HEARTFELT tributes have been paid to the long-serving president of Evesham Rowing Club who has died suddently.
Tony Rudge passed away on November 6 at the age of 86 and rowing club chairman John Lomas revealed the news to members with ‘great regret and sadness’.
After a long career with Barclays Bank which saw him rise to become a director of the bank’s board, Tony became president of the club in 1982 following his retirement.
As well as succeeding his elder brother Charles, Tony followed in the footsteps of his grandfather Edward Charles Rudge who was the club’s first president when it was incorporated in 1863.
Mr Lomas said: “Edward Charles did not have his son until he was in his early sixties which explains the apparently long time span.
“Tony carried out his role as president with great thought and affection
He never missed attending the regatta until very recently and was a great supporter of the club and a great help both to me and the previous chairman, Pat Burton.
Tony is survived by his two sons, Nicholas and Anthony, with Nicholas now the sole president of the club after becoming joint president in September 2014 owing to Tony’s health problems.
The popular former president was cremated at a private family ceremony last Thursday and a service of thanksgiving will be held early next year, probably in February.
“Our very deepest sympathy is extended to Nicholas and Anthony, their respective families along with the rest of the family,” Mr Lomas added.
