As the club enters it's 80th year we have a chance to take stock and learn about some of our more longer serving members. To kick us off we have the evergreen Fred Tush aka Fred the Flag. Let's find out more about the man who come rain, shine or even tornado will be on the sidelines and in shorts! I sent Fred this as a template for him to fill in the gaps. Feel freee to add to Fred's story.
When did you join the club?
In 1959 whilst school 1st XV captain I played 2 or 3 games for the Old Wirralian's 1st XV.
Why Wirral?
As I was an old boy. In 1958/59 I was the school rep on the rugby club committee.

Brief history of playing/coaching/volunteering career at the club.
Mostly 1st XV when playing, although with working shift and also having a family there was a period at Hooton when I played in the lower sides. Played for B'Head Park 1966/ 68 and on coming back, I
was voted club captain for the 1969/1970 season but then had to step down as I went to work in Spain that June. I also captained a 7th XV when we had a glut of school boys available one half term.
Dor's, THE BOSS, used to help prepare the after match sarnies at Hooton, with Shirley Shaw nee McMillan. She also used to organise the "wives" to prepare the after match food in the early days at Thornton Common Road and she also used to prepare the buffet for the VP's Lunches.
When Brian Ellis & ? West started the mini rugby in 1974, came down one Sunday morning with Dors, Stuart & Roger to find a single lady (Jan Hozack)from the social committee cleaning up the main clubroom by herself after the club social the night before. Thus I set up a "Sunday morning clean-up rota" as it was wrong for the social committee members to do this as well. It was not long before Dors & I became part of the social committee itself. Then it was Dors who started the X-Mas Ploughman's Lunch with the Brass Band. We used to wash the lettuce for the Ploughman's in the bath at home!
Club Chairman 1977 - 1988 and also 1997- 1999
Organised the rugby club Dinner for a few yrs pre 1991 and then1998-2014
Senior Members coordinator since 2000
200 Club “manager” 2004 to date.

Favourite memory as a player/coach etc?
Playing with both my sons Stuart and Roger for the 2nd XV vs Amsterdam on tour, a game which we won. The tour itself was a “favourite memory” for many reasons, one being applauded by the audience for our “acceptable” rugby songs and behaviour in the boat lounge on the way over, having finished a full keg of beer on route from the club to Harwich; even after doing “Singing in the Rain” to completion. And then there was Vando's bugle call!

Favourite player of their generation and why?
There are many but my vote has to go to someone who I played with, Mike Hardwick. (I played #7 at school until the 6th form when I deputised to our centre for an afternoon game vs W.P. St. Helens as he played for Sheffield United school boys (eventually winger for L'Pool). As a centre, wherever you went or made a break, you would hear Mike on your shoulder saying “I'm with you”.

Favourite current player and why?
Must be "thou shall not pass" Robbie Pearl.

Proudest moment as a member of the club?
Apart from being so proud of the current level of rugby the club are playing, the support my youngest Roger received from club members when he fractured the top of his spine. He was in Salford Hospital & when the doors opened at visiting time, the guy in the next bed would say; “here comes Roger's visitors” as they poured in. The same can be said about members response to Doreen's (1st female VP) current situation. Virtually all bar her rugby friends have disappeared.