Reginald Horner

REGINALD John Horner, who as a football referee ran the line at a match at Wembley and in a World Cup qualifier, has died aged 75.

After serving with the Royal Navy during his National Service, he was so keen on it he devoted most of his spare time to working with the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) and Sea Cadets.

When he retired from the Reserve in 1988 he had worked his way up to the rank of Lieutenant Commander, and was commanding officer of HMS Hallam, based at Sheffield. He continued his work with Huddersfield Sea Cadets Corps and in 2009 he was awarded the MBE.

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Mr Horner was born in Woolwich, London, the middle one of three children and the second son of one of the earliest members of the Royal Flying Corps who served in both the First and Second World Wars.

While still a small boy, his father moved the family to Yorkshire during the Second World War to Marsh, near Huddersfield. Mr Horner was educated at Huddersfield Boys' Grammar School and joined the Sea Cadets when he was 14. On leaving school, he went into the Royal Navy for national service. After serving his two years, he joined the RNR and also worked as an engineer with what was then the Post Office , and by the time he retired at 55 he was a sales manager.

He became heavily involved as an adult with Huddersfield Referees' Association as both a referee and a linesman. In 1976, he ran the line at the annual FA Charity Shield match at Wembley in which Liverpool beat Southampton 1-0. He also ran the line in a 1974 World Cup qualifying match in Yugoslavia.

Last September, he was still working as a referee assessor for the North West and North East Counties League.

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Mr Horner, who lived in Halifax and in retirement also been a keen caravanner, was also involved with Meltham Gilbert and Sullivan Society supporting his wife Angela who sang and produced some of their shows.He was business manager for Huddersfield Gilbert and Sullivan Society.

He was married to Ann in 1958 by whom he had two daughters, and was divorced in 1972. A year later he married Angela. Mr Horner is survived by his wife, his daughters Alison and Sally and grandchildren James and Grace.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday at Park Wood Crematorium, Elland at 1.30pm.

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