Remembering Jim (Speckled Jim) Howard

Battersea Ironsides Rugby Club are sad to announce the death of Club Stalwart “Speckled Jim”” Howard, at far too young an age, on Thursday 4 November.

Although Jim would never had described himself as a Rugby Superstar, he was a dedicated Club Man, great company and often in the company of unfeasibly attractive ladies. Many will remember him also as the legendary Founder & Editor of the 1990’s scurrilous rag “The Iron” which ran for some years, reporting both on and off field indiscretions throughout the Club.

In the days before mobile phones and modern desktop publishing, Speckled Jim blatantly abused his Employer’s printing facilities to produce, on average every month, the eagerly awaited magazine reporting on Smuggler's latest injuries. Woe betide the Ironside who may have over imbibed, fallen asleep on the toilet or otherwise made an indiscrete comment in the company of Jim or his sources. Occasionally, on a quiet week, the odd match report might even creep in. 

As his career developed, he secured his dream job of leading the development of the early BBC Website and their Sports coverage. 

Jim received his diagnosis of leukaemia just before the 75th Gala Dinner. He still managed to join us for a few drinks beforehand at Twickenham, although he didn’t feel strong enough at that time to make the full Dinner. 

Not long afterwards afterwards, Jim went into St George’s for some major treatments, however managed to blag a big flat screen for his isolation ward so as not to miss any of the World Cup. 

After he came out of hospital we went for a memorable steak dinner in the West End to celebrate and get some genuine Iron back in his blood, but Jim was a sensible guy and knew he had to look after himself.

Lockdown can’t have helped and there were undoubtedly difficult times and more periods of isolation. Through all of this,  Speckled kept positive about his progress. 

Recently, Jim upped sticks to move to Devon to be closer to family and an outdoor life. He has now passed and our thoughts go to Jim’s family, particularly his brother Andy, himself a former Ironside and inevitably christened “Speckled Andy” as soon as he set foot in the Club. 

Speckled Jim was a good guy, he loved Rugby and life, he made lots of people laugh and he embarrassed others who deserved it. A true Ironside.

Rest in Peace, Speckled Jim Howard.