C.S Neill

Charles Seaver Neill

Collegians Rugby Football Club was synonymous with Charlie Neill.

Collegians was greatly indebted to the generosity of Charles Seaver Neill in many areas of its activity. He bought from Lord Deramore ten acres of ground at Deramore which in 1941 he handed over to Trustees for the use of the club.

Starting in 1945 large scale developments were put in hand and after the club spent ??7500 Charlie Neill reopened the ground in 1950.  This large expense prevented the erection of a pavilion.
After the death of Charlie in 1953 a memorial fund was instituted raising ??13,500 (including ??4,500 government grant)
Opened in 1962 it was appropriately named The Charles S. Neill Memorial Pavilion to commemorate the Club's most enthusiastic member and generous benefactor

 In his day he was the dominating personality at the club. Meeting him you saw either an obvious gentleman with old world charm and courtesy or a man with commanding presence. He was over six feet tall, straight in stature, forbidding, even autocratic, but whatever the mood, you may be sure that underneath was a most sympathetic and understanding nature.

In conversation when he was extolling the virtue of Collegians, he spoke with a distinct, pulsating and passionate voice.

 Charlie Neill was the great Collegian.