Lewes RFC

It is with great sadness the club must announce the passing of Pete Barron, who died on 21 May 2025 after losing his long battle with his illness.

Pete was a Lewesman through and through.  He played for the senior teams for a number of seasons, and I recall him regularly turning out for the 2^nd XV and encouraging the Colts as they made their way into the senior teams, educating them in the dark arts of the forward pack.  He was proud to have worn the rampant lion on his chest and the blue and white of Lewes RFC.

As I recall, Pete had four true loves in his life.  First and foremost, his family, Karen and Louis.  Karen helped out a great deal at the club and Louis played Junior rugby for Lewes, but followed his fathers second love, that of cricket.  Pete was a formidable cricketer, representing Glynde & Beddingham Cricket Club, where he held a number of roles, but my abiding memory is of him coaching my children as they made their journey through junior cricket to the senior cricket teams there.  Pete’s third love was rugby.  He played, coached, coerced and then sat on the senior committee at Lewes RFC.  He was a fantastic asset to the club and we are indebted to him for his time, enthusiasm and love of the sport.  His fourth love was cycling.  Many a time he would zip past me on the lanes around where we lived usually shouting at me at the last minute to get out of the way, just to give me a good-humoured scare.  Pete was instrumental in organising the “Ride for Loris” which aimed to raise funds for one of the then Lewes Women’s rugby team who was injured during a rugby match.

 I first met Pete when my eldest started U6’s at Lewes.  Pete was, at the time the Minis and Junior Chairman.  He was instrumental in ensuring all the Minis teams were attending the friendly fixtures and competitive festivals and also that the Juniors were staffed and coached properly.  He had a very keen sense of humour, he had to, because some of us coaches that were under him were absolute idiots.  He was a very patient man.

Along with Bob Lockyer, Pete set up the Lewes minis festival which set the format that was enhanced by subsequent Minis Chairmen to become one of the most popular end of season festivals in Sussex.

Pete was made Vice-President for his services to the club and regularly attended the lunches and continued to support the senior teams whenever his diary and illness allowed.

The funeral will be held on 16^th June 2025 at 11.00 at Wealden Crematorium with post service refreshments at Glynde and Beddingham Cricket Club. 

Donations can be made in Pete’s memory to Glynde and Beddingham CC here: Pete Barron Memorial

Robert Moore,

President.