Strathendrick Rugby Football Club wish to celebrate the life of Joe Twaddle (4th January 1944-17 November 2022) who passed away recently after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Joe was one of the original players at Strathendrick RFC involved in the first 3-4 years when Strathendrick was first created back in 1975. A fellow teacher and colleague to Bobby Telfer who founded the club, Joe moved with his family to the area in 1976 after completing postgraduate teacher training at Jordanhill.

Joe was born in Gretna, but attended Annan Academy secondary school. He was a keen sportsman and held sporting champion titles for 6 years running, playing rugby for both school and Dumfries County. During his rugby journey Joe also played for Kilmarnock RFC as well as his time at Strathendrick RFC. Wise beyond his years, Joe wrote a passionate piece about his enjoyment of rugby for his school magazine when at Annan School, some excerpts can be read here:

Rugby Separates the men from the boys….”
The challenges offered by rugby must be grasped with both hands before any glimmer of enjoyment can be obtained from it…”
“Perseverance wins-perhaps after many years-before a satisfaction, which is the lifeblood of the game, may be tasted. This is the object of the game..”
It is not merely a pleasant pastime- it is a form of character moulding, for the most part beneficial, but capable of becoming an obsession…”

“Once the basic skills are attained and competitive rugby starts, one can begin to realize the value of the game. It must be played whole-heartedly, sometimes driving past the point of physical enjoyment to a state of utter fatigue, but this does not lessen any inner enjoyment which one has when the ordeal is over. In fact, the greater the fatigue, the greater the satisfaction…”

There are few games in which once can literally tear one’s opponents to pieces and the be best friends soon afterwards. Rugby is one such as this. Its demands are great, but the rewards are infinite.”
-Excerpts from Annan Academy School Magazine article written by Joe when team captain in 1962

Joe taught biology at Balfron High School for 12 years and captained the Strathendrick RFC 1st XV for 2 years. He later moved to Dunblane High School where he worked until his retirement. After retiring as a teacher Joe became a full-time landscaper. Always community spirited, Joe was secretary of the local community council for 30 years involved with a wide range of community projects. He will be missed by all.

The club offers its heartfelt condolences to Betty and daughters Shona, Kirsty and their close family and friends and wider community of Balmaha where Joe and Betty Lived.