It is with great sadness I report the death of Roy Fred Seddon. Roy passed away at his home in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, on Saturday 6 October 2012, after a long and bravely fought battle against cancer, and surrounded by his family. The three most important things in life for Roy were his family, education and sport. In choosing a charity in memory of Roy, his family decided BWCT most appropriate.

Roy was born and grew up in Bolton, he was the only child of Fred and Lucy Seddon, both gifted musicians. He attended Bolton school, something he was very proud of and a time where his love of football and all sports developed. He had many friends from these days that he’d kept in touch with and in fact, his very good friend, John Kohorn and his wife Chris were to introduce Roy, and his partner Theresa, to their family and friends in Prague, a friendship that blossomed over the last 20 years.

After his stint of National Service with the South Lancashire Regiment when he became an enthusiastic boxer he went to college in Loughborough where he met his future wife, Brigid, and they soon moved back to her home of N. Ireland where they settled in Londonderry. He worked as the PE teacher of the boys grammar school, Foyle college, and it was during this time that he played for Derry City, but not only did he play football to a European level he commentated and coached football and also became a scout for Bolton Wanderers, a team he has always supported. We have had a number of people that have contacted us recently to say that he was a big inspiration to them and in some cases the biggest inspiration of their lives. We have all been deeply moved as we have come to appreciate the impact that Roy had in many people’s lives.

Roy was a linguist; he spoke fluent French which made family holidays to France a lot of fun. He loved all music and could play the clarinet and guitar, always up for a sing song at the many family parties that were had.

When he left teaching he went to college in Leeds for a year to study leisure management which resulted in his new position of Recreation Officer of Londonderry, this occasionally got him in to some tricky situations as it was during the troubles but he handled these with excellent judgement, integrity and diplomacy.

Roy moved to Wallingford in 1984 to start work with South Oxfordshire District Council, as Sports & Recreation Officer, and typically got stuck right into the role, getting passionately involved with the Wallingford community, which went to the next level when he met Theresa. They worked together as a team and he enjoyed being by her side and supporting her during her 2 years as Mayor, and her many years as Town Councillor.

During his time in Wallingford he was lucky enough to be awarded the scholarship from the Winston Churchill Trust to report on one of his passions, ‘fair play in sport’, this he chose to do in Rugby League in Australia.

 

He enjoyed his retirement, he was sociable, he loved barbeques, enjoyed spending time with his family and the six grandchildren, Dartmouth, his garden, watching all sports, his friends from home and abroad. He loved Wallingford and had many devoted friends. We will all miss him terribly.