A former coach at Keswick Rugby Club in the 1990s who had played for Workington Zebras, has died.
A popular figure on the rugby circuit, Mike Rafferty started with the Zebras in the 1950s, as a respected back row forward.
Those were the days of social rugby and when Workington did not have a game he and a pal, Josh Humes, would go and offer their services to the likes of Steels and Netherhall.
Born in Workington, he worked briefly down the mines, before having a spell selling insurance around the area.
He decided to go into teaching and spent time training at the Charlotte Mason College in Ambleside.
The bulk of his teaching career was at Beacon Hill, Aspatria, but he also taught in schools in the Workington area.
If rugby was his first love outside family, his second was walking and he was regularly on the Lake District fells and even spent time walking in the Andes.
In later years he was hired by the local newspaper to contribute a weekly column on walking in the Lake District.
He also was involved with “the Browton gang” a group from Broughton who went on fund-raising rides. It was there a friendship with ex-Workington and St Helens star Peter Gorley was cemented and the two went on regular, stiff fell walks.
Mike was involved with the Cumbria Veterans side, the Rams, and 20 years ago was among the veterans who toured Spain and played a match against Gibraltar.
After coaching Keswick he kept in touch with the club, players and officials and regularly went with them on tours, as well as trips to the Rugby League Cup final.
In later years he joined the Royal George quiz team in the West Cumbria Quiz League where he was captain and his late wife Jean read the questions.
For many years Jean had been a member of the Ladies Committee with the Zebras.
The couple had four daughters; Sonya, who lives in London; Kerry who is in the USA; Nicola who is in Austria; and Clare who lives in Workington.
