Ramsey Rugby Club has paid tribute to two cherished club figures.
Martin “Ogri” Costain, a founding member of the club and Helen Edge, the former landlady of The Bridge Inn who became a mother figure to generations of players, have both passed away.
Martin was a pupil at Ramsey Grammar School alongside current Chairman Billy Kneale, Treasurer James Crowe and many others who witnessed the birth of the club. He was one of its founding members.
However, Martin left the island to join the army. He served in the Household Cavalry, in the regiment known as The Blues and Royals.
Martin had been making plans to return to the Isle of Man before illness sadly intervened.
Landlady
Helen became landlady of The Bridge Inn in the late 1980s, when the pub served as the club’s home before the clubhouse was built. Countless club memories were made there.
The club said she was like a mother to generations of players, feeding them after matches, serving them beer and, “more often than not, kept them out of trouble”.
She affectionately referred to the players as “my boys” and her late husband Brian even joined the club on tour, despite not being renowned for his sporting prowess.
Although Helen eventually moved on from The Bridge, she was never a stranger to the club. She remained a regular guest at club dinners and was a familiar face at the annual Mhelliah celebrations.
As her health declined in recent years, she was no longer always able to join the Christmas Fancy Dress festivities. Instead, the current crop of players would visit her home and sing carols outside.
A club post said: “Small clubs like Ramsey rely heavily on the goodwill, commitment and support of their players, members and friends, and this week we have lost two very special people.”