Proud Appleby man Tommy Huck was a passionate supporter of grassroots football who held official off-field roles within his beloved home town club, and also the Westmorland Football Association and Westmorland League.
Before league and cup games kicked off across the area last weekend, players fell silent in memory of Tommy following his death at the age of 96.
A Westmorland FA president for 14 years, he was made life vice-president following his retirement in 2018 and had received the national governing body’s 50-year service award in 1999.
Tommy served on the Westmorland Football League committee from 1957, and was a past chairman who played a pivotal role in supporting grassroots football across its large patch.
Never was that more true than at Appleby FC which was, his wife Edna told the Herald this week, “everything to him”.
Ironically, Tommy, a past club chairman and committee member, rarely played the game he so loved. He transported squad members by bus to many team matches and always carried with him on board a pair of boots in case he was ever asked to turn out.
Loyal supporter Tommy was present at Windermere towards the end of last season as Appleby clinched the 2022-23 Westmorland League Division I title.
“The main man!” said an Appleby FC spokesman on social media in the wake of his death. “Such a sad loss, a true gentleman, forever our number one supporter, always by our side! We’ll never forget how proud you were last year at Windermere, when the tears rolled down your cheeks.”
Tommy was, said club stalwart Jock Nugent, “Appleby through and through”.
Born on 6th March, 1927, Tommy lived in the town all his life and was the son of Edwin and Elizabeth. His mother died when he was aged just four.
He had a brother, Arthur, sisters Jean and Betty, half-siblings Peter and Margaret, and four stepbrothers Harry, Tommy, Stan and Derwent Byers.
Born at Bellevue Road, he lived at Cross Croft from 1939.
He attended Appleby Primary School and, after his education concluded at the age of 14, he went into farm work. Aged 23 he began collecting milk churns from farms and distributed them to surrounding villages.
Around a decade later came a change of employment as he took up coach driving. He was employed by Appleby firm Robinsons, later moving to the Penrith depot of Ribble before continuing his work for first the National Bus Company and then Stagecoach before retirement at the age of 65.
Tommy then became more active as he and Edna acquired a Springer Spaniel, Flopsy, meaning many daily walks in and around his home town.
Tommy was initially a keen tennis player before switching his attention to bowls, joining the Appleby club. During more than six decades of membership which included service as president, he won most competitions. However, the club championship would elude him. Twice he was a beaten finalist.
He and wife Edna (formerly Parkin) had originally been Cross Croft neighbours. They were married at Bongate church in 1960. “We didn’t remember dates, such as wedding anniversaries,” she said. “We were just together all the time. That was all that mattered.”
Tommy was a keen singer and featured in Les Dowson’s Appleby concert parties, duetting with Les’s wife, Violet. He also sang solo during performances in villages around the Appleby area.
Tommy had four children: Jacqueline Prescott, of Lancaster; Thomas, of Old Leake, Lincolnshire; Susan Dixon, of Wiltshire; and the late Trevor, who died at the age of 44 and was married to Heidi.
He is survived by four granddaughters — Victoria Harrison, who lives in New Zealand; Hannah Huck, of Bristol; and Katherine and Emma Dixon, of Wiltshire. Tommy also leaves two great-granddaughters, Amelia and Olivia.
His funeral will be held at St Lawrence’s Church, Appleby on 16th February, at 11-30am. Donations will be collected in aid of junior players at the town’s Appleby Football and Squash Club.
