It is with great sadness that we announce our long-serving loyal club member Bill Lowe passed away at home last Wednesday, 26th February, aged 88.
Bill joined Eccles RFC in 1948 as a local 18 year old, the year the club moved to Gorton Street and the same year Harry Broomhead and Ken Faulkner joined.
Bill was our oldest past player and one of the last of the old players who were affectionally first labelled “ the fossils” when they grouped together on Saturdays and Mondays in the corner area of the club and then at the side of the bar.
Between his playing career and taking on his many administrative positions, Bill was often away from the Club in the seventies and eighties pursuing business opportunities both in the UK and abroad. On Bill and Pauline’s permanent return to Manchester, Bill’s final venture Metremix Concrete appears in the 1993 club handbook and stayed there until he sold the business upon his retirement. Bill’s entrepreneurship and humour shine through with marketing gems such as “Willmix” and “William the Concretor” a title he took great pleasure answering the phone with.
From being a regular first team second rower, Bill went on to serve on the Committee over three decades from 1993 until 2019 and was our club’s Lancashire representative for two decades from 2000 until 2019 and also served on the Lancashire Cup Committee.
Bill was regular member of the Eccles balcony support and attended our recent home fixtures against Anselmians and Bolton. He will be missed. If any members have images or memories of Bill they would like to share please post to the club's social meda or pass onto Andy Brunt.
The club extends its sincere condolances to Bill's family.
Bill's funeral service will be held at Altrincham Crematorium, Whitehouse Lane, Dunham Massey, Altrincham, WA14 5RH, on Wednesday 18th March, 12 noon. Afterwards at Eccles RFC.
