Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Emotional tributes at rugby star’s final farewell
EMOTIONS ran high at Gloucester Cathedral as family and friends paid tribute to rugby star Jack Adams.
Sunshine came through the clouds as the procession took place at 3pm on Thursday for the former Gloucester and Bristol player.
It was a poignant day for family, friends and fans, with the funeral taking place just half a mile away from Kingsholm Stadium where local lad Jack made his name.
Jack’s family and many of his friends gathered inside the cathedral for the funeral service, while others were invited to stand outside the cathedral and watch the service via video link.
Around 50 people gathered outside the cathedral to pay their respects to the husband of Abbie, a father-of-three and brother to Joe, who died aged only 34.
The former centre, who made 35 appearances for Gloucester Rugby and 57 for Bristol, died last month after a short battle with cancer, having only been diagnosed in April this year.
Days before his death, a fundraiser was set up by Jack and his brother Joe to raise money for cancer charity Maggie’s Centres.
Thursday’s service was led by Reverend Canon Nikki Arthy and saw Joe pay the first tribute to his brother.
He said: “Being here today isn’t fair or right.
“To me, Jack’s my little brother and I will always remember him as fun-loving, kind, caring and easygoing - perhaps too easygoing at times.
“I forget the number of times he lost his keys!
He remembered: “Dad once had a call from Jack who was at the training base near London, the night before he was due to fly for a training camp in Italy.
“He said, ‘Dad, I left my passport at home.’
“So dad then embarked on the fourhour round-trip to make sure he could go with the squad the next day.”
Remembering his childhood, he added: “Growing up, Jack and I fought like cat and dog.
“On one occasion, a window was broken - I blamed Jack. Sorry Jack, it was me all along.”
Speaking of being brought up in a home that revolved around sport, he said: “Sport always connected Jack and I and even over the past few months we sat and watched many games.”
In an emotional end to his speech, Joe said: “One thing I was to leave you with: some of my friends would introduce me as ‘Jack’s brother’ when they introduced me, in an attempt to irritate me.
“It may have worked a bit, but I was also secretly proud of this intended jibe, and I will forever be incredibly proud to be Jack’s brother.”
Abbie’s uncle Chris Price paid his own tribute, recalling the time he watched his nephew play in a football match between Jack’s school, St Peter’s, and De Crypt School.
He recalled Jack’s “mop of thick red hair” and added later: “I was privileged to be able to see him in what I know he viewed as his most important role, which was a husband to my niece Abbie and a father to Alfie, Florence and Tate - and it would only be correct to call his job there elite.
“For Jack, first and foremost, he was a dad and husband.”
He also paid tribute to the “dignity, care and love” that Jack’s wife Abbie showed throughout his illness as well as Jack’s parents, brother and children.