealand in Auckland to register a first ever home defeat by an England team in New Zealand. For this stunning game Jan was to be named man of the match. He also toured the Far East with England in 1971 playing against Waseda University Past and Present, Japan and Singapore and Ceylon. (scoring tries in the latter two games.)
He started his international career with his first full England cap against Wales 15th January 1972 and ended against Wales 15th February 1975. He represented the Barbarians and was a member of the Staffordshire side who beat Gloucestershire 11-9 in the 1970 County Championship Cup Final at Burton.
Jan was born on 24th August 1946 in Southport, Lancashire. He moved to Walsall with his parents at an early age and lived on The Broadway adjacent to Walsall Rugby Football Club. He attended Mayfield Preparatory School and then Queen Mary’s Grammar School in 1957. He continued his education at the city of Birmingham College of Commerce.
He started his rugby playing career at Walsall in 1966 and after a couple of years left to join Moseley where he played the best rugby of his career in a highly entertaining side which he went onto captain. He then returned to play for Walsall in the twilight of his career to captain Walsall 1st XV , subsequently returning to Moseley in 2002 where he held the post of President for 4 years and was made an honorary life member.
This talented sportsman was also highly accomplished in many other sports, notably golf, squash, badminton, tennis and football. He much enjoyed playing charitable football matches for The All Stars which were made up of, amongst others, ex West Bromwich Albion players and actors, one of whom was Dennis Waterman.
Jan’s rugby involvement was unstinting as in his later years he was made honorary life member of Walsall Rugby Club in 2017 and continued to engage in all aspects of the club; coaching and advising the mini and junior setup at Walsall together with running the club shop.
A final tribute sums the affection and esteem with which he was held . After a very moving one minutes silence held for him at Walsall RFC on Sunday 10th February by the whole of the mini and junior section and before the U16’s game against Newcastle-Under-Lyme, the captain of the Walsall side got his team in a huddle to say that they had lost a true friend and mentor and that the game was not about them or their team or Walsall but it was about going out and playing for Jan, which they duly did by winning 50 points to nil. They did him proud.
He will be sadly missed by young and old friends alike. Non more so than at Walsall RFC.
Rest in peace Jan.