Norman Mackie

Norman Mackie was a natural athlete, a lifelong teetotaller and non-smoker who made an immediate impact on rugby after joining Otley, one of the North's most prominent clubs, and earning his place as first XV hooker at the age of 16.

By the time he was 23, he had made 30 appearances for Yorkshire and was an established figure in the almost unbeatable Royal Signals XV which brought together rugby union and league players doing National Service. He would have played in an England trial had he not been persuaded by the Army that his allegiance should be with them.

His finest moment on the rugby field came at Bradford's Lidget Green ground in March 1953 when Yorkshire beat East Midlands 11-3 to win the county title, then the pinnacle of achievement for union players at national level short of representing their country.

He then signed professional forms for Bradford Northern in 1955 before moving two years later to Wakefield Trinity where his career was ended when he broke a bone in his neck when a scrum collapsed. He would suffer back and neck pain for the rest of his life.

He later played county-standard table tennis and was a keen cyclist into his late 70s. His sporting traditions were carried on by his sons Ian, who became a golf professional, and Paul, who captained Aireborough RUFC. Paul's younger son Jack is a member of the first XV squad at Wharfedale and is in Yorkshire's under-20 group.

Norman Mackie was born in Albion Street, Otley, and spent his working life in engineering, living for many years in Lound, Nottinghamshire, before moving to Coningsby in Lincolnshire following his retirement. His interests by then centred on fast cars, cycling, boats and caravans.

He and his second wife Christine would spend three months of every year at Coningsby, preferring to spend the rest of their time travelling in the United States, where they visited every part of the Union, driving their RV and cycling.

The Mackies returned to England for the last time in April 2009 so Mrs Mackie could undergo back surgery and shortly afterwards Mr Mackie was diagnosed with throat cancer.

Norman Oliver Mackie died on December 20 and the cremation was held yesterday. He is survived by his wife Christine, sons Ian, Paul and Simon and grandsons Tom and Jack.