John S. Denham from Newton Aycliffe has been appointed President of the Durham County Rugby Football Union for Season 2017-18. Born 1946, in Bannockburn near Stirling, Scotland, he lived briefly in Darlington. John moved onto the new town in September 1951, with his family moving into a new house in Lee Green. His father was employed by ENV, which later was taken over by Eaton Yale and Towne. His mother Chris was for many years, the receptionist in Jacques the Hairdressers, one of the first shops in the Town Centre. He attended the town’s first school, held in the Bede Crescent flats and can remember sitting listening to the funeral of King George VI and watching the ‘Blue Bridge’ being constructed. He was transferred to the new Sugar Hill School when completed. In September 1958 he attended Durham Johnston Grammar Technical School, where his great interest and career in Rugby Union began. He played in each year and in 1964, was selected for the Durham County Schools’ Under 19’s. Aged 11, John joined the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade Cadets which met in the building next to Clarence Hall in Finchale Road.

During this time, he attained his Grand Prior’s badge, the highest award possible in the cadets and was promoted to sergeant. He joined, the Boys’ Club, which was then across the road from the fire station, where the Magistrates’ Court now stands, John completed the Bronze, Silver and Gold sections of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme followed by A visit to Holyrood Palace, to meet the Duke and receive his award. In 1965, he was selected to play for the England Boys’ Clubs against the Wales Boys’ Club, playing twice at the Gnoll, Neath and the Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton. Aged 15, John took a paper round, working for Forbuoys of Simpasture Gate. After two years he became the head lad helping in the shop. As a child, he attended Sunday School run by the Methodist Church, first in the small wooden hut in Simpasture Gate, then in the Clarence Hall and the wooden Beveridge Hall, before moving into the new premises at Neville Parade. He now attends Xcel Church, on the Aycliffe Business Park. His Teacher Training began in 1966 at Neville’s Cross College and whilst there John met Pauline McLauchlan from Seaham. On leaving college, they were married at the Elvet Methodist Church in Durham City in August 1969.

They first lived in Washington Crescent, but in 2008, moved to a bungalow in Woodham. John began his teaching career in 1969 at the Shildon Boys’ Secondary School, moving to the Junior School in 1971. When the Juniors and nearby Infant School were combined to form a primary school in 1982, John was appointed Deputy Headteacher. In 1988, he was appointed Headteacher of Ferryhill Dean Bank Primary School and retired in August 2003. Pauline began teaching at Woodham Burn Junior School. After leaving to have the children, taught part time before taking a full-time post at St. Francis’ C of E Junior School, from where she retired as Deputy Headteacher in 2002. From 1974 to 1977, John was secretary of both the Aycliffe Association of the NASUWT and the Newton Aycliffe’s Trades Council. He was a Governor of Vane Road Primary School from 1985 till 1989, and since then has been a Governor of Woodham Academy. They have three sons, John, Christopher, and Andrew, Each of the boys attended Vane Road Primary School and Woodham Comprehensive, before going on to university. On leaving school, John joined Durham City RFC, playing there until he suffered a knee injury in 1976.

Unable to play, he joined the DCRFU Referees’ Society and refereed his first match in January 1977. In 1986, he was appointed to the RFU National Panel of Referees for four seasons. For season 1990-91 he joined the Border Referees’ Society refereeing out of the Jedthistle Club in Jedburgh. He was then appointed to SRU National Panel of referees for four seasons. On returning to officiate in England, he was appointed to the RFU National Panel of Assistant Referees for two seasons. He then qualified as Referee Coach and in 2004 was appointed to the RFU National Panel of Referee Coaches for four seasons. Before and after this appointment, he was coaching for the North Group. Since July 1999 he has been the Secretary of the Referees Society and a representative to the DCRFU General Committee. In September 2011, he was awarded Life Membership of the Society in recognition of his many years of service. In July 2011 John was also appointed secretary of the DCRFU General Committee. On 11th July 2017, John was installed as President of the Durham County Rugby Football Union for Season 2017-18.
Newtonian