Ron Haywood

1927-2009

After being evacuated in the war to Woking, Ron came back to London and joined the navy in his teens; returning to work for his father in the family coffee shop in Putney.

He married Pauline in 1948 and their son Roger was born the following year. Seeking new oppotunities he left the family business and learned his business skills travelling around London selling frozen food.

He had a great love of rugby and played for the Old Wandsworthians; enjoying the social side of the rugby club as well. Two of his proudest moments were playing in the same team as Roger and watching Roger play in the finals of the Middlesex Sevens at Twickenham.

Ron and Pauline went on to become the landlords of the White Hart in Winkfield in 1966 where he Pauline and Roger entertained many of Old Dubs over the following years. Ron and Pauline retired in 1990 and chose to live in Binfield to be near their many friends. They enjoyed a very happy retirement until Pauline’s untimely death in 2005.

Ron carried on as bravely as he could and enjoyed seeing his grandchildren Simon and Georgina when possible, but was devastated when Roger became ill and died in 2007. Ron being Ron he grumbled about everything but never about himself and appreciated all the support he had from friends and family. Ron said his “Thank you’s” by taking his friends out to extravagant lunches and many of the thickening waistlines of his friends are down to him.

This classic image, above, of the top of Putney High Street by Francis Frith serves as a reminder of the days when Ron encouraged numerous young Wandsworth students to join the Rugby Club in deepest Claygate.

Dave Millen