It is with great sadness that the club announces the passing of our dear friend and Antlers stalwart Adrian Yelland. Our ‘Yellie’ passed away at home on Thursday 21st October.

As many of you will be aware Yellie had been bravely fighting against cancer for a number of years and throughout this time he always remained upbeat, positive and determined to kick the Big C into touch. The number of operations, treatments, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and associated procedures that he’d put himself through was astounding and he took them all in his stride. He never lost the ability to enjoy life, have fun and keep doing the things he loved. Even though we all knew that he was in a serious battle, which he might not win, we all started to believe that this man was indestructible, hence the surprise at his untimely departure last week.

Yellie who was one of the clubs esteemed Vice Presidents arrived at Antlers in the early 1980’s when he was in his youthful early 40’s. He had previously played for The Hampstead Hogs, a sociable nomadic BaBa’s style invitational team. Yellie was a rangy 2nd row and played for all teams at the club, but especially the Vets. However, his real talents lay away from the boiler room of the Antlers pack. Yellie was a brilliant singer and a consummate organiser of an unruly rabble, so a perfect match for the club. These talents came to the fore in the bar after a match and most notably on the legendary Antlers Ski trips of the late 1980’s. However, Yellie’s skills found their perfect match in the early noughties with the organisation of the now annual Crinkly Corner fundraising challenges. These fundraising challenges, which he together with the members of our merry band of ex players, lovingly referred to as Crinkly Corner have completed have included such diverse feats as; rowing the length of the Thames in a Skiff, rowing the Ebro River in Spain, rowing the length of the Caledonian canal, walking coast to coast along Hadrian’s Wall, Cycling from London to Paris and walking the South West Coastal footpath to name a few. All of these challenges involved plenty of hard graft, but also plenty of laughs, plenty of beer and plenty of singing. Yellie was in his element. To date these Challenges have raised over £50,000 for worthy causes, including several Cancer charities and the Shooting Star Children's Hospice. These challenges and the funds they continue to raise will be Yellie’s legacy and it is hoped will continue to keep the members of Crinkly Corner gainfully occupied for a week of fun and fundraising in his memory each year.

We will all miss Adrian and the thoughts and condolences of everyone associated with the club are with Adrians wife Sheila, daughter Lucy and step-sons George and Seb at this sad time.

The Antlers 1st XV observed a minutes silence before last Saturdays fixture in memory of Yellie and also former club Chairman (1981/82) Roy CHADWICK who also recently passed away.

Details of the funerals will be posted in due course, but in the meantime any further enquiries you may have can be sent to Gareth Cross via rugby@teddingtonrfc.co.uk