Paul Elliott Funeral Details
It is with great sadness that we have learned that Paul Elliott lost his long and tough battle with cancer. Paul was a great supporter of our sport and was a much loved commentator and controller at many events the length and breadth of the country. Paul also held the unenviable role of Fixtures Coordinator for a number of years at BE, a task he took on with much skill and flair.
Paul’s funeral will take place at 10.30hrs on Monday 6 February at ‘Our Lady of Victories’ Church, Halam Road, Southwell, Nottighamshire NG25 0AD
The family will then leave for a private committal at Sherwood Crematorium and this will be followed by a celebration of Paul’s life at Mansfield Rugby Club where everybody is welcome to attend.
Please do not send flowers – however all donations should be made to the Sir John Eastwood Hospice and will be gratefully received.
Close friend and Controller colleague Henry Symington has provided the following tribute.
Paul Elliott 1950 – 2012
“I first met Paul at Withcote Horse Trials way back in the midsts of time when people had more hair and gentlemen’s clothing manufacturers made trousers with seemingly more generous waistbands than today. He and I spent many hours learning the ‘trade’ of Commentating and Controlling under the tutorage of Quentin Solt. Whilst Quentin and I would get ourselves into trouble over comments about shorts and pink wellies, Paul took a rather more sober line! In those days his son and his daughter were regularly competing and Wendy, his wife, would often join us in Control sharing the highs and lows.
Paul went on to devote much of his time in summer to Eventing Controlling at events from BE90 to 3 star international competitions, including Bramham.
I worked alongside Paul at Cheltenham and Sapey as well as several others; he and Wendy played a pivotal role in the organisation of Winkburn Horse trials.
He was one of the hardworking professional Controllers on the circuit and latterly whilst he Controlled, Wendy would be in charge of provisional scores (and Scorers!) at the other end of the box. He also mentored new blood into the world of Commentary and Control and helped write the ‘guidelines’ for Controllers.
Outside of the control box he spent two seasons on the Fixtures Committee being involved with the frankly thankless task of organising Fixtures for the next season.
It was his analytical and diplomatic mind set that proved so useful when he joined the British contingent in 2006 out in Qatar for the Asian Games. When the logistics of moving competitors and horses from the stabling area to the field of play would have lead to an international disaster in anyone else’s hands – Paul was naturally the only man for the job which he executed admirably and with no involvement of international press agencies! Again, as with so much that Paul did, Wendy was by his side.
Paul’s enthusiasm for Eventing was matched only, in the winter months, for his enthusiasm for Rugby which he enjoyed immensely and was actively involved with the rules and safety of the game.
This could prove tricky in the evening, after a day in the Control Box as he had adopted social side of rugby and could sink a pint with the best of them – for a light weight such as myself this could lead to a ‘fuzzy’ next morning! His great contribution to Eventing will be greatly missed by all – and my condolences and sympathies go to Wendy and his family at this sad and most difficult time”
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