Dear YHC family,

I'm sorry to let you all know that sadly our club stalwart, and possibly our longest serving non-hockey playing member, Dave Chatfield recently passed away.

Unfortunately, Dave had not been in the best of health for the last couple of years, having been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, but was still coming up to the pitch and club to watch games (brought by his loving wife Sue), have a beer at the club and enquire about new members up until a few years ago. He would always ask after families every time he saw many of the club members, reinforcing the club ethos of YHC being a family club.

Dave, also known as “Chatters” or “Chatfield”, was involved with YHC from 1983 when both his daughters were playing for the club. Before too long he was training to be an umpire as well as coaching and managing the U18 girls (fillies). 1986 saw the first year YHC fillies were involved in a hockey tournament held with Maidenhead, Brigg and Krimpen MHC in attendance.

Dave served as Chairman from1989-1993 and was part of the YCHA steering committee for the development of the clubhouse in Sean Devereux Park which opened officially in August 1999. Dave did his upmost to make sure that match reports were in the local papers each week and would keep these and share these religiously. We still have many of these to this day. Dave did a stint at Club Secretary, was involved at District U16 girls level and umpired at Hampshire level. He was always busy, involved in hockey.

Dave was hugely loved by all at Yateley Hockey Club. He will be fondly remembered by all who knew him.

The funeral will be held at Easthampstead Crematorium at 12:30 on Wednesday 7th October. The wake will follow at East Berkshire golf club

If teams would like to observe a minute's silence before this weekend's matches, it would be a greatly appreciated mark of respect.

Rest in peace dear friend. Say hi to Reggie, Biddy and Speedy for us.
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