It is with great sadness we announce the death of Dave Strange who passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday night (August 4th) through a highly aggressive lung cancer.

A former pupil of RGS, Dave's first job was as a teacher at Raby Street School before changing career and working for the DHSS and then moving to South Tyneside Council as project manager. On retirement, he became a part-time enthusiastic and successful trader at Tynemouth Station market on most weekends before finally giving up his stall.

At Novos, Dave was an innovative Director Of Youth Rugby and coached the U13 side for many years but his adminstrative skills really came to the fore as manager of the Kestrels and later Centurions. In addition to successfully managing the club's first tentative steps into IT when he produced the first spreadsheets of player details, he was one of the driving forces behind the very first Centurions Tour, the infamous 'Auld Reekie' tour of 2007 where not a minute of drinking time was wasted playing rugby.

Our deepest sympathies go to his sons, Rob and Ed, his wife Esther, and the whole family.