The funeral of Mike Davey will be held on Friday 15th November at Harrogate Crematorium at 11.40am. A Celebration of Life will follow at the rugby club.

Below is an appreciation of Mike’s contribution to rugby life in Ripon from Mike BJ Viner.

If ever a man deserved to be born under the star sign Gemini it was Michael Francis Davey! On the one hand the tough, fiery rugby forward and on the other the countryside lover, gifted musician and composer.

During the heady days of the late seventies and eighties when the club regularly fielded four adult teams every week, as well as a Veterans side, Mike was the club’s troubadour. Home and away, after match sessions weren’t complete without a singsong led by Mike’s guitar playing. On one occasion at Durham City when the Bellringers’ Bongo Band was playing, a hat was passed around the clubhouse and the money collected put into the beer kitty.

On the field Mike’s contribution was immense. A versatile forward who could play anywhere across the front and back rows, a fierce determination to succeed was displayed throughout his career. He played for all the club’s adult teams and captained all but the First team. Indeed he once confided to me that his three proudest moments at the club were being selected for the club’s Centenary team, playing alongside his son, Lee, in the Bellringers and being the first captain of the Old Peculiers, Ripon’s unbeaten Veterans team. He had outstanding leadership qualities and encouraged his teams to play hard but fair and, above all, to enjoy the whole rugby experience on and off the field and he was particularly supportive of any younger members.

Usually quiet and unassuming off the field, Mike could be sparked to anger by what he perceived as any act of injustice, local or national, and was always happy to join in debate on controversial issues! His music was incredibly important to him and he had a wide range of musical skills, composing for orchestras, brass bands and the guitar. He established a musical production company – Mallastang Music, named after an area in the North Pennines – and there are examples to listen to of some of his own songs at the Soundcloud.com app under ‘Michael Francis Davey’.

However rugby, and especially Ripon Rugby Club, played a huge part in his life. In thinking of what was a typical ‘Davey’ moment in his long playing career I remember a particular example which really summed him up.

Due to injuries and unavailability I found myself hooking in the Hornblowers away at Gosforth who were then a considerable force in Northern rugby. Mike was at loosehead and the huge Harry Wiltshire was immovable at tight head. At an early scrum Gosforth’s tight head bore in, our scrum collapsed leaving Harry the only forward standing and the rest of us in a heap on the floor. Mike stood up, gave me a fierce look and said ‘I'm not ***** having that – he’ll not move me again.’ For the rest of the match Mike stood firm, often under immense pressure, but never took a step backwards. Afterwards in the bath he said how totally knackered he was but again the jaw jutted out and he said ‘I told you I wouldn’t move!’ It was only afterwards in their clubhouse did we get confirmation of what we had suspected and that Mike had been propping against Colin White, an England prop who was coming back from injury. So typical of the rugby man who was Mike Davey – we shall miss him!