Dear All,
Thank you so much for coming along to celebrate Rollo. Holding this Match is a measure of the high regard so many have for him as teammate and friend. It is also a measure of just how caring are those who enter into the impressive Community of Rugby, grounded in Clubs, but extending far more widely.
Ben was 5 years old when in 1987 he joined Mini rugby at WRFC. He then was the first member of the Club who proceeded through each age group of Minis, Juniors, Colts, Senior sides [3rds, 2nds and 1sts] and County. Travel and work in London offered him the opportunity to join Old Glynonians, which he enjoyed so much, not least when they won a Surrey Cup!
I feel Witney RFC and Old Glynonians did so much to assist him to become and remain the fit, fine and much loved person he grew into. And for this I want to thank the Clubs.
Moreover, and hugely important, on the day of his funeral and the post Service Reception in London over 20 members of WRFC who had played with him over the years and/or coached him made the long journey to attend in person. At a time and especially on the day of such great sorrow the sight of the WRFC members did so much to sustain me through and after the sad event.
Moreover, at the Reception following, I was greatly supported and comforted, as was my wife, by their presence, along with a fine contingent from Old Glynonians. We always knew how important rugby and each Club were to Ben. He attended the Reunion at the Witney Club on 27 January this year, at which so many people remarked with pleasure how good it was to see him and how well he looked. Nine days later he was diagnosed and began treatments at Kings College Hospital, Guys and St Thomas’, where they did everything they could to try to keep him alive.
I believe it is the highest tribute to a Club that it doesn’t just aid so many players into and through their active rugby days, but offers each of them an enduring connection, active like many who played with Ben and now coach/support at WRFC, OG or other clubs.
Let me remind you what your presence today shows that you know already - we must never underestimate the valuable things that rugby teams and clubs all do to develop not just players but whole and wholesome human beings, who remain a credit through their lives, however long or short, not just to WRFC and OG but to society more widely.
Let us enjoy this day together in tribute to Ben. Thank you again for organising this Gathering and for coming along, and thanks to those who are here in spirit while long planned holidays properly have kept them far away.
Warm Regards from the family to you all,
Rich Rollinson
It is the saddest of times as we celebrate the life of a dear friend Ben Rollinson with a game of rugby played by his old teammates.
When I joined the club, I remember being welcomed into the “Rugby Family” at the time I wasn’t sure what this meant, but today is an example of how a rugby family pull together, support one another, remember good times and have a special person in their mind.
I’m sure there will be numerous stories, memories, and laughs today as the rugby family join Bens family and friends. He clearly left a mark behind on those that knew him.
Ben has been taken far too early and there will be many people at Witney RFC and Old Glynonians who will remember playing with, watching or having a pint with Ben at the bar.
Good afternoon one and all, Bob Fisk
So, from all of us at Witney RFC, we offer our deepest sympathies to Ben’s Family and friends both inside and out of the rugby family at this very sad time.
Regards,
Chairman Witney RFC
I came to rugby late in my sporting life, a convert from football to rugby at the age of 26. The other end of that scale was Ben, who had the oval ball in his hands from a very young age. One of the huge advantages appeared that Ben knew exactly where the try line was, and more importantly what were his best chances of getting to it.
Ben was the very important element of one of my most distinct memories from the game. Playing at home in a league game against Buckingham in the early 2000’s Ben took a cross field kick (from the brilliant hooker) Ben then beat the last defender with a beautifully weighted grubber kick before doing what Ben always did and accelerating over 10 metres to win the chase for the try. As Ben and I shook hands on our way back to the halfway line he remarked “that could have turned out worse for both of us!”.
Reflecting on Ben I have come to realise that Ben was exceptional at being competitive and fully into the game at the right moments, and then in an instant recognising when there was a chance for fun and to embrace the real reason we played rugby, the joy of the experience. By the experience I mean the whole thing, training, travelling to the game, the game…..and definitely post game festivities…..oh did I mention touring!
Ben’s smile, superb sense of humour and his spirit set an example of who the best of us can be, and his friends and family will always remain a part of Witney Rugby.
With my deepest respects.
Andrew Merrimen
1st XV Captain 2001-2003
Witney RFC
I first met Ben with him playing opposite me on the wing at the university rugby trials. I saw a lad bigger than me and wrongly assumed he’d be a slouch. I couldn’t have been more wrong when I failed to skin him on the outside as he walloped me into touch and on pretty much the next play left me for dead. After that we were always on the same team and stuck together like glue during university rugby looking after each other on the pitch and keeping each other out of trouble off it.
When I bumped into Ben at Waterloo station just after he moved to London, I told him we’d set up a club and it would be amazing if he could play. 2 days later he came off the bench and that was that for pretty much the next 10 years.
Running joke was that Ben’s skin was so pale it was transparent. The reference appeared in several of our Christmas hymns over the years.
He was an absolute gentleman through and through. My wife and many other of the better halves said if they were ever dragged along to a rugby night out and he was there they were so relieved. He was so kind and made everyone instantly comfortable.
James Kennedy-Myers
Old Glynonians
Witney RFC at Abingdon 7’s Tournament
July
2005
Witney RFC Canada Tour 1999
One of my standout memories of Rollo on the rugby pitch was when he scored the try that drew our tour match out in Canada.
There is context to how important it was…
The Canada tour was our third and last tour of our age group. Lads that grew up together playing rugby creating bonds that only rugby can.
We had lost every tour game prior to this one. When we got to Canada it was discovered that their age groups were banded differently, and we ended up playing against lads MUCH bigger and hairier than us (apart from Paul Kelly who brought our collective hair to skin ratio up to a respectful level all by himself!)
Now all I remember was Rollo getting on the end of a bouncing ball/offload… but Tony Postie tells me that I had put up an ‘interesting’ cross field / shanked kick which resulted in some space down the wing for Rollo to do what he did best and put on the gas and score.
The Witney contingent had never been more delighted to clutch a draw out of the jaws of defeat.
The Canucks were bigger than us, but their drinking age limit being 21 meant when we got to their club house and celebrated Rollo’s try and the draw, we showed them how binge drinking from the age of 15 pays off and drank their bar dry before heading back into downtown Toronto for more celebrations.
The breakdown of how the play actually happened, Tony has a photographic memory of (clearly didn’t drink enough) so he can fill in those details from the match report.
Ben Morris
Witney RFC
My abiding memory of Rollo is also from the 1999 tour trip to Toronto and that try. Benji Morris has already set the scene.
He claims the kick was intentional and off the training pitch but hearing him mutter ‘oh shit’ as I ran past on the 10m line tells me different. Managing to regather the ball on the halfway line I set off but the aforementioned bigger and hairier full back came across.
I would like to say it was a textbook draw the man and offload but it was closer to stopping dead and turning around. I will be forever grateful to find Rollo steaming up on my shoulder meaning a simple pop pass was all that was needed and Rollo turned on the burners to cover half the pitch and touch down leading to wild celebrations then, at the final whistle and long into the night.
Absolute legend.
Tony Winstone
Witney
RFC
Around 2006, Rollo and I entered the Oxford Town and Gown 1Ok. He would come to my house most days after work and we would go for a run/chat!
We discovered that some mates, Dave and Clarky had also entered and so the competition began immediately, with us confidently telling them how much we would beat them by.
The night before the run, we decided we’d just have a couple of beers. 1am rolls round and we stagger out of iZi as the lights come on. We both made it to the race, seconds before the start.
Approaching from opposite ends of the street and with no time to meet up, Rollo had to join the back of the pack and I nestled myself in amongst the elite runners on the start line. We eventually
met up at the finish, very hungover, sweating more than necessary and having lost to Dave and Clarky. Time for a consolation beer “see you in The Fleece in half an hour”.
Love you always, Rollo. Jez.x
Jez Hicks
Witney RFC
I was incredibly fond of Rollo and I, like so many other people, was devastated to hear that the world had lost him. Although we had not seen each other for some time, I will never forget the fun, laughter and good times we had together, both on and off the rugby pitch.
Ben oozed self-confidence, was charismatic and hilariously witty! He welcomed me as a northern outsider to Witney RFC, we painted Witney & Oxford red together, and we even met up for a night out on the other side of the world (Melbourne) when our backpacking paths crossed. RIP old friend, I miss you!
Tim Muller
Witney
RFC
An absolute gem of a man.
I’m not sure he was ever on time for a rugby game in over a decade with the OGs-so dependably late, we planned for it!
He’d arrive, sports bag slung cross-body, rush in and get changed (with genair, always last in changing room!) and then appear, cycling shorts on, strangest torso to leg ratio ever seen (like Joe in family guy) and always wearing the biggest smile.
Such an affable, warm-hearted human. The first to shake everyone’s hand to see how they were and upbeat if we won, lost or drew.
I only saw him a few times a year, but it was always a genuine pleasure. When I finally get back down to touch over the summer, that’s when I’ll really notice him not being there-we’re poorer for it. What a lovely, lovely human.
Chris Justham
Old Glynonians
Rollo’s most
memorable moments at Old Glynonians
He played 10 seasons for us from 2008/9 onwards.
We won 2 Surrey Bowl titles in that time beating Mitcham in 2010 and Merton in 2013.
In the 2010 final he scored the only try of the game in a 5-0 victory against Mitcham and Carshalton.
His hat trick against Lightwater RFC in 2010- completely unplayable that day.
Part of the team promoted to Surrey 3 in the 16/17 season, and he was part of the team who beat Egham on the last day of the season to secure it.
How incredibly slow he was at downing pints.
The great times we all had together upstairs in the Green Man. Hours playing drinking games, singing songs and general tomfoolery in great spirits. He loved the ‘matchbox game’ the most because there was a competitive element. A group of us would then wobble home to the train station back to London often with a nightcap at Clapham Junction.
I can’t think of any particular anecdotes about Rollo, mainly just his appearance…!
Rollo came to join us at OG’s in our 2nd year I think, he was a friend of James Kennedy-Myers from uni (so say 2-3 years older than me) and we were looking to upgrade our outside backs with some good lads that had gas, some muscle and liked a pint - so Rollo fitted in perfectly! Amusingly, I seem to remember he turned up in one of those fantastic old school cotton v-neck type training tops… proper old school. Tick!
I played many, many times with Rollo where he was either in the centre or wing, we had some fantastic successes and struggles to boot, but he was always there - turning out and giving it everything. I couldn’t never believe how fast his not terribly long, always cycling short-clad legs could carry his upper body, a proper sight in full flight!
He was a top man, one of the most very genuine of people you could possibly meet and being vaguely in a similar industry to Ben work wise, I know others that knew him through work and have said the same.
I look forward to a trot around at Rollo’s home club, in his memory.
Burnsy
Old Glynonians
Now being a member of the OG’s rugby team was not a given. One of the characteristics necessary to be a part of the group was tremendous, good looks. With the notable exception of Chris Justham this was universal and, as centre partners, Ben and I were far and away the two greatest exponents of the handsome theme. But Rollo was a perfectionist and he considered himself a little too gorgeous. Obviously, our centre partnership was impenetrable, and we were beyond any kind of possible injury at the hands of the lower pedigree of man we played against.
So, when Ben came off the pitch with a cut to his face, it was obvious that he’d done this deliberately in order to add some rugged charm to the polished chisel. As a veterinary surgeon I was the resident saw and bones for the team and not only was it a great opportunity for me to have a change from the cats and dogs, but it was also an opportunity for Ben to avoid the A&E queue. Furthermore, it was also a chance for both of us to enjoy a drink together, as the landlord always rewarded the patient and surgeon with some fine Scottish single malt libation.
How I wish I could enjoy one with him now. And so, that fine evening on a table in the pub, I left my mark on Ben in a very physical sense. And when I think of Ben, I can honestly say that, in all my 25 years of playing rugby, and when thinking of all the regular centre partners I had, none came close to bringing, to me, as much joy to the game as Ben did. Hand on heart. I had cameo games with my brother and my dad which were obviously very special, but outside of that, no one came close to Ben. And so he left his mark on me too. And I’ll always treasure it. The joy and privilege that comes with having played with such a truly wonderful person.
Sam Price
Old Glynonians
What a bloke Rollo was, funny, witty and intelligent. Many laughs were shared and your wise cracks in the match reports aimed at my plumpness won’t be forgotten! “And some fat lad kicked the conversion” We were paired together on pub golf, proof that a second row and winger can worked together! You will be greatly missed by us all. It only seem right however that I mention the story of how Rollo got smoked by Timber!
During one of Tuesday evening training, we were doing our usual contact session! This particular drill involved one on one tackling. Ball carrier coming the corner to be faced by a on rushing defender!
On my turn I was to take on Tim Müller! I promptly smashed him into next month! Something that Tim didn’t take to well. A collection of German expletives were muttered under his breath! Judging by the colour of Tim’s face and steam coming from his ears, he wasn’t happy that he’d just been smoked! Whoever was up next was in trouble, we all knew this. Que Rollo!
Rollo hasn’t been paying attention, had been taking the piss out of others and had missed Tim’s embarrassing moment!
Rollo rolled round the corner and was completely emptied by the German missile! Rollo was left in pieces on the floor wondering what had just happened to him and questioning his life choices!!
Simon Copperwheat
Witney RFC
Fond Memories of Rollo
• When we started playing minis rugby there were so few people that I am pretty sure the age group extended from around 5-8years old. There were some familiar names from that crop that would go on to play seniors together, like Carl Strutt, Owen Fowler, and AJ Ferris.
• We were lucky to go on tours to Ireland and Canada in age group rugby. We had a dismal record on tour and lost every game bar our final tour match in Canada when Ben dotted down in the corner to salvage a draw and avoid another tour whitewash.
• I am pretty sure it was on the Canada tour that one of the team did their ribs while diving a to finish a try. Witnessing that seemed to deter Ben from ever trying to dive for the line and instead he perfected the ‘knee-slide’ over the whitewash; a move that always reminded me of a 5yr entering the dancefloor at a wedding.
• We must’ve played around 200 games together in M&J rugby and although we didn’t play together in that many senior games there was always a close understanding. I knew he’d be on the inside shoulder for a short pop, bursting through the gap and 99% of the time dotting down. I think one of the great things about Witney RFC is that we bring through so many players through the M&J system that instinctively know how to play together (Play with All :-)) when they get to seniors.
• A few years ago, I got a group of Fijian troops together from my old unit in the Army and entered the club 7s. Ben jumped at the chance to join us, and we put in a decent showing. The Fijian lads were impressed with Roller’s unpredictable and unconventional style of rugby and gave him ‘honorary’ status as The White Fijian on the team.
Witney RFC
I have such fond memories of Rollo. Having played a bit of rugby together here and there, our friendship really hit it off the summer before I went to uni, as Rollo, Jem and I worked together for a few months putting up Marquees. It was tough work but made so enjoyable by just mucking-in together and having a joke and laugh about pretty much anything. That was Rollo! A great teammate and friend who you could depend on (with plenty of jokes and micky taking along the way).
Joe Collins
Witney RFC
Ben or “Rollo” as he was more commonly known brought more than just cycling shorts and “knee slide” try scoring celebrations to our club. He was a fantastic rugby player with a great set of “wheels” for a lad with a unique running style! The messages I have received for this “Game for Rollo” is testament to how highly regarded he was both at Witney RFC and Old Glynonians RFC. He was a lovely witty and charming guy who will be massively missed by many. I hope that when old enough both Ella and Finn will be able to read this programme and understand that their daddy was a truly top bloke.
Matt Collins
Witney RFC
Ben
Ben Rollinson Witney RFC Career Stats
Team from the 19992000 season game,
Witney vs Wallingford, where Ben scored 7 tries, the most ever in a Witney RFC Game!
Ben had a remarkable career at Witney RFC, coming through every M&J age group, acheiving ‘Player of the Year’ in the 1997-1998 season when he was U16, and playing 1st, 2nd and 3rd team during his 10 years in the senior men’s squad.
To this very day, Ben still holds the club record for the most tries in a game and the most tries in a season, A record which Ben has held since the 1999-2000 season, that’s and impressive 25 years!
Ben Rollinson VS
12th April 1982
10th May 2024
IN HONOUR OF OUR FRIEND AND PLAYER
17th August 2024
Witney RFC, Hailey Road, Witney, OX29 9UH
The family would be incredibly grateful, If you would like to make a donation to either St Christopher’s Hospice or Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK, using one of the QR codes below, thank you.
Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK