04/01/26 | Obituaries
In Memory of Alan Cummins
Author: Peter Cornelia
ALAN CUMMINS
Honorary President – Lymm RFC – 1980 to 1985
29th April 1938 – Christmas Day 2025
At 9.10am on Christmas day, 2025, Aged 87, Alan passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side, departing for the Lymm RFC Upper House, where a glorious welcome would definitely await him. Alan had been suffering from a range of cardiovascular issues for a number of years, which eventually took their toll.
This is not an obituary but a memoriam to the life of a good friend to the writer (Peter Cornelia) and many at Lymm RFC. The memories and contributions below are not in any time or preference order. I must offer my thanks to his son Neil, who together with Alan’s wife Sheila, furnished me with useful family info. Neil used to bring Alan to watch games, to give his mum a break from an increasingly demanding home care role. It of course gave Alan the opportunity to meet up with his Club chums and enjoy some exciting League games. Thank you, Neil.
Alan & Neil Cummins
But first a little background prior to his arrival in Lymm RFC.
He was the 2nd son of Walter and Martha Cummins, his elder brother, Roy, passing away a few years ago. Brought up in the Shadewood area of Grappenhall, he schooled at St. Wilfrid’s Primary School before going on to Lymm Grammar School.
Having left LGS in 1955, Alan joined the electricity board (MANWEB) to do an electrical engineering apprenticeship in Widnes & Runcorn.
In 1960, he was called to serve her majesty in the Royal Signals spending a relatively enjoyable time in Catterick, Singapore, Malaya & Hong Kong. On completion of National Service in 1962 he joined Henry Wilson & Co Ltd in Liverpool working on domestic and commercial heating equipment. He remained in the industry until retirement in 2003 finishing as Northern Regional Manager for the MHS group in Basildon.
Sheila knew him from school but not to talk too. It was after he returned from National Service that they met up in the Spread Eagle in Lymm. Alan ‘proudly’ wearing a yellow demob suit, managed to get a follow-up date. Anyway, they became an item, and he eventually managed to afford a new suit, and they tied the knot at Grappenhall Independent Methodist Church in May 1964. Terry Caldwell was his Best Man and Sheila’s sister, Margaret, her chief bridesmaid. Two boys were born, Neil and Richard, and eventually they moved to live on Grappenhall Rd in Stockton Heath.
This picture is from their 40th Wedding anniversary party, which they held in the garden
Life begins at Lymm RFC
When Alan and Terry Caldwell first turned up for a game at Lymm for one of the lower sides, they were put in the front row. Terry had probably played at school; Alan had never played rugby, so didn’t know what the hell was going on and was probably lucky this was not his first and last game. At school he had been good at athletics, so he quickly convinced the captain that his pace would serve the team better on the wing rather than as prop.
So, he gradually got the hang of what rugby is about and he established himself as a regular 2nd team flying winger. Kevin Fitzpatrick has sent me the following message, “I was very sad and upset about Alan’s death – he was a ve
ry good friend of yours I know and liked by everyone who knew him. I had the privilege to play with him in the seventies mainly in the second team, I was his centre and he was a good winger. He was a lovely man and will be missed by everyone who knew him”.
Alan and Sheila’s 60th wedding anniversary in 2024. With Richard and Neil
When Alan finished playing rugby, he took up refereeing, (mainly for our 4th team home games down at Sow Brook). He was also Club President from 1980 to 1985 and was a popular guest at opposition clubs. YOU KNOW YOU’RE BETTER LYMM, his catch phrase, echoing from the touch line. Back in the Lymm Clubhouse, he held court at the bar together with others, sharing tales of life at our great Club.
Alan’s other interests
It wasn’t limited to rugby alone but nearly always included his many chums at Lymm RFC.
Outside of rugby AC had many other interests, Monday night at the Club in the 60s, early 70s, was games night, darts, bar billiards, pool, various card schools. He loved a variation to Contract Whist, which we called ‘Oh Hell’, devised by Dax. AC, John Hartley, myself plus many others, played for over 20 years on a Monday night at the Club and later at Grappenhall Ex Serviceman’s Club when Thursday was also added. The GESM also had a lovely crown bowling green and Dax, AC, Jim Knowles, JH, Chopper Monks, Roger Atherton and myself, all enjoyed bowling for a number of summers. All highly competitive of course with money at stake for the winner. After 25 years, many of us were awarded Life membership. He also enjoyed walking, gardening and holidays in Madeira and the Algarve.
In the late 70s and 80s the Rugby Club’s finances were not very healthy. To improve bar takings, we joined the local Pool League, Darts League and the Warrington Quiz League; AC took part in all of them. Then after retiring from LGS our friend DAX took up golf again in the mid-90s and put up with AC, Haighy and myself to join him in 4 balls. We were not members of any club and didn’t have handicaps. We used to turn up at Royal Walton at the crack of dawn, hoping to be first on the tee. Dax was by far the most experienced and put up with lots of ‘suffering hells teeth’ from Haighy, ‘where did that go?’ from me, or from AC. Dax response was, ‘It’s behind you PC’ or to AC, ‘yours is just behind PC’s.’ We did improve and all became members of High Legh Park Golf Club, together with others from the Rugby Club, enjoying regular roll up golf sessions. Great times. A major fund raiser for the Club was the annual LRFC team golf challenge comp at Heyrose Golf Club. AC always funded a company team for the event.
Alan’s 86th Birthday
Now that AC is in the Lymm RFC Upper House, and to save him getting grief from Haighy, I have to mention that in a 4 ball with AC, JR and myself, Haighy got a hole in one on the 2nd hole at High Legh. Well done, Ian, now go and show AC around his new facilities.
The Cummins’ Family
You may think that with all his activity, Alan had little time for his family duties. This was not the case. Sheila was also very much involved with The Centenary Amateur Dramatics Society and between them they organised their family life. They have two sons, the eldest is Neil who is married to Kate, and Richard whose partner is Lisa. Neil and Kate have two sons Matthew (30, married to Corinne) and Joe (26, partner Hannah). Alan was very proud of his grandsons and their girls and loved this photo of when the grandsons were younger.
Alan with Joe left, Matthew right
So, Alan, we bid you farewell and thanks for being who you were, the AC that we all loved. Every Christmas Day you will be remembered with much love and affection by us all. Our sincere condolences to Sheila, Neil, Kate, Richard, Lisa, Matthew, Corinne, Joe and Hannah. He will be deeply missed but his legacy is still very much evident at Lymm RFC and will continue to inspire us all.
FUNERAL DETAILS:
Friday 23rd January 12.40pm at Walton Crematorium and afterwards at the Stag Inn, Walton.
For those wishing to send sympathy cards: Mrs Sheila Cummins and family, 74 Grappenhall Road, Stockton Heath, Warrington, WA4 2AX.
Voluntary donations in his memory would be welcome to the following:
Prostate Cancer Research
British Heart Foundation
Peter Cornelia – 3rd Jan 2026