Re my dad, Tony Gale,,,, I would just like to say on behalf of myself, my mum and all of my family,, thank you all for your kind messages of condolence ,,, we have been very touched. Messages from the club itself, directors, players past and present and of course the fans, many of whom are friends too. Aa you may know Dad moved down to Hastings with my Nan and Grandad from South Merton in SW London just after the war, Grandad started taking dad to watch the speedway at the Pilot Field, this lead to his first ever Untied match Boxing Day 1952.v Tonbridge (he has a copy of the programme for that game ). After that he continued to watch football in its various forms at the Pilot Field,,, watching the great FA cup runs of the 50s even going to see the U's lose controversially 2-1 to Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough,,, always remembering to tell us how the fans train he was on broke down on the way home and had to replaced 🤣. Yes its safe to say, like many of you, he loved this club,,, although it was always United to him,,, never Town 🤣,,, in latter years dad attended very few away days,, but he did get to go to the play off semifinal classic match v Dover, which we won (he loved that as he got a lift up the hill to their ground in their club golf buggy),,, and then ultimately on to Tooting to watch us win the final and promotion, all those years ago. That was nice for me, as I drove him, his mate Alan and my step son Simon to both those games,,, he loved it ,,, quality time, As well as football Dad loved his music,,, Especially his love for Jazz and big band swing,,,, he played drums himself in the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s mostly local venues ,, he played on Hastings pier a number of times ,, plus Brighton Dome etc Being part of the musicians Union he was often called upon to play, occasionally with 'famous' artists like Russ Conway, Peters and Lee (don't laugh 🤣), but it waa his claim to fame,,, he was a better drummer than he realised,,,, and he will be really missed 💔. His funeral is a private close family only affair(restricted numbers) ,taking place at Hastings crematorium on Monday 18th at 11:45 am Anyone wishing to donate to dad's chosen charity which is RNLi Hastings, the link is https://anthonygale.muchloved.com/Fundraising/Donations?=%2f or cheques can be sent to Towners funeral directors in Norman Rd, St Leonards,,,,, cheers guys much love John Gale and family
-- Edited by Windy on Monday 11th of May 2020 09:09:57 PM
One little extra thing,,,, Dads funeral route was meant to be through Ore today , along the Ridge to the Crem,,, traffic was good so they were a little too early,,, so they took a small detour,,,, down St Helens Down,,,,, Down Hoads Wood Road,,,, and,, you guessed it,,, straight up past the Pilot Field,,, they even slowed down for a couple of seconds outside the ground ,, I swear, dad was going to get out and take his seat in the mainstand 😂😂. Honestly he'd have loved that,,,,nice touch by Towners 👍💜
