JOHN Patrick Walsh – known as Paddy – was a well-known local amateur rugby league player.
John enjoyed his rugby, playing in the colt’s side for Huddersfield Rugby Club, which was then based at Waterloo.
Later he changed codes, joining Moldgreen Amateur Rugby League Club, where he spent many years as a player, then youth team coach before going on to referee for the Pennine Amateur League.
The eldest of three boys, John was born on March 27, 1953, to parents Jim and Eileen who moved to Huddersfield from Connemara, County Galway, Ireland.
Brought up in Fartown, John started school at St Patrick’s and then moved on to Our Lady of Lourdes.
He was one of the founding pupils in the early 1960s when the school was built.
John then moved on to St Augustine’s at Bradley where he became a keen sportsman playing both cricket and rugby for the school team. After leaving school at 15, he worked at Huddersfield Corporation as a painter.
John then spent time working abroad, including Jersey and Spain, before coming back to Huddersfield where he worked for Cummins Turbo Technologies on St Andrew’s Road for over 27 years.
Popular with his workmates, he also spent some time as a union representative.
John enjoyed walking, horse racing, Huddersfield Giants and Town, along with eating out, good quality wine and travelling to various countries to sample different cultures.
John was the soul-mate of Helen and they enjoyed 25 happy years together.
He leaves behind much-loved family and friends.
He was loved so much and so well respected that family and friends are travelling from Australia, Ireland, parts of Europe and throughout the UK for the funeral mass and a celebration of his life.
John died in Calderdale Hospital Intensive Care on Saturday, September 10.
Requiem mass will take place at St Patrick’s Church, New North Rd, Huddersfield, on Friday at 1pm.
