Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Rugby family pays tribute to ‘giant of a man’
City club rocked as chairman dies aged 60
Jonathan Marsh, the chairman of Canterbury Rugby Club, has died just days after attending the first XV’S last fixture.
The 60-year-old, who lived at North Street near Sheldwich on the A251, is understood to have passed away peacefully in his sleep overnight on Monday.
He was among club supporters who travelled to watch the first team play in St Albans on Saturday.
Mr Marsh’s death has rocked the tightly knit club, which plays its home matches at Merton Lane, off the Nackington Road.
Club president Steve Uglow said: “The news has come as a great shock to everyone.
“He played a hugely important role in founding the wheelchair rugby section and saw the team attain national status.”
Brian Pitchford, the club’s wheelchair rugby chairman, added: “Without this giant of a man, Canterbury Hellfire Wheelchair Rugby Club would not exist, and the opportunity to compete would be missing from the lives of a group of disabled athletes.”
Mr Marsh had been a member of Canterbury Rugby Club for 15 years, replacing Giles Hilton as club chairman at the end of the 2013-14 season.
“His death came as a shock. I’d received an email from him on Monday night,” Mr Hilton said.
“Jonathan’s background was in business and commerce, and he was looking at how we could restructure things operationally.
“He had called a meeting for this week and was doing a lot of work behind the scenes.”
Mr Marsh originally came from Medway, and worked as a selfemployed business consultant.
Messages of condolence have flooded into the club and been posted on social media.
David Sharma, the owner of Chartham Hatch’s Howfield Manor Hotel and a rugby club regular, had watched the weekend’s match with Mr Marsh.
He said: “It was a pleasure to have been with him. There was always some entertaining banter with Jonathan at away games and his views were not always shared by opposition fans.
“Marshy was a true Canterbury supporter across all forms and ages at our club.”
David Durrell, the landlord of the Chapter Arms in Chartham Hatch, said: “I am absolutely stunned. He was a top man and a good friend of many years.”
Mr Marsh’s funeral has yet to be arranged.
The first XV’S next home game is against Dorking on Saturday. Club members will pay their respects at the lunch before the game and there will be a minute’s silence before the 3pm kick-off.