Please see the following note from Keith Tickle, Christopher's father.

 Many thanks for all your efforts.  For any future fundraising, including individual’s just-giving pages please note that all fundraising carried out for The Christopher Tickle Fund will be

donated to :- 

The Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation

 (Charity No: 1107671)

Access to Christopher’s Just-Giving Page:

www.justgiving.com/nsif-ChristopherTickleFund

If you have an idea for a fundraising event and are setting up your own just-giving page in support of

 The Christopher Tickle Fund

 then please keep me informed by

 e-mail: keith@tickle.fsworld.co.uk

All cheques and cash donations to:

The Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation (Charity No: 1107671)

c/o 47, Hough Lane

Tyldesley

Gr. Manchester

M29 8WN

After sustaining a serious neck injury playing for Eccles RFC at Aldwinians on Saturday, 12^th September Christopher Tickle, aged 23, died in Hope Hospital Intensive Care Unit in the early hours of Friday, 2^nd October, with his parents Gemma and Keith by his side.

Christopher Tickle joined Eccles RFC as a 15-year-old along with school friend Ross Seward and became part of coach Dave Nicholls’ Junior team which went on to become one of Eccles’s major Colts teams, winning their league and Plate competition in their final year as Colts.  While the following 9 years saw the team mature and pursue varying careers, in which some players moved away to university, jobs or training, the team has an inexplicable and undeniably impressive bond which will always remain.

Upon entering the adult game Christopher gravitated to the second and third teams as his emphasis tended more to the social side of the game.  Recently, frequent appearances at pre-season training this season meant a more regular place on the seconds. Christopher’s presence as a social figure at the club began with Colts weekends away, which carried through to summer holidays abroad as a team with 18 players creating chaos and fun. Christopher’s character is emphasised by him, along with his mates, taking their wheelchair-using pal John Hallsworth on all these trips.

Christopher will be remembered particularly for his humour, but largely for being a genuine and decent person, more than ready to give a helping hand.  

Having spent his time since leaving Eccles College doing both construction and bar management work, most recently at the Barton Arms in Worsley, a boundlessly positive and determined Christopher was truly looking forward to starting at Salford University this month on a Construction and Property Course.  Christopher was wholeheartedly set on his career in Construction, so much so that, even after his serious injury three weeks ago, he had asked his parents to organise his deferment for a year and to that end his parents had enrolled him on next year’s course the day before he died.

All last Saturday’s adult games were cancelled as a mark of respect but all Club members met as usual at 1.00 pm in Club shirts and ties paying their respects on the field at 3.00 pm, along with Christopher’s dad and other family members. All league games around the North West, and beyond, also held a minutes silence at 3.00 pm before kicking off. 

Christopher, an only child, will be greatly missed by his family, Emma, all members of Eccles RFC along with friends and colleagues everywhere.

Christopher’s Funeral took place on Friday 16^th October at Holy Family Church, Boothstown attended by the biggest congregation ever witnessed at the church according to Reverend Father Dave Heywood who led the service. As well as family, friends and Eccles RFC members in attendance, clubs from around the county, The Miller Homes League and the Lancashire County RFU were represented. The service was followed by Christopher’s burial at Leigh Cemetery and then a reception at the Rendezvous, Astley.

Christopher’s parents, Keith and Gemma, have set up “The Christopher Tickle Fund” from which all donations will be passed to The Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation, a large registered charity supporting research into spinal injury.