Partridge, Dougie
November 27, 2012There was widespread sadness in Tramore G. A. A. circles and beyond throughout the wider community at the passing of William Douglas Partridge last week at the end of a battle bravely fought against a terminal illness diagnosed just last Summer. For Dougie, as he was affectionately called by all who knew him, was not only the recognisable public face of the Michael Mac Craith G. A. A. Club in Tramore over the past fifty years but was a person totally respected throughout the wider community in Tramore for his unselfish dedication to the youth of the town through his involvement with the Tramore G. A. A. Juvenile Club of which he was a founder member fifty years ago, a fact duly recognised at the jubilee celebrations in the G. A. A. centre just a few short months ago.
They say that every G. A. A. club has a Dougie Partridge, the volunteer for whom no job is too small or too big and who is at the Beck and call of all at all times. He is the man who, no matter how busy, will always find time to do more because he is Mr. Reliable. Dougie Partridge fitted that profile perfectly and found total fulfilment in it.
Dougie was a quiet unassuming individual who at all times shied away from the limelight. He was content to be a foot soldier in every sense for Dougie never had a car or used even a bicycle as he went from door to door down the years in Tramore notifying parents and kids of games and training sessions.
Throughout his life Dougie Partridge was an instantly recognisable figure around Tramore for his work with youth and it was no surprise when, in the eighties, before local town councils were permitted to elect their own mayors, a charity event to elect the 'Mayor of Tramore' resulted in a resounding victory for the said Dougie Partridge for Dougie's popularity transcended all sporting and social barriers.
In his young days Dougie's sporting prowess applied not only to hurling and football but to boxing, winning many trophies with Tramore B. C. under the guidance of his friend and fellow legend, the great Petey Graham. Dougie won county senior football medals and county hurling medals with Tramore but always regarded his greatest success as being manager of the great group of players who achieved the distinction of winning the county titles in both hurling and football in 1972, a feat rare enough at the time.
Dougie took up employment in the National Board and Paper Mills on Leaving school and won Leinster and All Ireland Factory League hurling medals in the company of some great hurlers in his days there. When that factory closed he took up employment in Waterford Crystal until he retired in the nineties. During all those years his involvement with the G. A. A. club never waned and I can often recall Dougie alighting from a double
decker bus at the end of Bunkers Hill with a squad of hurlers, jersey bag in one hand and a half dozen hurleys in the other as he proceeded to guide his charges all the way to the Mount Sion Grounds at the top of the town for a juvenile league game and, as someone said at his funeral last week, he never lost a child.
When Dougie retired from Waterford Glass he immersed himself totally in the club at Riverstown, taking care of the pitches and setting them out for school and club games. He engaged himself fully in the role of Club Liaison Officer with the local schools and knew every kid by name. While Tramore G. A. A. club was always more recognised or its football achievements hurling was always Dougie's first love and he took great pride in the
club's recent resurgence in juvenile hurling and the success of the C. B. S. secondary school in recent years. His pet project up to the time of his illness was the installation of an All Weather Pitch for the juvenile club at the club grounds and while that is a work in progress it will stand as a monument in his memory when completed.
Dougie Partridge's will long be remembered and spoken of in Tramore G.A.A. cirdes.
A confirmed bachelor, his club was his family and his social outlet. A great man to have a pint and a conversation with as any of the many outsiders who wandered into the club house in Riverstown will testify to. His passing leaves a great void for his brothers and sisters, nephews and nieces, Tramore G. A. A. and indeed the wider Tramore community all of whom were a great part of his life,
A true legend indeed.
Courtesy of The Waterford News & Star. Tweet
