BILL Guffick, who played in the York Rugby Union Club team which won the Yorkshire Shield in 1949, has died in York Hospital after a short illness. He was 78.

He was hooker in one of the best teams to represent York when their base was on Hob Moor. They beat Castleford 15-9 in the Shield final at Selby.

When he finished playing he served as a committee member and later chairman of the club when they moved headquarters to Clifton Park.

Gordon Davies, who followed him as York RUFC chairman, said: "Bill worked very hard for the club. He was instrumental in helping to move the club forward."

Mr Guffick was educated at Tang Hall Junior School and Archbishop Holgate's Grammar School.

He was manager of the personnel department at the Eastern region headquarters of British Rail in York. He served as a glider pilot in the Army during the Second World War.

He leaves a widow Barbara and a daughter Susan. The funeral service is at York Crematorium on Monday at 10.30am.

Updated: 11:13 Friday, February 04, 2005