Max Oliver: Funeral to take place on Friday October 11 at Cam Valley Crematorium, followed by reception at his beloved Bishop’s Stortford rugby club

The funeral of Max Oliver, the Bishop’s Stortford rugby club player who died of a suspected cardiac arrest on his way to work, will take place on October 11.

Max collapsed on a train between Newbury and Reading on his way to work on Thursday September 5. Despite efforts by an off-duty police officer and paramedics, he was pronounced dead when they got him to hospital. He was 31.

An online appeal for charity CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) has raised £29,294 in 12 days.

Max is mourned by his fiancée Molly, his family – mother Liz, father Perry and brother Ted – and many friends and colleagues, as evidenced by the 634 people who have donated to the JustGiving appeal in his memory and paid tributes.

The funeral service will take place on 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.

Announcing the funeral earlier today, the club said: “Max’s funeral provides us all with an opportunity to celebrate his life and the overwhelmingly positive impact he had upon all of us.

“His great passion in life was rugby union and, in particular, ‘his club’, Bishop’s Stortford RFC. The wearing of club blazers is therefore positively encouraged.”

Max, a former pupil of Bentfield Primary School in Stansted and The Bishop’s Stortford High School, moved to Berkshire around two years ago to set up home with Molly. He also loved dogs, and he and Molly had just taken on a rescue pug called Gigi.

He worked in sales for international events and conferences company The Hyve Group near Paddington, central London. On leaving school, he worked in sales at former Ford dealer Gates of Bishop’s Stortford.

Sports-mad Max made a huge impression at Bishop’s Stortford Rugby Football Club after joining as a 12-year-old. Eventually he was made captain of the club’s fourth XV, the Chindits, which was a tribute to his leadership qualities. Dad Perry said: “He knew how to build a team – he proved that at work and on the rugby field.”

Each week, at least 12 young people in the UK die suddenly as a result of undiagnosed heart conditions.

Perry wants to set up heart screening in as many local schools as possible. “We’re trying to raise money to prevent other poor people going through this,” he said. “The more we can raise, the more screenings we can fund.”

CRY can reduce the frequency of young sudden cardiac death by working with cardiologists and family doctors to establish good practice and appropriate screening facilities to promote and protect the cardiac health of our young.

You can donate here. Visit www.c-r-y.org.uk to see how your support can help.