The eulogy delivered by former Chairman Andy Foster on Monday 19th June 2023 and tributes delivered by Larry Edwards, Byron's brother and David Golder, former Head of Manor School are reproduced here in full here for those who were unable to attend or view the live stream:

For Byron

There really is only one way to begin a rugby tribute to Byron and you all know what to do!

Oggy! Oggy! Oggy!
(Oi! Oi! Oi!)
Oggy!
(Oi!)
Oggy!
(Oi!)
Oggy! Oggy! Oggy!
(Oi! Oi! Oi!)

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, we need a little decorum. So, I will ask you to refrain from going over to the windows and banging on them shouting, ‘We want Santa!’. Which, as many of you know, is something that Byron made the kids do every year at the rugby club annual Christmas party.
As we could see Santa coming down the car park on his sleigh, Byron would whip the room into a frenzy. It was pure excitement mixed with anticipation and the noise was unbelievable.
It was a joy to see, and I was never quite sure who enjoyed that ritual most, the kids or Byron!
As we all know, outside of his family, rugby was Byron’s greatest love, and in particular his beloved Mansfield Rugby Club, who I am proud and honoured to represent today. Byron loved his striped tour blazer and Helen asked that we wear them today, for him.
I’m not here to tell rugby stories, there are just too many of them and I’m sure you’ll hear plenty when we all go back to the rugby club afterwards.
However, I would like to talk to you about the man I knew, what Byron meant to the rugby club what he did for the club. Also, why he was such a special person in our lives and why he meant so much to us all at Mansfield Ruby Club.
The morning of 22nd May 2023 will live long in our memories, because a loud and ominous sound could be heard above the usual hustle and bustle of a regular Monday morning. It was the sound of many hearts breaking, as we received the news that Byron had passed away.
We had just returned from the club’s annual tour on the Sunday night and after three days in Cardiff of what he would call ‘rugby revelry’, something which Byron would have been front and centre of in his day, and with new memories made, many stories to tell and friendships strengthened, we slept, blissfully unaware of the news that was to greet us the next morning.
It was perhaps both fitting and poetic that the last tour he saw us embark upon turned out to be a very special one, as his beloved rugby club visited his beloved Wales, the land of his birth.
The sense of loss that Helen and all the family are feeling is immense. Losing Byron so suddenly has been devasting and they are gracious enough to understand and accept that this loss, extends in some way, to all of us who knew him, whether it was through rugby, education, masonry or socially.
In this modern age of social media and instant communications we have the facility to share our thoughts immediately and as the sad news spread, the outpouring of love and respect was overwhelming.
From a rugby perspective, it wasn’t just from the members our club, but from many rugby clubs around the area who knew Byron over the decades of his rugby life. Some represented here today.
The number of emails, phone calls and messages received, together with the sheer volume of comments posted on social media was quite breathtaking and truly heartwarming.
I doubt any of us should be surprised by that.
Many of the tributes paid, not surprisingly, contained similar sentiments and descriptions of the person they knew.
Many of you have said what a true gentleman he was, a wonderful man, charismatic, a good friend and someone who always had time for everyone. Summed up with ‘a true rugby man’ and as a person, simply, a legend.
A legend, that he was, but perhaps that’s a word that has been over-used in recent times to describe something far less than what it actually is. So maybe it’s time to reset the bar on that one and use it more sparingly and only to describe the likes of Byron, and nothing less.
Seldom in life, will any of us meet a person who has had such a deep and profound impact on the lives of so many people, as is evident today.
Also, from what I’ve heard over the last few weeks, it would appear that Byron had discovered the ability to make time stand still, because literally everyone I’ve spoken to has said the same thing; “He always had time for you”.
I’m not sure how he managed to do it, but he did make you feel very special every time he spoke to you. It appeared that, in that moment he was talking to you, he made you feel like you were the only thing that mattered. A gift not many possess.
Perhaps that is why for each and every one of us, the sense of loss feels so very personal.
Although he spent most of his life here in what he liked to call his adopted country, as you know, he was a proud Welshman.
He was proud of his heritage and grateful for the time he spent in the Rhondda in his youth, and he demonstrated that at every opportunity.
However, it was here that he forged his rugby journey. Initially at Southwell, then as Mansfield Rugby Club formed in 1956, he moved to Mansfield and joined the club soon after. So not quite a founder member, but very close to it, and he was destined to play a vital role in the club’s future development.
As Head of Middle School at the Manor, Byron ensured that there was a conveyor belt of rugby players joining the club each year.
Some probably went voluntarily, some were undoubtedly press-ganged and others, as my friend Lee Kirk put it, were lured by the promise a glass of brown pop! (for the safeguarding officers in the room I’m sure that was a joke!).
Over the last few weeks alone, I wish I had a pound for every time I’ve heard someone say, “He was the reason I played rugby”.
And if I said to you, “Do you know why God gave you hands boy?”. You know what comes next, “To catch a rugby ball!”.
If I said, “Forwards go forward”, you know what came next, that’s right, “Forwards never go backwards!”.
Also, “If in doubt, kick it out” and “If you can’t tackle, you can’t play rugby”. There were many more sayings he often used when coaching.
Of course, when anything needed doing at the club, he would ask for help from our many volunteers and declare with his rallying call, there are; ‘Willers & Won’ters’ … ‘doers & don’ters’ and he sometimes added ‘and the moaners and groaners’.
Mainly because he was a man of action himself, a ‘doer’. He had no time for those who talked a good fight but were not prepared to put their best foot forward, to lend a hand and do everything they could to ensure that the job got done.
He knew that’s how you build a successful rugby club, by leading from the front, taking action and being a ‘doer!
He was witness to and instrumental in affecting many changes to our club over the years both on and off the pitch. It is no exaggeration to say that our club would not be the success story it is today without the hard work, commitment and influence that Byron gave in abundance in his different roles within the club over the last 65 years.
In his younger days as a player and Captain, he excelled. He was a gifted First XV Centre, but when some young guns arrived, and he was by then in his mid-thirties, he found himself in the second team.
However, undaunted, he reinvented himself as a Scrum Half and not long after went straight back into the First Team!
As he played down through the teams in his rugby dotage he played in many positions, mostly to help develop young lads coming through. In doing so, he proudly declared himself the shortest Number 8 in our club’s history!
As our Club Captain he galvanised the whole playing side of the club over many years, often dealing with some challenging characters.
He was also one of our most prolific youth coaches too. Not only at the rugby club, but also after retiring from work, he was going back into the Manor to coach, and this was following a hip replacement!
As Chairman for 14 years, through his leadership he helped to develop the club with decisive action, wise words, infectious enthusiasm and of course his enormous strength of character.
In 2013 he was honoured to become our Club President, a position he held for 10 years before stepping down into full retirement at our AGM only a few weeks ago.
In our club, the President is a ceremonial role bestowed upon an individual who is recognised for their overall contribution to the club over many years and someone held in the highest esteem by everyone. Byron was only our third ever President which was something he was incredibly proud of.
Two years before he stepped down as Chairman in 2000, he asked me if I would be prepared to stand for election and take over the role. I wasn’t confident about that at all because at that time I was considered to be a little on the young side to be Chairman.
However, Byron thought I could do it and he believed in me. He told me that he would be there to guide and mentor me through the early days until I found my feet, and of course, there was always plenty of brown pop to help on the darker days!
However, it wasn’t just the early days, he was there for me during the entire 21 years I was in the role, and beyond. There was never a time when I didn’t seek his opinion, learn from his knowledge and was constantly marvelled by his words of wisdom.
Also, for many years, it didn’t matter where I went or which rugby club I visited, I was often greeted with, “Hi Andy, how are you doing - how is Byron?”. Which is testament to the lasting impression he left on many others in our game.
Like many of you, when I met Byron, I was just a child. I was 14 years old, but it wasn’t as a student at school (at least not his) as I met him at the rugby club.
As we had no youth teams as such back then, it was a case of play senior rugby or nothing. So, I didn’t see a teacher, despite the 20 year age gap. During those early years I just saw a rugby player, a mate who I trained with, played rugby with, toured with and someone whose company I enjoyed.
However, one of the many gifts Byron possessed was his ability to allow those of us that he had known as a child, to grow up… well, at least grow older.
As you will no doubt have experienced if you knew Byron from school, then when you met him in later life, he treated you like an adult. He may still have seen echoes of the child he once knew in you, but he knew he was talking to a more evolved version of you. And he remembered everything!
As Helen told me, even if he didn’t quite recall the name, he remembered faces and invariably had a memory or a story to tell about you, or in some cases maybe even to recall an ‘incident’ involving you (back to Kirky again).
Now I know that I’m not in an exclusive club here as I’m willing to wager that everyone here at some point in their lives has been mentored, coached or maybe even just helped out by a few pearls of wisdom that came from Byron in some way, as he was never short of something to say when you needed it the most.
He was great company to be with and was always ready with a tale or two, a quote or anecdote that was always perfect for the moment.
As well as I’ll miss seeing him at the rugby club, I’ll miss our regular phone calls too. These became more regular and ever more important during the pandemic when we were all isolating and couldn’t see anyone.
These telephone calls were to keep him up to date on everything that was happening at the club during that difficult time. I think we both enjoyed them, so afterwards the pandemic we just continued with the regularity of them ever since.
He was very keen to know that all was well with what he liked to call ‘our little big club’. These calls could be amusing too and usually started with “Andy boy, how you doin’?”.
This was then this was followed by two minutes of sorting his hearing aid out with the phone!
“You there boy?” … “Yes By” … “Andy boy, you there?” … “Yes I can hear you By … “Helen, Helen is this turned up?” and so it went on.
Those little things will live long in the memory.
Byron could be a force of nature and it’s fair to say that he lived heartily and enjoyed life to the full. He knew how to live in the now.
As Helen and I both agreed the other day in a moment of reflection, we concluded, boy didn’t he have a ball! Life was all about the journey for Byron and not the destination.
He loved a party, especially fancy dress, both at the rugby club and at home. If you ever went to his house to one, you’ll know that rather than have people sit around just chatting he would insist that everyone do a turn, maybe a song or poem to recite.
So, you’d better come with something prepared!
We will all miss his infectious laughter, the way he would begin telling a story and then start laughing at what was coming next, so that he would barely be able to finish it.
His speeches and presentations at the rugby club were always heartfelt and inspirational, “Our little big club is in rude health”, he would often say.
His words would be dripping with pride at what we have achieved at our club over the years and full of admiration for the many volunteers who give so much of themselves, just as he did, by the example he set.
Mansfield Rugby Club will never feel quite the same without Byron, that’s for sure. His name will be forever synonymous with the club.
Such was the respect we all had for him that even with a full clubhouse he was never without a seat because someone always gave up theirs for him.
A rugby club is physically just bricks and mortar, but it’s ethos, what it stands for and its very soul are determined by the people within it.
The people who turn up every week, rain or shine to play for their club, or to coach others by passing on the necessary skills and knowledge to the younger ones, helping them to realise their potential.
As well as those who administer and run the club to ensure its future. It is their pride, their hard work and their passion that is the glue holding the club together.
Throughout his life at our club, Byron embraced and embodied all of that as a player, a coach and as an administrator.
It’s an impossible task to sum up the phenomenal contribution that Byron has made to our club, what he meant to those of us within it and why he was loved so much.
Also, I know that he would be the first to say, modestly, it was not just him, but all of those who have gone before and blazed a trail for us today.
Modesty aside, it’s plain to see what he did and we all know the impact he had on our club over the decades.
Rugby, and Mansfield Rugby Club in particular, was a huge part of his life and he gave so much to it.
Byron had many proud days at our club throughout the years. He witnessed many social events, celebrations and special occasions.
Plus, from those early days being in the squad of our first ever County Cup win in 1978, to enjoying seeing our many County and Three Counties cup wins and league promotions over the years.
He took immense pride in seeing his club produce many players from our junior and senior men’s rugby, and more recently from girls and women’s rugby, go on to represent Mansfield Rugby Club at county, regional and international level.
As well as those now playing Premiership and Championship rugby.
I’m certain that he can rest safe in the knowledge that the part he played in our club’s success to date was without question a significant one and his influence over those 65 years has made much of what we have today possible.
So perhaps the greatest compliment you can pay our friend and the best way to keep his memory alive, is that every time you catch yourself saying the words, or even thinking them (and I’m sure you will) …
‘There are Willers & won’ters … doers & don’ters’ or any other pearls of wisdom imparted to you over the years, that you smile quietly to yourself and maybe take the time to explain to whoever you are talking to where that came from and why it means so much.
Then at the very next opportunity raise a glass and toast the man whose influence has helped to shape the person you are today.
It's doubtful that Byron ever fully appreciated just how much he helped many of us over the years. Teaching was in his blood and he never really stopped.
I loved the way he could flit from being a mate you could have a laugh with, then as he was to Larry, like an older brother you felt protected by and then to being like a father figure who you learnt so much from.
And he knew exactly which character to be at exactly the right time!
Personally I will be forever grateful for everything he gave to me, every lesson learnt, every memory made. I loved him very much and I will miss him always.
However, as much as you and I will miss him, the void left by our friend Byron; this wonderful, extraordinary man and great character, means that his loss will be felt most by those closest to him, and right now, our heartfelt thoughts are with Helen, Alison, Alex and of course Larry and his family.
Very soon, I hope the tears will turn to smiles as you recall the many happy times and great memories you have of a loving, kind and generous husband, dad, granddad, and brother. A man who has left a lasting legacy that means so much, not only to your family, but to so many others.
Byron knew he wasn’t going to live forever, but in our ‘Little Big Club’ he has helped create something that he was extremely proud of and can be sure will endure for many more generations, long into the future.
As my good friend Bob Jamieson commented to me recently when we were talking about Byron, he said:
“A measure of the man is how long we keep telling stories about him around the campfire in years to come”.
Byron’s influence over so many of us and the legacy he leaves behind in life, and in particular at Mansfield Rugby Club, is such, that I suspect those stories will never stop being told.
Byron would always finish any presentation with a toast, just as he did at our annual dinner recently, and whilst we can’t toast with a drink right now, I can tell you what he said, which was:
“Here’s to the Future Health, Prosperity and Happiness of Mansfield Rugby Club!”.
A sentiment I would echo wholeheartedly.
Finally, to Byron, I say, you will never be forgotten, farewell and thank you for everything my old friend… Calon Lan.

Your friend
Andy Foster
19th June 2023

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Tribute delivered by David Golder, former Head of Manor School:

If you had looked closely at the Manor School and the community of Mansfield Woodhouse in the last quarter of a century, you would have had reason to be anxious.
Nottinghamshire had reorganised its educational provision. The Manor Technical Grammer Scholl was to combine with two secondary modern schools (Forest View and Yorke Street) to form a new comprehensive school. All three had their own proud, sometimes conflicting histories, traditions and values.
Mansfield Woodhouse itself was entering a period of rapid decline of its traditional industries: mining and hosiery. Families were disrupted, uncertain, anxious.
Many schools and many communities foundered under this dual burden. But the Manor was lucky. It had many people who believed that this school and this community could and would survive … could and would prosper. It had Byron Edwards!
They, and he, were not comprehensive zealots. But they did believe that a good school could weather change, could continue momentum, could provide a sound educational foundation and anchor its pupils, parents and community.
So, Byron stood strong and proud, for so many external universal qualities including high standards of presentation, whether at work or appearance, good manners, courtesy and consideration for others – particularly the vulnerable – conscientiousness, determination, perseverance.
… and so many others – you will have your own list.
All this and more, was often clothed in what I will call Welsh ‘whimsey’.
… that beguiling Welsh lilt
… a sometimes mischievous ‘piratical’ air
… a twinkle in the eye
… something of the Max Boyce
… something of the ‘man of the world’
Discipline was to be ‘firm but fair’. Assemblies would thunder to ‘Land of my Fathers’, particularly after a Welsh rugby victory.
In classrooms, laboratories, and workshops … and playing fields … and activities outside our gates there were:
“The doers and the don’ters”
The willers and the won’ters”
And so, you see, we all loved him, and we will always love him. Our pupils grew in self-belief, confidence and performance. They believed him … and they believed in him. Just as he believed in them and their potential.
The Manor continues to produce outstanding achievement: practical, academic, musical, dramatic and of course sporting.
Byron taught maths … but taught so much more!
He was one of our Heads of Year, one of our Heads of Lower and Middle school.
He was a trusted and influential figure with our parents, our governors, our family of schools within Nottinghamshire Authority.
He was one of the reasons we gained recognition as an ‘Investor in People’ and became one of the first national sports colleges.
He is one of our legends!
For me personally, as I suspect for my predecessor Reg Hovington, he was indispensable. Questioning sometimes about directions we took, always aware of what the community response might be (remember he was from a Welsh mining community). Protective of me when Don Quixote-like idealism seemed to stray away from common sense. Unfailingly supportive, loyal, dependable. He gave me his hand and gave me his heart.
Many of you will have heard me before in my ‘Boat up the Amazon’: Byron would have been in the engine room of that boat!
Whenever and wherever the name of the Manor is invoked with affection and pride … whenever and wherever people talk of those teachers who have influenced their lives for the good … there will echo the name of this outstanding, admired, revered character.
… this will be a major part of the enduring legacy of ‘Byron’.

David Golder
Former head of Manor School
19th June 2023

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Tribute delivered by Larry Edwards, Byron's brother

From Larry

Helen, myself and our families would like to thank you today for joining us in this celebration of Byron’s life.
It all began on 25th June 1941. In Ferndale in the Rhondda South Wales. His early days were uneventful as the Second World War was being fought. Rationing and blackouts were the norm and things didn’t really alter for about 10 years. By this time, I was nearly 4 years old.
The first recognition I have of my brother is when he had me christened! On this particular Sunday we went to church and there was a christening service happening. At the end the Vicar asked if anyone else was to be christened. “Yes”, shouted Byron, “My brother Larry hasn’t been done!”. Up to the front I went, and the deed was done!
Off home we went with Byron as pleased as punch. When we told my mother and my father, they went ballistic. Byron had made his mind up he was going to be my mentor… and tormentor! Him the teacher and me the first pupil.
His weekly treat was tuppence to go to the pictures on a Saturday morning. He would come home full of excitement and ideas.
“Larry I’m going to teach you to fly” he said. He had been to see Peter Pan and he was convinced he could teach me to fly. How I said and he explained, we could use the stairs. He told me to stand three steps up and dive out with my arms outstretched and he would catch me. So I did and he caught me.
Three more steps up and do it again. Then again and now I’m near the top of the stairs. Arms outstretched, I dived out and off I flew. Now, at the bottom of the stairs we had a square of carpet on top of the Lino. I dived and he caught me, only this time we set off on the carpet down the hallway and crashed into the front door and knocked the glass out!
Another fine mess he had got me into.
The next episode was teaching me to talk without speaking! How are you gong to do that I said. “Smoke signals!” he said. He’d been to see a Cowboys and Indians film and was going to teach me smoke signals. So went down to the rainfall outlet pipe at the edge of the village and stuffed the entrance with two old mattresses thinking if we set fire to them, they would then billow smoke up the nearest drain cover and would waft it with a blanket to make some smoke signals. Unfortunately, it came up every drain cover for streets around and within minutes there was bedlam with fire engines everywhere!
I had to beg my mother to stop him going to the pictures before he kills me.
There were many more escapades that followed … including Roman Chariots!
Life now moved on a pace and Bryon passed his grammar school entrance exam. His sporting accolade came in 1956 when he was selected t play for Wales as a schoolboy international at football. Byron played in goal, and it was Wales against England but unfortunately the spoils went to England that day, as Wales lost 3-2
During this time, our father who was a miner, had secured a job with a mining development company and we moved to Bilsthorpe, Nottinghamshire. Byron stayed in Wales to finish his education, joining us two years later.
After qualifying in 1962 his first job was with the NCB as an apprentice surveyor. He joined Southwell Rugby Club initially but then Mansfield Rugby Club shortly afterwards which was a lifelong association.
Byron left the NCB to go to Huddersfield Teacher Training College, where he qualified as a teacher. His first post was Sconshill School, Newark. His second post was Yorke Street School, Mansfield Woodhouse and then Forest View at Mansfield Woodhouse before they became the Manor School.
I’d like to borrow a poem from Max Boyce that and I’ve just adapted it a little for Byron:

I had a dream the other night
The strangest dream of all
I dreamt I was in heaven away from life’s hard call
It was as I’d imagined where peace ruled all serene
The sign to heaven painted in Welsh
Hell’s signs are painted green
I entered through the golden gates and head the heavenly band
There was John the Baptist holding Mam & Dad’s right hand

Now you all know that Byron loved to sing and one of his favourite arias was the verse from the rugby club trips (aka Max Boyce). So, I’d like us all to sing it for him now, just the verse and it goes like this:

‘And we were singing hymns and arias, land of my fathers, arrheed da norse’.
The second verse is same as the first, but a little bit louder and a little bit worse!
‘And we were singing hymns and arias, land of my fathers, arrheed da norse’!

Well done everyone, he would have loved that.
This is not goodbye, but a fond farewell…

Your brother
Larry
19th June 2023

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Webcast details for the service for Byron Edwards at 14:15 on Monday 19th June, at Mansfield Crematorium, Thoresby Chapel, run by A W Lymn Woodhouse are as below.

Watching webcast live and watch-again:

Website: https://watch.obitus.com
Username: jova0119
Password: 132465

PLEASE NOTE: Following the service everyone is invited back to Mansfield Rugby Club where the large Sports Hall bar will be open for all to raise a glass and celebrate Byron's life. As space is limited, please respect that access to the clubhouse itself will be for family and close friends.

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Byron's funeral Service will be held on Monday 19th June at 2.15pm in Thoresby Chapel, Mansfield Crematorium. Helen and family have requested that everyone should wear a Marie Curie Foundation Daffodil. Should you wish to make a charitable donation then please make this to the John Eastwood Hospice in lieu of flowers using this link: https://www.johneastwoodhospice.org.uk/how-to-help/

Many people will want to pay their respects and drink a toast to Byron. Following the service you are invited back to Mansfield Rugby Club where the Sports Hall bar will be open for everyone to raise a glass and celebrate Byron's life. As space is limited, please respect that access to the clubhouse itself will be for family and close friends.

Club members are requested to wear striped club blazers if you have one or traditional blazers if not.

The funeral service will also be live streamed by A. W. Lymn and can be viewed on any of your devices - the link to access the live stream will be provided in due course.

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It is with the profoundest regret that we have to inform you that Byron Edwards has passed away.

Much loved Club President, former Club Chair, local Headmaster, and most importantly loyal friend, it is impossible in a few short words to convey The Clubs sense of loss.

Our hearts and minds are with Byron’s family at this time.