Farnham Rugby Club is a community club and as such celebrates sporting triumphs and milestones in people’s sporting lives.
It also comes together to support each other in times of loss. Last year, 2022, saw more than its fair share of the latter.
On Sunday, December 11, the club unexpectedly lost one of its L’Escargot veterans team players Adrian Myers, aged just 50, to a sudden and virulent attack of leukaemia.
He was known throughout the club as a skilled sports and portrait photographer. A cursory glance at his portfolio of work at adrianmyers.com reveals the rugged faces of his team-mates alongside celebrities from the world of sport, film and television.
As well as playing vets’ rugby, Adrian was a coach for the current under-12 team, in which his youngest son Harry played.
Despite the frozen ground before Christmas that put paid to most rugby, the vets were determined to pay homage to their departed player in the best way they knew – on the pitch.
They contacted London Irish (the Exiles) who they were scheduled to play in a Surrey Vets League fixture and asked if they would still make the trip for a game of touch in memory of Adrian.
The brotherhood of rugby meant the Exiles were there to play, despite the sub-zero temperatures. An enjoyable and entertaining match ended six tries to two in London Irish’s favour. Farnham had loaned the Exiles some of their better players to even out the numbers. However, they packed a hefty punch with deft hands throughout the team, and a notably rapid left winger who scored two of their tries.
After the game, the vets’ festive cheese and wine evening provided the perfect opportunity both to host our friends from London Irish and share tales of Adrian’s escapades both on and off the pitch.
The club extend their deepest sympathies to Louise, Adrian’s wife, and his children Georgia, Olly (who often joined his dad and the vets for a game of touch on Thursday evenings), Eloise and Harry, and his wider family.
John Hartley