Eric ‘Ecky’ William Cleeves 1931 - 2020
ERIC ‘Ecky’ William Cleeves, a true stalwart of Newbury life, quietly passed away on Friday, November 20, aged 89. Born in Newbury on May 25, 1931, Eric spent his childhood in Shaw.
His education was interrupted following an ear infection while swimming near Northcroft and by his school being bombed during the Second World War, which influenced his keen interest in military history. He began work, aged 14, with Vickers-Armstrong in Shaw, becoming an engineering apprentice in 1947 and eventually manufacturing parts for the Spitfire.
After completing his apprenticeship he went on to spend most of his working life at AWRE Aldermaston as a universal miller. In 1957, Eric married Joan Churchward and they had daughters Ann and Janet.
Sport was a huge influence on Eric’s life and Eric had an influence on local sport. One of the first members of Newbury Athletic Club, he competed in various athletic disciplines. A keen cyclist, he also played table tennis and even boxed. Ultimately, football was Eric’s biggest sporting love, playing for Donnington Reserves. After winning the league he fulfilled his promise to Joan and retired from playing, only to embark on a new passion for refereeing in 1961. He became a well-established and recognised figure across Berkshire football pitches for more than 50 years as both a referee and assessor, before being retired in 2012, aged 81.
As well as the many men’s matches he also helped with schools and youth games. He won many accolades for his refereeing prowess, including from the Newbury Referees Association for 50 years of service in 2011. He was immensely proud of his football-playing grandchildren’s achievements and actively supported them. In 1971, Eric took on a second role at AWRE as physical trainer of apprentices, and he was presented to the Queen after his apprentices put on a show for her as part of the Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1977.
Taking early retirement from AWRE in the mid-1990s, he helped at Talking Newspapers and became a familiar face at Newbury Racecourse as a steward. At Hungerford Town Football Club he could be found regularly having a laugh and a joke with the officials during their warm-up.
The willingness to converse with anyone, anywhere, with all manner of stories and jokes (so often repeated!) is what Eric will be most fondly remembered for by his loving wife, two daughters, six grandchildren and two great granddaughters.
Keep smiling, Ecky, keep smiling!