Cooke Collegians

On Saturday Cooke Collegians and Cregagh participated in an Act of Remembrance for sportsmen who lost their lives in World War I especially at the Battle of the Somme.

Graham Hassard captain of Cregagh and Ken Gibson from Cooke RFC read the names of players from their clubs who made the supreme sacrifice.

Also remembered was William McFadzean who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for a selfless act of courage on the first day of the battle.

William was a member of Collegians Rugby Club . His father, a member of Cregagh Cricket Club, received William's medal from the King.

Alfred Owens who played cricket for the Ulster Club (an antecedent of Cooke Collegians) and who was killed in the battle was remembered.

Graham and Graeme Pollock captain of Cooke Collegians jointly laid a poppy wreath which was later taken to be placed at the Cregagh Cricket Club war memorial.

After the minutes silence the Act of Remembrance was concluded by the reading of the poem 'In Flanders Fields'.