Funeral held for Thatto Heath rugby league stalwart Roy Sharples

Roy Sharples, a founding member of Thatto Heath ARLFC and Life Member of BARLA (British Amateur Rugby League Association), died aged 86 on May 3 after a short illness.

A funeral service for Roy was held at St Helens Parish Church on Monday afternoon, before a committal at St Helens Crematorium.

Those he has left behind include children Janice, John and David; grandchildren Lynsey, Katrina, Grace, Rose, Tom and Kate, and great-grandchildren Charlie and Max. He was pre-deceased by wife Jean.

There were many in the congregation for his funeral donning Thatto Heath rugby colours in honour of Roy.

During the service, family tributes to Roy were read by his children.

It was said Roy attended Thatto Heath School, where he was involved in the cricket team.

He married Jean in 1961, and his work included as a miner before going to Pilkington’s Cowley Hill Works.

It was said how he would take the family on holidays and also later played a big part in the upbringing of his beloved grandchildren.

The cover of the order of service for Roy's funeral (Image: St Helens Star)

The congregation heard: “Rugby was a big part of his life, he followed Saints and his first trip to Wembley was in 1956.” It was said how he “missed the coach home” and had to hitch a lift in someone else’s sitting in the aisle. Roy “loved” his trips to Wembley and fittingly hymn Abide With Me, part of the Challenge Cup final tradition, was sang during the service.

Roy began watching rugby league with his dad from the age of 10 watching Vine Tavern.

He was a founding member and former secretary of Thatto Heath ARLFC and also secretary of BARLA Lancashire for 19 years, and a former board of management member and life member at BARLA.

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Roy became involved in the newly formed Thatto Heath ARLFC after being invited by Saints’ Frank Barrow to become secretary of the club which had great success in winning the BARLA National Cup in 1987.

In 2005 he became a member of the BARLA Board of Management giving his lifelong experience and opinion for the good of the game.

And in 2006 he was made a Life Member of BARLA, something which he was very proud of.

Roy, with his certificate for being a Life Member of BARLA (Image: Submitted)

During the tributes, it was joked how Roy was a “last minute man” often leaving home at 2.45pm for a 3pm kick-off at Saints.

The funeral heard that apart from rugby Roy enjoyed going to the betting shop to put “a couple of bob on horse racing”.

It was also said he liked doing “green-fingered” work in his garden and of his “attempts at cooking”.

It was said how he had “phrases” he always used including “fantastic”, “brilliant” and “superb”.

Roy also made “forays” into using Facebook and would “see how many likes his posts had”.

A photograph of Roy in the order of service (Image: St Helens Star)

Following the hymn, The Lord’s my Shepherd, in the vicar’s address, Roy was described as “resilient” and a “gentleman” and someone “St Helens born and bred deeply rooted in its industry and love of sport”. It was added “what is most enduring is his deep love of family, that brought so much joy and laughter through his life”.  

Following prayers and the commendation and farewell, Frank Sinatra’s My Way was played as the congregation exited the church before heading to the Crematorium.

Roy Sharples (Image: St Helens Star)