Stephen Hyde
Posted by Adam George on 21 August 2023
Nottingham Hockey Club regretfully announce the recent sad passing of Stephen Hyde, one of our much-loved former members.
Stephen joined us in the mid-80s to take up a post of Managing Director and Chairman of Hicking Pentecost, dyers, finishers - a place better known to younger members as the current site of Hooters restaurant. Indeed, Stephen’s old office at Queens Road became Hooters, many men dream of this but it is only for a very chosen for few that it becomes a reality.
Born in Hampstead in 1939, he spent his early years in Buckinghamshire and tried for England at 18. His principal education was at University College London and LSE. He captained its 1st XI and played for the University of London team where he achieved a purple shirt. Although he once confessed that he thought that his greatest achievement was running across Westminster Bridge within the 12 Strikes of Big Ben this, rather like the gap in his teeth, was an indication of luck.
Stephen was a long-serving member of Harpenden H. C. before coming to Nottingham and taking-over running our then 6th XI. For a number of years Stephen dedicated himself to bringing on its (mainly) much younger members, many of whom he sufficiently inspired and guided to rise through the ranks of the Club accordingly. Stephen then, as before, always put himself out for worthy causes. Not least the role he played for many years ensuring that The Park (where he was a long-time resident) should be preserved for what it always has been – a jewel in the crown of the City of Nottingham regardless of those who were not as respectful of its heritage.
Once the knees got the better of him, he put his still indefatigable energies into the more sedate (but still vigorously contested) sport of crown green bowls at Queen Anne Bowls Club in The Park.
