Born in 1963 in Gravesend in Kent, famous for being the burial place of Pocahontas, Dave was brought up in nearby Maidstone. His rugby playing days started at Grammar School where inter-house sport was fiercely contested. University followed at Sheffield where Dave studied Engineering and met future wife Heather. It was a while before the two married and set up home in Darley Abbey as Heather worked in Norway after Sheffield, then studied for her master’s degree in Portsmouth before working for Whitbread in London.

Degree-qualified Engineer Dave took up work at Parker-Hannifin in Derby where he mainly dealt with bits of hydraulic fittings for JCBs etc. Working at Parker-Hannifin at the time were several Derby Rugby Club players, Cambell Wigley, Timmo and (a different) Kev Brown. Dave was easily persuaded to resume his rugby at Derby, seeing that as a way of making new friends. There were several Rolls Royce graduates at Derby Rugby Club including a young flanker called Sean Hathert. Dave and Sean moved together through the lower sides from 5ths to 1sts in five successive weeks. Unfortunately, while Sean remained in the 1sts Dave dropped back to the 2nds where he remained a stalwart of that side for some years. At 33 years old, with 3 kids under 4 years old, and working away a lot, Dave stopped playing for a while with the exception of a couple of Vet’s games aged 35.

Having played rugby against Melbourne Dave had been introduced to the delights of the Village’s various hostelries, and he wasted no time in deciding it would be a fine place for the family to live. Aged 36 in 1999 they moved to Melbourne when Max the eldest child was coming up to 4 years old and school became a priority. Dave remembers seeking some help to unload boxes of the family’s possessions and was guided to three (un)likely lads who did the job for the princely sum of £20 each. Keir, Pop and Judgy!!! Think he must have asked Dave Bonner for recommendations as those three were the fledgling Minis when Dave set up the M&Js at Melbourne.

Heather was responsible for Dave’s return to rugby after she met Ian Lucas at a Summer Event and told him that her husband used to play. Dave remembers his first game for Phil Johnson’s 3rd team and whilst getting changed in the old pavilion, Ian Lucas, ever the welcoming face of Melbourne Rugby Club, came over and introduced himself.

Dave took up Coaching with the Mini and Juniors, coaching son Finn’s side from 11 through to Colts whilst still playing himself. That age group won at NLD Level and went on some great Tours. After Finn left to go to University Dave set up the Stags (2nds) as at that time in 2014 there was only a 1st Team for the Seniors. Once the 2nds were established and thriving Dave set about building a 3rd Team which he continued to work with till 2018.

Alumni from Dave’s M&J sides include Jack Pearce, Devon Iliffe, Joe Stuart, Ed Hames and Danny Lawson.

Favourite times are recalled touring Edinburgh, Great Yarmouth, Hereford, and Exeter, with Macer being the most annoying, and Robin giving away the most penalties.

Rugby certainly in the blood of Dave’s sons of whom he is rightly proud, we have Max playing regularly for Melbourne 2nds having captained his University side Newcastle Medics whilst not actually a Med student, and Finn who was a Med student played for Liverpool University when they won the University Cup Final.

1. First position you played in rugby: Prop

2. Worst injury: Dislocated shoulder

3. Best player you played with at MRFC or elsewhere: I am tempted to say Macer, but probably someone at Derby who would ignore me after the game ie Glynn Acton

4. Best person for post-match drinks, fun and frolics: Nigel Breakwell

5. What should your nickname be: Dodgy Dave tried to make it slippers as I am old and smell of wee, but it never caught on

6. What bad habit do you have: Drinking to excess

7. Your sporting hero: Muhammad Ali

8. Your non-sporting hero: Tony Blair

9. Favourite food/meal: Spaghetti Carbonara

10. Favourite TV programme/film: Field of Dreams

11. Favourite book: Any of the Rebus series

12. Who dead or alive would you like to have a conversation with: Paul Macer

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

14. Dream job: Dresser for Louise Redknapp

15. Tell me something about you that no one knows: I was on songs of praise singing a solo when I was 11

16. A phrase that reflects your life: I am really sorry I did not mean it

17. What sport do you wish you’d tried: Bog Snorkelling

18. Who would you like to see interviewed for this article: Nigel Breakwell

19. Your wish for the future of MRFC : Keeps the same vibe, but continues to progress

20. Your Melbourne Dream Team of players past and present (Bit of fudging gone on here)

1) Pop
2) Paul Bignall (yes really)
3) Me (as no one else will say it), if not Lewis Hammond
4) Judgie
5) Kier/Starkie
6) Mace
7) Jakey Watts
8) Huddo
9) Jake
10) Kev Brown
11) Stringer
12) Big Watty/Deano
13) Sam Smith
14) Lewis Bowman
15) Little Watty (also good at dancing and being cheeky)

Replacement number 8 Ian Lucas