Born and lived in Melbourne Market Place, Mark attended Melbourne Infant, Junior and Senior Schools before going to Chellaston Senior School. On leaving school he went to work for Sharrat & Haynes as a Wood Machinist making pine furniture.

Melbourne Garage working for Guy and Chip was the next port of call. Paul Bignall was already working there, so when Mark demonstrated an ability to remove an alternator from an Austin Princess, Guy said he may as well stay and get paid. Bignall and Hudo together would have been enough to drive any man to the bottle, and is the reason that Guy looks rather older than his 55 years!!

Hudo then spent a while working for himself as a mechanic, on building sites, and doing (his words) ‘a bit of this and that’.

In 1997 Hudo became a retained fireman at Melbourne Fire Station staying 20 years until he moved out of Melbourne to Borrowash in 2016.

He returned to Melbourne in 2019 to The Alma with Gail who he had met when she ran The Lamb.

On his rugby history Hudo recalls Bengo saying to him in the Melbourne Arms one evening ‘You are playing rugby tomorrow’. Having never played rugby at school he was 23 years old when he first played. A dozen lads had been cajoled into playing, all turned up but only Hudo and Bignall stayed the course. He played for 23 years until a collar bone operation ended his playing days.

At one time Hudo rented a room in Bignall’s house in Sinfin. When Bignall arranged a delivery of Grecian 2000 for Hudo, Bignall stated that he would ‘never go grey’.

On holiday with Bignall and Steve White in Teneriffe, while Hudo was asleep Bignall squirted toothpaste into his armpits. Revenge was served up the next night when Hudo took the opportunity to relieve himself into the open snoring mouth of Bignall.

Several disclosures were made by Hudo during our interview for this article, all relating to Rugby Tours, but as you know ‘What goes on Tour, stays on Tour’. So if you want to know what the dos amigos got up to you’ll need to track either of them down. Find Hudo in The Alma.

1. First position you played in rugby:- 2nd Row
2. Worst injury:- Broken Collar Bone

3. Best player you played with at MRFC or elsewhere:- Pete Lewsey

4. Best person for post-match drinks, fun and frolics:- Everyone but not Paul Bignall

5. What should your nickname be:- Hudo

6. What bad habit do you have:- Knowing Paul Bignall

7. Your sporting hero:- Martin Johnson

8. Your non-sporting hero:- My Mum

9. Favourite food/meal:- Steak & Chips

10. Favourite TV programme:- Yellowstone

11. Favourite book:- Classic Bike Mag

12. Who dead or alive would you like to have a conversation with:- My Grandma

13. You can take either a book, music or a tool to a desert island. Which, and what would it be:- I-Pad

14. Dream job:- Motorcycle Test Rider

15. Tell me something about you that no one knows:- If I told you, I’d have to kill you!!

16. A phrase that reflects your life:- Happy Go Lucky

17. What sport do you wish you’d tried:- Motorcycle Racing

18. Who would you like to see interviewed for this article:- Anyone but Paul Bignall

19. Your wish for the future of MRFC:- To succeed and Grow

20. Your Melbourne Dream Team of players past and present:-

Robin Clayborn
Doc Fawcett
Roger Lucas
Keith Bonner
Roo Luckett
Dave Clayborn
Ian Lucas
Pete Lewsey
Jake Oxspring
James Perry
Little Watty
Big Watty
Dean Sylvester
Nick Parkinson
Joe Laban