All of us here at the Lewes FC Supporters Club were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our chair, Dave Evans, at the age of 60, writes Richard Irving.

Dave was one of life’s volunteers. Chair of the Lewes FC Supporters’ club, chair of Ringmer Rovers Junior FC and, following his first diagnosis, a co-ordinator for the charity 5K My Way, a running group for cancer patients and survivors. Those are to name but a few.

Dave had a varied career, beginning as Mr Wimpy at the Birmingham New Street branch of the burger chain, moving to selling ice cream on French beaches (both as a student, I hasten to add) before training as a lawyer and then moving into teaching, finishing that part of his career as Head at Ringmer Primary School.

Unfortunately, his later work with university students was curtailed by the diagnosis of a brain tumour in April 2021.

His completion of the London Marathon last April was little short of miraculous but that, and the way he battled the insidious disease that finally took him from us, was testament to his tenacity and iron will. Through it all, we barely ever saw him anything other than incredibly cheerful.

We’ll definitely miss that daft sense of humour, his trademark chuckle and, when called upon, a voice loud enough to be the scourge of opposition supporters, goalkeepers and referees alike.

I know how much he loved his family, Mei, Nick, Charlie and Julia and how much he appreciated their support throughout his illness.

So many people were touched by his enthusiasm and drive and, I’m sure, like us, there are many former pupils out there who will have learnt a great deal just by being in his company.

RIP Mate. It was a privilege to know you.