I mentioned this in the footballing obituaries thread what with a loyal Hornet and dear friend of Knight GT passing away. Lots of club forums have a thread dedicated to supporters who have passed on. Many of whom have supported their club for decades and are well known figures. Or indeed not so well known but have their little area in the ground with fellow fans who they have been going to the ground or trips away for years. So the purpose of this thread is for the use of anyone who has lost a friend, relative or family member and would like to make it known so that others can pay their respects. All lives are worth remembering. Everyone is unique and once they are gone they are gone. No one like them will ever be here again in this particular Universe. Bless them all.
I am very sad to report the below on behalf of a long standing member of this forum who is a fairly frequent poster. As his brother was a long standing supporter of the club knowing far more fans than he, he felt this was fitting- "My brother and well known fan lost his short battle with cancer over the weekend. Rob Jenner was a long standing season ticket holder along with his son and many members of his family. They sit in various parts of the GT stand. He had followed the hornets since a teenager and was a Cat A away fan. He had followed them to Kaiserlautern and so many away games over the years. 60 is no age and whilst not a member of the forum he enjoyed reading a lot of the posts here. Going to games will never be the same for us now-a part of the reason for looking forward to going has also now gone forever. He is at peace now" Sincerest condolences to the Jenner family. God bless you lad.
Heartbreaking news to hear. Warmest thoughts, prayers and condolences to all his family and close friends. RIP xxx
I always regarded Rob as one of a select group of legendary die hard Watford fans. He was always there from way back in the day. We have lost too many from this elite group in the last year or so. He always had time for a chat at home or away in the pub. This is so sad. RIP Rob.
Sad to announce the loss of another true loyal fan of many decades. Peter Spracklen passed peacefully during the night of June 5, 2023. Pete had been diagnosed with cancer a few weeks ago, but this after several years of health complications, and ultimately the latest setback was simply one too much. Some of you surviving die-hards may remember he was known by many as Carrier Bag Pete - in said bag would invariably be a copy of the day's Guardian, often the week's Watford Observer, and post-match would go into the bag a match-day programme of which he was an avid collector, and sometime a fanzine too. Peter was as ever-present a fan as you could find, home and away spanning around 50 years. Also regularly present for England Home and Away until more recently, and if he was to miss out on a 100% attendance record for Watford in a season, it would usually be because he was on 'England Away' duty. Watford away days - or weekends - would often be meticulously organized to take in the finest real ale establishments both before and after matches. Peter was someone who cared about being there wherever Watford were playing, and also about the club's fortunes, and there are many of us who already miss him deeply.
I remember him as that "carrier bag" guy-when ever I went away - loads over the years and maybe half a dozen times a season nowadays he would always be there-(with alcohol). RIP Pete
Another one of our greats goes to golden yellow cloud in the sky. Thank you Pete for your dedication and time to Watford FC, through the good times and bad. RIP xxx
Had his funeral last week. Must have been 200 people there with lots part of the Watford FC family. Big group of us all in WFC ties gave him a guard of honour as he came through in the car and there was a minutes applause at the end of the ceremony. I still find it tough to think I won't see him again RIP mate
That was such a beautiful thing to do. Well done to yourself and all who took part in that. I am certain he would of appreciated it. So touching. xx
Bumped into Pete and his posse a good few times over the years at away games up North, and as mentioned above, without fail in real ale boozers both before and after games. A great bunch of lads, and seeing them always made for a great start to the afternoon, however the football panned out later. Hope he's enjoying a celestial pint and WFC-related chinwag with my dad and my brother... RIP Pete
It is. And always will be. You just keep them in your heart and mind always. As Skyla said I'm sure he would have greatly appreciated the send off you gave him. I won't say stay strong because you are anyway but grief is what it is. You never get to speak to, hold and ever talk to the individual again. Share a joke and laugh. The simplest things in life are the most important. God bless him. Always.
Always saw Pete with his band of mates at away games going right back to the 70s when I started. Another true Watford legend gone. RIP Pete.
Thanks for posting. I used to pop into his Cafe in Clerkenwell over the years. The Watford statue in the corner. Always had the latest news on Watford. Loved his football with England, Watford and could often be seen at local non-league games when he could fit it in. RIP Peter.
Nice mention. I think Peter felt proud to maintain a 'shrine' to Watford F.C. at his cafe - the statue, signed photo of Graham Taylor, and team photo from the golden era, possibly one or two other Watford curios as well. And also true he loved attending grass roots football too. Living in Wealdstone for several decades he followed Stones fortunes closely and would be there for home matches where possible, of course their home in recent years being at Ruislip Manor. Also keen to attend elsewhere when there were gaps in Watford and Wealdstone fuxtures - he and I spent a lovely cold afternoon watching Kings Langley v Telford in the FA Trophy back in one of the winter months this year..... Incidentally, Peter's funeral is to be held at Breakspeare Crematorium in Ruislip, Friday June 30, at 11.45. Any of you seasoned veterans who remember Pete are welcome to attend.
Rob Jenner "We had Rob Jenner's funeral last week. Over 275 attended at West Herts Crematorium with a similar number at the wake which we held in the Horizons suite at the ground, as this was fitting for a long standing supporter. His last away game was Q.P.R so somewhat poignant that this is the opening fixture of a season that will not see him there. That will be hard for many of us. One of the mourners works at the club and in speaking to Tom Cleverly the next day, Rob was mentioned in conversation as was one of the Eulogies spoken by his son. Without any prompting Tom made a short personal video for his son offering his condolences and hoping the team can do both Rob and his son proud in the future. Nice touch." RIP Rob. Once again on behalf of Rob's nearest and dearest our thoughts are with his family and friends. And indeed all those who have recently passed never to see their beloved Watford FC take to the green sward again.
What's happened to @Burnsy? I haven't noticed one of his rants in a while. I hope he isn't the latest to go to the great internet football forum in the sky
@GoingDown is another who has disappeared. Find both incredibly annoying but sort of miss them when they're not here
Thank you so much for posting these details. I'd noticed his cafe hadn't been open for a while and was sadly expecting this news. I heard only today from one of the other regulars that he had died, so I'll try to get to the funeral. On the upside, at least Peter won't have to endure (and he would NEVER use the L word) "the Bedfordshire team" in a league above us next season!
God, you’re gone a few weeks and you make it into the obituary section! But I will be staying off the forum for the main part going forward now anyway. I’ll pop in now and then - but I can, hand on heart, say I haven’t missed it. I’ll lurk a bit, read some views/opinions/rumours, and maybe post something here and there. But I’ve fallen out of love with the club - and the recent fan ‘event’ just confirmed the club I want isn’t returning any time soon. Hope you’re all doing well however!
Just a thought ( © O. Phillips) Burnsy, but us lot continuing to post on here despite the hugely diminished love for our club because of the feckers that run it is, for me, an antidote to their tenure. I hope that you reconsider your stance. Should you not, thanks for your posts over the years (well, about two or three of them, lol etc. etc.), and enjoy your time wherever you spend it. SCG
