Last Thursday we heard the unbelievable news that our friend Graeme “Lofty” McPhun had passed away suddenly. His passing has shocked us all and it seems right to mention his impact on our club and make some limited mention as to his wider impact on our community.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his two sons, Elliot and Lucas and his wife of many years Jo. On behalf of Enfield Ignatians, you are all in our thoughts at this sad time.

As I write this , I still cannot believe that Lofty is no longer with us. To our club members in their 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, they enjoyed playing with Lofty and watching his prowess as our 1st XV fly half.

In later years the social pints would have been consumed as past glories were discussed and exaggerated as he toiled in the lower sides of our club. To those in our current 1st XV, more than several of our current players had the benefit of Lofty being their backs coach as they came through the age ranks.

To those others who are not aware of Lofty personally, he was a man who served professionally and with great commitment to our wider community. You may not have known him, but he would be owed your thanks.

To those that did know him. I would wager there are a few that didn’t know his real name was Graeme!

After over thirty years of service and with only 2 months before he was due to retire, the fact that Lofty has been taken, is simply unjust. From his early years in Upminster, Lofty moved with his family to Birmingham ( he kept quiet about that), where football nearly claimed him. Apparently, Spurs had to choose between him and a lad called Chris Houghton. One went on to play for Spurs for over 10 years whilst gaining international honours with the Republic of Ireland, whilst the other plied his trade at Donkey Lane as a player, coach and supporter.

Choosing the game of the Gods, Lofty initially played for Old Sihiilians RFC. In his first season eligible to play adult rugby, he was their 1st XV fly half! Moving to Enfield in the late 1980’s with Dave Ritchie, Lofty made a near immediate impact into our 1st XV followed by the other sides in the club when his work commitments allowed.

Lofty was a giant of a character, with a laugh that made his 5ft 8 in frame seem like he was over 7ft tall. You would hear him, before you could see him. To the opposition he was a pain in the backside and had few weaknesses, other than a problematic groin from time to time. To his team mates, he kept us going forward by kick, a run into the gap or a pass. He could read the game better than most. Unlike many 10’s at the time, he wasn’t afraid to put a tackle in as well!

Like many players in that position he had an opinion on most things, and wasn’t afraid to tell you about them as well. Off the field , he was with ease, able to transcend the natural divide between forwards and backs, as he joined in with the shenanigans. He had a capacity for fun that was impressive at times. He was a great character to spend time with. He added to life.

Once he stepped back from the 1stXV, Lofty showed that he was a true club man as he played in the 2nd’s, the 3rd’s and the 4th’s. As Moose remembers, even in his 40’s he was prepared to put on the kit and turn out, with the phrase “I have one more game in me!”.

This infuriated a few of the lads, such as Vern, as this meant that you could spend at least an
hour watching Lofty applying tape, liniment and support bandages to all parts of his body, before he was ready for the game.

When these tributes are unfortunately required, you remember with fondness past events, which normally happen more off the field rather than on it! Many of our club will have separate recollections of time spent with Lofty - I have no doubt. After a league game ,whilst standing at the bar, a few of the front row were being coached by Lofty as to the relative skill set required to play front row. As relative newcomers to the side, myself and another listed intently to this veteran advice. When asked about his own expertise after this 15 minute briefing , he informed us that the closest he had ever been to the coal face was no nearer than 20 metres away. He was then given some sage advice as to how he should leave the area directly and immediately after necking his pint. Both of which he did, but with a big grin and the laugh that all could hear.

In 1995 on returning from a tour to Benidorm, we were all falling asleep on the coach that picked us up from the airport. It was 1am. After 6 days away, the squad of exhausted comrades in a full sized coach, were diverted down Lofty’s narrow road by Lofty himself, so that he could be dropped off at the door of his house. Lofty gets off the bus, goes up his garden path, and is in bed no longer than thirty seconds later. The rest of us are stuck on the coach for another thirty minutes as the coach driver realised that he shouldn’t have listened to the idiot and that he was stuck down this confined lane. The reverse beepers of the coach must have woken up the residents of every house in the road!

When it was time to coach our boys team, I took on the forwards and Lofty took on the backs. It was a dream team!! As a coach, his ability to explain quite clearly what he believed was necessary to his young charges was a pleasure to see, as his Under 10’s were briefed on a double miss move inside line. It was such fun coaching with Lofty.

When we passed the news along, one of these young lads, told a story about how Lofty was at a school game, when he overheard the teacher telling his school team what they should do in the second half in the game that they were losing. Lofty disagreed. What do you think he did? Yes !!- he called a few of our boys over that played for EIRFC, told them to totally ignore what they had been told and “DWLWD” – Do What Lofty Would Do! His pride in the youngsters including his eldest Elliot was a joy to watch and was truly infectious.

Lofty’s career choices were interesting from initially working for Barclays, through to photocopier sales for Lombard’s. There was then a final career change for Lofty in the early 1990’s when he joined the Civil Service. We had no idea what it was he did there but what did we care! From that point, on Saturdays, when there were away games , we would all want to jump into Lofty’s car above all others. Each week, it seemed, there would be a brand new car, we didn’t have to contribute for the petrol money and he drove there and back. There were a few conditions, we weren’t allowed to look in the boot, the glove box was always locked and don’t touch any buttons . Part of me, even now, hopes that he was an insurance salesman! However, we do know that whatever he di,d his family were extremely proud of him.

Their pride in his career, is nothing compared to the love and pride Lofty had in his two boys; Elliot who played with our minis and youth side, before advancing through the county ranks and played rugby for England Under 18’s. He is plying his trade in the National 1 ranks; and in Lucas , who chose to play the round ball game and is studying in Cardiff whilst also being a qualified ski instructor during the winter. Both are the finest of young men!

When meeting Lofty for a social pint, you could tell about the pride and love he had in his family and their achievements. You didn’t have to guess- He told you !!

We will miss you Lofty and will remember you. Rest Easy Mate.

Many thanks to Kevin Linnane, Pete Ritchie, Moose, Vern and Ted for keeping the facts straight