FORMER Pocklington RUFC wing Tim Slater has died, aged 72.

Slater was a prolific try-scorer on the flanks for Pocklington during the early 1970s and went onto to organise several events at the club as well as writing articles for The Press after his playing career finished.

He also served as the club president from 2005 and 2013, and has been described as “ simply the biggest character in the history of Pocklington rugby”.

On Thursday, Slater died at his home with his family by his side.

An obituary on the club’s website, written by Phil Gilbank, read: “After being an even-time teenage flying machine, he changed modes in the early 1970s to become a wing than ran over opponents instead of past them.

“He continued to be a prolific first team try scorer, with a season’s best of 24 touchdowns in 1972-73 for another decade, then continued as an inside back in the lower teams until arthritis finally got the better of him.

“From his earliest days at the club he was organising and entertaining.

“He ran Pocklington’s first quiz nights, he conceived Pocklington’s first public BBQ (over 2,000 people attended), and a whole series of other memorable social events followed, including a unique ‘Riverboat Shuffle’ on the Humber ferry.

“His erudite match reports in local newspapers, often with Latin quotes or passages from the classics, were stuff of legend.

“But he was both exceptionally creative and highly organised, performing further valuable service as club statistician and membership secretary.

“For 30 years his wit shone through as the Pock 7s announcer and commentator on Good Friday, and as the MC at club dinners, while as half of ‘Les Deux Tims’ he led Pocklington on a series of outstanding and meticulously planned club tours to France and beyond.

“Tim has suffered an increasingly debilitating illness for several years, which was both steadfastly borne and cared for.

“His last appearance on the touchline at Pocklington, in a wheelchair for the West Hartlepool game in February, was a worthy effort and event for all concerned.

“Tim was also a devoted family man, who became as big an an institution at Wressle as Pocklington from the mid-1970s onwards. With typical creative invention he brought his two domaines - rugby and village - together every summer for the Wressle Mile.

“Our thoughts go out to his wife Jane, whose care and dedication to the last has been incredible, and to daughter Susie and son Robbie, who also followed him in wearing a Pocklington winger’s shirt. Tim Slater will be much missed and never replaced.”