Bishop’s Stortford rugby club’s Chindits team pays tribute to former captain Max Oliver who died at 31 after suffering cardiac arrest
A touching tribute was paid to a rugby player, who tragically died from a cardiac arrest at the age of 31, by the team he captained.
Bishop’s Stortford Rugby Football Club’s fourth XV, known as the Chindits, dedicated their match against Biggleswade on Saturday (Sept 28) to their former captain – and pitch two at their Silver Leys ground was emblazoned with the words ‘Max Oliver Chindits’ as part of the tribute.
Sports ground maintenance specialist Garson’s Group Ltd, based in Saffron Walden – the company that has previously painted remembrance poppies on Stortford’s pitch – carried out the special tribute to Max.
Max’s father Perry, who attended the match with his wife Liz and younger son Ted, said: “It was amazing, a very thoughtful gesture by his team-mates and a lot of effort on behalf of groundsman Gareth.”
The team responded to the special day by recording an emphatic 47-29 victory. Perry said: “It seems the team was really motivated to win for Max.”
The Indie was contacted this week by a retired police officer and his wife from Exeter in Devon, who, with two military personnel, performed CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) on Max when he suffered a cardiac arrest on his way to work by train from Newbury to Reading.
Former Bishop’s Stortford High School student Max, who had moved to Newbury in Berkshire with his fiancée Molly, collapsed on Thursday September 5. Despite efforts to revive him, he was pronounced dead when they got him to hospital.
In the message to the Indie, the retired police officer and his wife sent condolences to Max’s family. Perry spoke to them this week.
Perry said that it was good of them to contact the family and he assured the officer he could not have done any more to save Max.
“We’ve recognised it more and more that a lot of people are grieving in their own way,” said Perry. “Even that guy in Devon has been impacted.”
After Max’s death, Perry was determined to raise money for charity CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) with the aim of holding heart screening programmes in the town’s schools.
So far £34,500 has been raised. Although Perry said previously he had no target, he hoped the appeal could reach £37,000 for five screenings. To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/page/spencer-kersey-1725617363358.
Max’s funeral will take place next Friday (October 11) at 4pm at Cam Valley Crematorium, Great Chesterford (CB10 1FE). Family flowers only. It will be followed by a reception at the club’s Silver Leys ground (CM23 2QE) at 5.30pm.
