Frank Bastow and the Whitley Bay Rockcliff RFC

Last year the Whitley Bay Rockcliff RFC founded its own History Society with the aim of researching, recording and trying to preserve our club’s long antecedents. They had discovered that the club’s memorial plaque to those of its members who had died during World War One had been lost. The History Society’s first task was to replace the missing memorial.

Over the past 12 months members of the History Society have worked tirelessly to try and unearth the names of our comrades who perished during the Great War. 14 rugby players linked to Rockcliff who perished during the Great War were identified. A sandstone and granite memorial was erected within the grounds of the rugby club, engraved with the names of these players. On Saturday 4th November 2023 the memorial was unveiling at a ceremony attended by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Tyne & Wear, Sir Alan Campbell MP, members of Royal British Legion,  the military and club members from across all the age-grades. The club currently has around 450 Mini, Junior and Girls players from Under 7’s to Under 18’s.