TRIBUTE

Mr Ian ‘Sedge’ Seymour

--------------------

THERE were people standing outside Christchurch Church paying tribute at the funeral of one of the Forest’s greatest head rugby coaches.

Hundreds of people packed out the church – with some on the pavement – to say farewell to father-of-three Ian ‘Sedge’ Seymour, of Edge End.

Fittingly, the cortege was carried in by six rugby players – three from Monmouth and three from Berry Hill RFC – to Simon and Garfunkel’s The Boxer.

Friends, family and former players heard a eulogy, read by Berry Hill RFC treasurer and close friend John Evans, which praised the 59-year-old’s life both on and off the pitch.

Mr Evans said: “Ian grew up at his family farm Hoarthorns Farm, Edge End and always wanted to follow in his father and mother’s footsteps farming the land.

“He was a clever student and passed for Monmouth School aged 11 before accepting an offer in 1975 to study a BSc degree in agricultural economics at Reading University which he passed with Honours. At the time he coached both the 1975 and 1976 Berry Hill under-17s County Cup winning teams. He was also university rugby team captain in 1977/8.

“Ian played rugby for the Monmouth School 1st XV and helped his team win the Roslyn Park National Sevens tournament. He also played cricket for Berry Hill Sunday X1 with his father as a schoolboy.

“He became a full-time farmer and Berry Hill Club captain in the second row or at flanker, firstly in the 1978/79 season and was captain altogether eight times up to 1991.

“He was club coach during the halcyon days of continued success in the Forest of Dean Combination, Gloucestershire and National Cup competitions, and when the leagues were introduced up to the National League division four.

“In the National Cup competitions in particular, the 1st team played against illustrious opponents such as Bath, London Irish, London Welsh, London Scottish and Harlequins, unheard-of then and since, for a village team consisting of local players. They even beat mighty Gloucester in a Sunday home match that left the visitors very embarrassed.

“During his playing days Berry Hill won the Rugby World Junior Club of Great Britain Award for 1988.

“Ian played for the Gloucestershire County Rugby team and ended up coaching them to the County Championship. For his stand-out services to the Berry Hill RFC, Ian was made a Life Member.

“He went on to coach Lydney in the National Leagues and then to Monmouth RFC in 2000, where he coached them to the WRU National Division four title in 2011.

“Ian returned to Berry Hill as club coach last season to help a majority of very young 1st team players progress from junior rugby into senior successfully. His cries of “Over, Over, Over” which once echoed round the ground will be sorely missed well into the future.”

Close friend and former colleague, John Belcher added: “It was a fitting send-off for a much-loved and respected personality in the world of sport, farming and the community.”

The wake at Berry Hill Club House showed a DVD re-run of the famous 1985 Bath v Berry Hill JP Cup match when Ian was club captain.