Chesham RUFC

We regret to inform you that belove Chesham Stags Coach and Amersham & Chiltern 4XV & 3XV player Neil Aves has passed away unexpectedly whilst away on holiday in Majorca on 15th June 2024.

The funeral will be held at the Amersham Crematorium on Monday 22nd July 2024 at 12.15pm in the Milton Chapel.

Neil first joined Chesham when Jess and Ella started playing for our Under12s. Neil then stepped up and started coaching our Under 13’s girls and he became the driving force behind recruiting many more players by doing taster sessions in local schools. Something we will always be grateful for. He was always keen to play social rugby for our 2nd XV and was the oldest player in our end of year Overs v Unders fixture last Christmas.

He will be greatly missed from all at Chesham Stags Rugby Club not just on the pitch but from his contribution off it as well. Our thoughts are with Sarah, Jess and Ella and all of his family.    

 In the Autumn of the 2010/11 Season the 4XV were newly re-formed and 4XV Team Manager Stan Griffiths and Coach Peter Kenyon were on scouting missions looking for new players locally. One new player that turned up during those scouting missions was Neil Aves.   

Neil came to Amersham & Chiltern looking to meet like-minded people, have fun and fulfil an ambition to play a game of Rugby before he was 50. A game he loved and had followed all his life but had never had a good opportunity to play some competitive social Rugby. Neil was encouraged fully by rugby loving wife Sarah and daughter Ella and step-daughter Jess. This though turned out to be more than a one game ‘bucket list’ challenge and led to a decade long commitment to the 4XV and then 3XV playing well over 50 games.     

Neil played in many classic games in his time including the 2012 Cup Final against Southgate, a game so ‘competitive’ the 4XV had lost 4 players to injury within 20 minutes. There were also 2 appearances against HMP The Mount aka ‘The Prison Game’ and of course a couple of local derbies each season against Chesham.     

One game was all it took for Neil to decide he was going to play regularly for Chiltern, which was a huge compliment for those that know Neil. There were plenty of wins and some losses but it was the challenge and excitement of playing where the bonds between players were formed and brought Neil back each week. We didn’t realise when we signed Neil up that we would get the full package with Sarah and his daughters becoming regular supporters on the touchline, but we are so grateful we did and for all these special memories.     

It is an unexpected loss and has been felt very strongly in the local community where he was actively contributing in so many other ways. The players of the 4XV and 3XV would therefore like to express our deepest sorrow to Neil’s family and to pay tribute to Neil’s contribution to Chiltern over the years. He is and always will be a 4XV legend but most of all he was a friend who we will miss greatly.     

All are welcome at the service, donations and details can be found on this link: https://neilaves.muchloved.com/