Oldest living Reading players?

[CholseyRoyal]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/berkshire/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8290000/8290801.stm

I remember seeing both of these two many times at Elm Park. They probably aren't the oldest surviving but I was pleased to see them both looking so well.

Me too and I remember seeing that match on Television, on a B & W TV with an 8inch screen!!, made me proud to be a Reading supporter at the time

[Jerry St Clair]

I have just had the honour of speaking with club historian David Downes and as far as he is aware, Ken Bainbridge is still alive, making him our oldest living player at 89.

According to David, Ron Blackman is our second oldest living player at 85.

Re the reading player who lived the longest, David's records also indicate that Fred Chandler is the oldest recorded at 94.

Also worthy of note:
Fred Briggs b. 01/05/1908, believed to have died age 91.
Beaumont Ratcliffe b. 24/04/1909 date of death unknown (but quite old).

So overawed was I at speaking with the great man, that I forgot to ask about Les Goldberg / Gaunt's mysterious name change.

Massively good skills, Far Canal.

[Far Canal]

I believe I have succeeded in tracing Beaumont Ratcliffe, courtesy of rootsuk.com

Death record:

Name Beaumont Ratcliffe
Reg. Number C53
Entry Number 276
Registered March 2003
Re-registered N/A
Date of birth 24 Ap 1909
District registered Chester / E P Code: 340/1c

It seems, therfore, that Beaumont "Bill" Ratcliffe died a month or so short of his 94th birthday

http://www.rootsuk.com/deaths/fulldetai ... d=14003731


Re Fred Chandler, assuming that I have the right one (and I'm really going just by the dates):

Fred made it to approx 93 years 1 month (not 94 as stated on the Crewe Alexander website).

Name Frederick Ernest J Chandler
Reg. Number D20B
Entry Number 119
Registered September 2005
Re-registered N/A
Date of birth 2 Au 1912
District registered S Cheshire Code: 341/1d

http://www.rootsuk.com/deaths/fulldetai ... d=15418173


So, I hereby declare Beaumont Ratcliffe to be Reading FC's player who lived the longest.............unless you know different.