THE funeral cortege for a Helensburgh Rugby Club stalwart of the 1990s will pass through the town on Monday.
Chris Wilson, who died suddenly aged 53 on Monday, June 1, was a regular in the club’s second team during the decade, having joined the club with no previous experience of playing rugby, and was a popular figure with his clubmates on and off the field.
In line with current restrictions, Chris's funeral on June 15 will be strictly private.
However, friends and rugby club members will be able to pay their respects in the town prior to the service.
READ MORE: Helensburgh funeral directors encourage public to show support for grieving families
The cortege will leave Chris's home in Helensburgh's James Street at 1.40pm on Monday, and will proceed along West Clyde Street, past Kidston Park, and turning right on to Rhu Road Higher before passing Helensburgh RFC's grounds at Ardencaple.
It will continue along West Montrose Street and down Sinclair Street en route to Cardross Crematorium.
A club spokesman said: "Known to all as The Count, Chris joined the club in the early 1990s, having never previously played any rugby.
"He’d be the first to agree that his grasp of the rules never improved the longer he played, but he was a no-nonsense lock forward who always gave his all on the pitch.
"He played mainly for the second XV though on occasion was selected for the One’s and he never let anyone down. But Count’s main strengths were in being a team-player and never taking a backward step in support of his mates, on and off the pitch.
"Stories abound about the Count and his antics – everyone will have their favourite.
"Like the time he was sent off after only 10 minutes in a game down in Cumnock and worryingly enquired afterwards to me: “Can I still take a pie even if I’ve had a red card?”
"He was a larger-than-life character with a laugh to match and an even more wicked sense of humour.
"Though he’d not been as active at the club for a wee while, he was still a hugely popular figure at Ardencaple."
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