Sad news of the death of H Wilf Mellor

H Wilf  Mellor
 2July 1924 – 15 June 2011

It is with great sadness that York City Rowing Club has announced the death of their Past President, Wilf Mellor, aged 86 years.  The club has asked British Rowing to publish the funeral details for his many friends in rowing –

The funeral will take place on Friday 8th July at Fulford Parish Chuch in York at 1.30 pm.  The service will be followed by an interment in Fulford Cemetery after which there will be refreshments at the Pavilion Hotel, Fulford, York.

Wilf Mellor was involved in sports administration continuously from 1947 until his illness prevented him taking his usual active part.  He rowed actively until 1956 when became an umpire, joining the national register automatically when it was set up in 1960 and continued until the mandatory retirement age of 70.

He had first joined York City Rowing Club in 1942, but his rowing was interrupted by war service.  He came back in 1946 and in 1947 was elected Hon Secretary and remained a committee member of the club until the day he died.  He was Chairman from 1958 to 1961 and Hon Treasurer from 1961 to 1964. He then became the Regatta Secretary, as assistant from 1961, then “on his own” from 1963 to 1976. 

In addition to his club duties Wilf was the Divisional Representative for Yorkshire & Humberside on the Amateur Rowing Council from 1968 to 1974 and throughout this time a member of the ARA Regattas Committee.  Wilf Mellor had many fine qualities, but on behalf of rowing, three stand out: his attention to detail; his liking for things to be done correctly and his energy to get things done promptly.  He was a living example of the saying – “If you want to get something done, give it to a busy man”.

He was an officer of the Yorkshire & Humberside Rowing Council and Chairman of the North Eastern Regional Rowing Council in its short life from 1974 to 1979.  In recognition of his exceptional services to rowing Wilf was awarded the ARA Centenary medal in 1982.  In 1994 he won the Service to Sport Award of the Yorkshire & Humberside Regional Sports Council.

Whatever he did, he did it well and was always reliable.  The rowing world, but in particular the York City Rowing Club can be grateful that Wilf gave his energy and efficiency for our benefit.  Wilf’s was an outstanding contribution, reflected in the present health of the club.

York City Rowing Club