Stalwart Arthur Steps Down from Stewarding

Stalwart Arthur Steps Down from Stewarding

Over the years the Pirates have had a good number of cherished volunteers, with Arthur Uren certainly being one of them.

Just before Christmas, after a 70-plus year involvement with the Pirates, Arthur, now aged 85, who for several years had been a match day steward, felt it was time to hang up his jacket.

As one of our most experienced and able stewards, Arthur was always thoroughly reliable, personable and someone who never shirked away from problems that can occasionally arise on match days. But what more is there to know about him? Read on……

Born on the 17^th November, 1938, during his youth Arthur lived in St. Mary’s Street, Penzance. As for education, he attended St. John’s Infants and St. Paul’s CP Schools, and then went to Lescudjack Secondary School where he enjoyed participating in rugby, football, and athletics. Teachers of influence there included Jimmy Jenkin, Raymond Evans (Dicky’s dad), Bill Cock and Dicky Elwood.

Rugby was very much in Arthur’s blood, as his father Irving played for Penzance in the 1920s/30s and was capped eight times for Cornwall, and an uncle, Jack Harwood, who worked for many years as a butcher with Jack Nicholas on the corner of Tolver Road, also played for the town.

Having shown a good level of ability to play the game whilst at Lescudjack School, in 1952 Arthur was taken to the Mennaye Field by later Pirates captain Jimmy Jenkin and Raymond Evans. Along with fellow prodigies Roger Allen and Ian Cullen, they were introduced to Colts rugby and played for our Mounts Bay Colts team. A wing forward, Arthur briefly dallied playing at hooker before quickly reverting to the flank, where he was honoured to play both for Cornwall Schools and later Cornwall Colts.

During the late 50s/early 60s Arthur played over 100 games for our senior teams, but after injuring a knee playing against Rosslyn Park he was eventually forced to hang up his boots, after playing his last game away against Redruth reserves. His older brother Irving also played a number of games for Mounts Bay Colts and the Pirates.

The game against Rosslyn Park, mentioned above, was played on the 19^th September, 1964, in days when the London visitors had one of the very strongest teams in the country. Arthur likely can’t remember our XV that lost 21-0 that day, but to provide a little extra archive interest I can confirm it was as follows:   Owen Barnes, Paul Greaves, Graham Richards, Robin Harvey, Ken Weeks, Roger Pascoe, John Michell, Dave Berryman, Arthur Uren, Brian Monckton, Keith Stirling, Alvin Williams (captain), ‘Stack’ Stevens, Peter Luke, Jim Matthews.

In his working life Arthur started off with Venn Brothers before moving to London to work for the McVitie’s biscuit firm. On his return home to Penzance, he worked for SWEB alongside Ronnie Hand and Trevor Swann, and then for the town council, including several years working with John Stirling at the Penzance outdoor bathing pool, which was perhaps surprising, as swimming was one thing he avoided as a youngster. His final job until his retirement was with SW Water.

Arthur’s son Mark was a centre who played for our youth teams to senior level, and his wife Mavis has also been a volunteer in the past, selling 50/50 Draw tickets plus upgrades to the stand. They also have one daughter, named Lisa.

Arthur so ably performed the role of steward at the Mennaye Field, then Kenwyn, then Camborne, and back to the Mennaye once again, and he will inevitably be missed.

For his 70 years of support for the Pirates, including playing and stewarding, a sincere thank-you. Good on yer Arthur!