Tributes to staunch fan (From Gazette Series)

Tributes to staunch fan

TRIBUTES have been pouring in, remembering Stuart Holloway, from Wotton-under-Edge, who died last Thursday.

Until recently, he was a familiar figure in Long Street and High Street, particularly known for his support of Wotton Rovers Football Club. For many years he sold tickets for the club's weekly draw, standing near The White Lion pub and chatting to pasasers-by.

Wotton Rovers observed two minutes' silence before games on Saturday and players will be dedicating their first team's home game to him and wearing black armbands tomorrow.

His funeral on Wednesday involved contributions from many Wotton Rovers management members and footballers.

He was buried in his club tracksuit and football shirt, following a final ride up Wotton's main streets.

For his 90th birthday in June Rovers presented him with the new season's strip, displaying his own personal 'Holloway' and '90'.

Despite being born with crippled legs and wearing calipers until he was a teenager, he was passionately fond of sport, playing both cricket and football.

His daughter, Claire Paget, said: "He was always one of the first to be picked for the football team. He used to say the leg irons gave him an edge in the tackle."

During the Second World War, because of his disability Mr Holloway could not join the armed forces so he continued to work for the Bristol Aeroplane Company; and contributed to the war effort by becoming a special constable and a fire watcher.

Stuart Holloway was also a great fisherman, usually on a waterside bank just after midnight on the first day of the season.

Wally Paget said: "I'd often drop my father-in-law off at Tortworth lake before 7am, with strict instructions not to be collected until after 6pm."

Mr Holloway had lived in Severn Beach for almost 40 years prior to his move to Wotton. He was in many ways a complete countryman - very knowledgeable about the tides and oddities of the River Severn, identifying wildfowl and their calls, and naming hedgerow plants.

One of his memorial wreaths displayed sunflowers, leaves and orchids.

Mrs Paget said: "To me he was not only a wonderful father but also a friend and teacher. I remember him taking me and my friends for walks in the snow where he would point out all the various animal footprints."

She added: "He never saw his father as he was killed in France in November, 1914, and he had a difficult young life but he and my mum gave me a very happy childhood and took many of my friends under their wing too."

Stuart Holloway also adored his grandchildren, Fenella and John, and his great-grandchildren, James and Jessica. John was with him when he died.

Until about five weeks before his death Mr Holloway had his own flat at Mr and Mrs Pagets' house in Dyers Brook. He was then taken to Frenchay hospital with bronchial pneumonia and spent his last days in his own room at Pennwood Lodge, Kingswood.

Mrs Paget said: "We couldn't have wished for kinder or more caring staff to look after my father than at Pennwood.

She recalled: "He was once asked what was the proudest moment of his long life. I thought it might have been me being born or his marriage to my mother, but he replied immediately 'Being voted Clubman of the Year by Wotton Rovers Football Club' - and we were relegated to second place!

"He's probably selling Rovers tickets to St Peter at this moment!"