Shrovetiders out in force to salute stalwart of the game
SHROVETIDERS have lined the streets to applaud and salute Shrovetide ball-maker John Harrison, as his funeral cortege passed by on Monday.
The 80-year-old, who served on the game’s official committee for many years, died on Friday, April 24, and goal-scorers, players, marshals, fellow committee members and firefighters turned out in force to pay their last respects to him.
The cortege was cheered as it made its way from Mr Harrison’s family home in The Green Road towards Markeaton Crematorium, where a small family-only funeral was held.
His wife Christine was unable to leave the house to see the tribute, because she is selfisolating, but she says it was a great comfort to see so many people turning out.
She said: “It was overwhelming, I can’t tell you. We’ve had so many cards, flowers, wellwishing messages and texts. It’s been wonderful.
“John had a good set of principles that he lived by steadfastly and they never changed. He was a very unassuming man, just went about his business. He didn’t need to be in the limelight.
“He enjoyed making the balls, he would shut himself in the garage, he’d have all his things about him.
“He’s had a busy life, a very rewarding life, and he loved going out to work. His ultimate goal had always been to get better and to go out to work.
“There are a lot of things that he’s left, that we can remember him by. The Shrovetide balls he’s made and the houses he’s built.”
A celebration of Mr Harrison’s life is being planned, at St Oswald’s Church, when the coronavirus lockdown restrictions ease.
Mr Harrison, who was also a stalwart of the Ashbourne and District Lions Club, learned his ball-making craft from the late Arthur Chadwick, who was the official ball-maker for 50 years.
He hand-crafted each ball from a “den” in his garden and gradually passed his skills on to the current official ballmaker, Terry Brown, who took over around four years ago.
The retired builder was given the honour of turning up a Shrovetide ball in 2010, on Ash Wednesday, and the game ended on a controversial note after Up’ard David Spencer’s goal was disallowed for reaching Sturston after the deadline.
Since that game the committee has started ensuring an official is at each goal with a calibrated timepiece to “clock” any goals ahead of their official ratification.
Mr Harrison leaves three children, five grand children and two great grand children.