We regret to announce the passing of Tony Wood, OH 1948-58 on 30 April 2024 at the age of 83 years old.  Born on 29 September 1940, he started at Hymers College in the Junior School and later in life returned as a rugby coach and Governor to the school.

After leaving school, Tony went to Leicester University before establishing a new Sales Depot in Chester for, what was then, a very small wholesale fish business in Hull. Having established a customer base in Chester, Tony returned to Hull and procured some traditional smokehouses for the production of quality un-dyed smoked cod & haddock.  It was while back living in Hull that Tony started to volunteer at his own school as a rugby coach in the 1970s. Tony was a true gentleman who will be fondly remembered for his kindness and wisdom.

Tony's funeral will be held at St Mary's Church, Beverley on Tuesday 21st May at 12pm.

A Personal Reflection

Tony began helping with school teams in 1976. His very good friend, Trevor Egan (Head of Games 1973-79) enlisted Tony’s help, as he changed attitudes in the school towards rugby and began to put things in place to put Hymers back on the rugby map within Yorkshire. Tony leapt at the chance and the rest is history and of legend – he considered it “a privilege to encourage the boys to develop skills and codes of conduct for both rugby and for life”.

In the early days he helped with the U14 year group working alongside Stephen Johnston. After 4-5 years and a reorganisation under Jim Henderson, Tony found himself in charge of the 3rd XV and used his enthusiasm for and knowledge about the game to generate a strong team ethic in the senior group. In the mid 1980’s the 3rd XV evolved into the U16 XV, the academy for future 1st XV’s and it is with this group (Year 11) that ‘Mr Wood’ achieved legendary status and left a legacy.

He ensured that all the boys who came under his tutelage, by the end of Year 11, were more than equipped to play the rigours of 1st XV rugby. He turned boys into men. He instilled them with a real sense of discipline, fair but hard and uncompromising game play and a team spirit and bond that would remain with them long after their school days had ended. He could communicate with them; he spoke to them as adults and with respect. They soon got to know that he was coming to school practices, having been up since 4am to get to the market as fish were landed (his business was in Fish Supply – what was that smell??). He was then either returning to work or going home at the end of a long day (to then take the seniors bible classes at the CLBCGB at St Mary's Church in Beverley!!). Woe betides anyone who did not attend practice!

He was honest with the boys and treated them with integrity and they repaid him in bundles. He was loved, liked and respected by all those he coached and to quote one of them, “he gave us the tools to get the best out of ourselves”. Ask them who was the best coach that they had whilst at Hymers, to a man, the answer will be, “Mr Wood!”

His success was unrivalled, both in the XV-a-side version and on the sevens circuit, where the class of 1991 won the prestigious Oxford Sevens, His passion was school rugby and Hymers College rugby; and he was immensely proud as Hymers competed on an increasingly more competitive fixture list.

Who will forget the ‘shout’ in the trees on the way to the Track Pitch for a home fixture; the shoe check before getting on the coach for an away trip; the large ankle high rugby boots; his wearing of sky and navy socks for the practices during the week of the Pocklington fixture (so that when they saw those socks on the Saturday they knew they had to tackle!!); the apple in his pocket – to be munched on the touchline.

He relished the contest on a Saturday afternoon because his teams were well prepared, and he would engage his opposite number in rugby conversation long after the final whistle. He would often miss the refreshments on offer and would have to be ‘retrieved’ from some secluded corner of rugby chat to make it back to the coach for the return journey. Many opposing members of staff were shocked to discover that he wasn’t on the Hymers teaching staff!

I, like many of the boys that he coached, have much to thank Tony Wood for. He made my job easier, not only in preparing boys for senior rugby but also in the guidance that he gave me. His was the voice of reason and of sense and he was the first person that I sought for advice. He would (after some discussion) give it – and it would always be the right advice. We spent hours on the phone talking rugby and we would spend Sunday evenings in the rugby season at his house, watching the video of Saturday’s 1st XV match, he just loved it! I owe his long-suffering wife, Lesley, untold apologies for taking up so much of his precious ‘home’ time.

I and many others are thankful that we were at Hymers when Mr Wood was there, both in his role as a rugby coach and in his role as a wise and respected school governor. He contributed massively to making Hymers a stronger rugby school. He wanted to complete his good friend Trevor Egan’s work and see Hymers competing at the highest level – the fact that we did is testimony to his efforts. His legacy is this and the impact that he had on so many lives.

I will miss him terribly but be forever grateful for his friendship and trust.

May he rest in peace.

CJF

To read more about Tony.please visit Notable Alumni: Tony Wood