Fylde RFC mourn passing of David Grime - a top player whose family founded The Gazette

David belonged to Blackpool’s renowned Grime family, who founded, owned and for many years ran this newspaper.

A former scrum-half and life member at the Woodlands, David died on Friday, aged 71.

His son Matthew told the club website: “He had a diagnosis of dementia around five years ago and had deteriorated recently, passing away peacefully while in his sleep.”

An Arnold School pupil, David went on to study at university in Edinburgh, at which point he lost his place in the Fylde first XV.

His replacement was Brian Ashton, who went on to enjoy a distinguished coaching career with Fylde, Bath, Ireland and England.

David represented Scottish Universities before settling in Yorkshire. He played for Huddersfield, going on to coach the club’s juniors and serve as a referee.

He was a Fylde teammate of Sir Bill Beaumont, who said: “David’s mother Annette was my father’s cousin and his father’s family owned The Gazette. He played scrum-half, then moved to Huddersfield and came to watch all Fylde’s matches in Yorkshire.

“He was a really nice person and a very good scrum-half.”

David was the son of Gazette owner Alan Grime and the great great grandson of Alderman John Grime, who founded the newspaper in the 1870s.

A club statement reads: “Everyone at Fylde sends their sincere commiserations to David’s family and friends.”

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