MR. CHARLES S. TOWNEND

At the early age of 38 years, Mr Charles S. Townend passed away somewhat suddenly last evening. Not long after the sad event, I heard of it with considerable sorrow and sincere regret. For some time he had been in poor health, yet the end came as a shock. As late as yesterday, he had been about much the same as was his wont and it was whilst sitting in his chair at home that he broke a blood vessel and expired almost immediately. He leaves a wife and six children to mourn his loss.

A decade and a half ago, Townend occupied a prominent position in Hull football circles. He acted as captain of the Hull club and in his day, he was unquestionably a fine half-back. He adopted a style which is no longer a feature of rugby football in the North, and old followers will recollect him particularly for his extreme trickiness. From a pack he was very quickly away, and had a peculiar habit of dropping on one hand when about to be tackled and getting into his stride again immediately, a feature which was his prominent forte, and very often successful to the highest degree. His success at this particular style had to be seen for one to be able to realise the advantage of it. The nearest approach to it which has come to my knowledge was adopted with success by one of the New Zealanders touring here last winter.

Townend first came into Hull football as a player with the late White Star organisation, which he twice assisted to win the Hull Junior Cup, and it was owing to his migration to the late Melbourne Club for a time that this club were disqualified upon another occasion, after winning their tie. It was in February 1892, whilst playing in the final tie of the Hull Rugby Cup on the old Holderness road ground for White Star against Britannia that he came before the notice of the Hull Club officials. On the opposing side was that artist of half-back play Herb Bell, who was just about retiring, and the late Tommy Timpson, but Townend evidently came out of the ordeal satisfactorily, because a few days later, Mr. H. Hilldrith on behalf of the Hull Club, applied for his transfer, with the result that he assisted the club of his native town. I believe that his first match for Hull was at Batley, against last Saturday's visitors to the Boulevard, and it would be played during February of season 1891-1892. Later, his brother Jack turned out with the Hull Club, and the half-back play of the brothers Townend is too well known to need recalling here. Previous to his chief success (alongside Jack) with the Hull Club, he had a turn with West Hartlepool, and enjoyed much success at half-back with the Durham shipbuilding port team.

Townend played in the Durham County trial game, but I do not believe he assisted that county, although Sammy Morfitt, who was just then at the height of his career, wrote me once during the time that in his opinion, Townend was the best half-back in Durham, and had come on wonderfully. He thought he was certain to receive selection for Durham, which was indeed a fine recommendation, as just then there were some class halves in West Hartlepool, Hartlepool Rovers and Tudhoe. After the end of his career with the Hull Club, he turned out with Kingston Rovers during their first season in the Yorkshire Senior Competition upon seven occasions; thus ended the career of one of the finest half-backs of his time.

The unexpected end will be greatly regretted by many of his old admirers. He was ever a cheerful companion, and nothing shady could ever be associated with his play; he played for his club and the game. To his sorrowful relatives, all supporters of the rugby game in Hull will be with me in tendering heartfelt sympathy.

"JACK" TOWNEND

LICENSEE, CYCLING CHAMPION, RUGBY STAR

LEADING HULL PERSONALITY, DIES

After being ill for, about six weeks, Mr John Townend, a former member of Hull City Council and one of Hulls best known personalities, died last night December 26 1949 at his home, Three Ways, Hull-road, Cottingham. He was 77. It was singular that his death should occur on the day of the local Rugby League Derby, because Mr. Townend had the somewhat unique distinction many years ago of playing for Hull and Rovers on the same day.

Jack Townend had an extraordinarily rich and active life, as an apprentice shipbuilder, a licensee, a cycling champion, a rugby star, a city councillor and alderman, and an out spoken individualist. But he had no easy start, before he was 11, he was doing casual work to augment his family's income and on Saturday nights he sold the Hull Times at Whitefriersgate in the city Centre to earn pocket money.

FAMILY MAN

He was a great family man, celebrating his golden wedding in September 1948. It was on September 25 1898 that he married Alice Hope of Hull, at St. Katherine Church, Milford Haven. They marked their 50th anniversary with a reception and dinner party to friends and relations at the Blind Institute, Beverley-road Hull. Originally apprenticed to Earles shipbuilding yard. At the age of 21 Jack Townend became the youngest licensee holder in Hull taking over the Brunswick Hotel, Drypool. Always a keen and powerful cyclist, he trained seriously and went on to win championships in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Lancashire.

GREAT RUGBY PLAYER

Starting his rugby career at Hull White Star Jack followed the path of his brother Charlie. He was only 17 when he played his first game for Hull White Star against Huddersfield. Then he transferred to Hull FC for the 1892 season it with Hull that Jack Townend gained glory. He later joined his brother at Hartlepool and then Rovers. A reflection of his passionate interest in the game was that when, at 25 at the height of his powers as a player he moved to the Ship Molly in Dock Street, he then changed the name to the Rugby. Jack continued to play regularly and did not retire until he was 35 when he was captain of Hull FC. After being the licensee at the Bull Inn Beverley road Jack went on to own nine off license premises and four public houses. It was in 1924 when he was 52 that he entered municipal affairs, being elected to Hull City Council a member for Park Ward. He served as a councillor for 20 years later become an alderman. Forthright and fearless, both in council debates and committee deliberations fiercely on matters of principles and often took unorthodox angles cutting across Party lines. Three times he was offered the ancient office of Sheriff of Hull but he refused it each time

GOLF SUPPORTER

A native of Hull, Mr. Townend did much to initiate municipal golf in the city and he was chairman of the Corporation Parks Committee at the time the Springhead course was opened. He also displayed a keen a interest in the local Air Training Corps, of which he had been chairman, and he loaned - premises in Beverley road to the corps as headquarters until they were blitzed. A Freemason, he was a member of the Holderness Lodge and a founder of the Andrew Marvell Lodge. Mr. Townend was chairman of J Townend and Sons, chairman of Faloon and Co and former chairman of Building Industries Ltd. He leaves a widow three sons and two daughters.