The funeral of former Gloucester Rugby player Tom Voyce takes place on Friday (January 10) with all welcome to a celebration of his life. His family have asked for donations to the mountain search and rescue team that dedicated hours to searching for him.
Mr Voyce, who played for Gloucester for several years and for the England team, died in a river in Northumberland in December. The 43-year-old former wing for England, originally from Truro in Cornwall,, was in his car near Alnwick when it was swept away by the current during flood. The funeral in Northumberland has been called ‘a celebration of Tom’s life’ in the funeral notice.
It said: “Tragically, on Sunday, December 8, aged 43 years. Much loved husband of Anna, loving daddy of Oscar, treasured son of Christine and the late Michael, and a dear brother of Emily. Greatly loved and sadly missed by all his family and friends.
“A private burial will be followed by A Celebration of Tom’s life in St Michael’s Parish Church, Alnwick, on Friday, January 10 at 2pm. Family flowers only please, donations in lieu if desired to Northumberland National Park and North of the Tyne Mountain Rescue Teams, Amble & Coastguard Volunteers and The Wooden Spoon Charity c/o William Purves Funeral Directors, Garden Lodge Greenwell Road, Alnwick, NE66 1HB.”
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File photo dated 4-02-2006 of former England rugby player Tom Voyce. Specialist officers searching for missing former England rugby player Tom Voyce have found a body close to where he was swept away while trying to drive across a flood-swollen river, police have said. Issue date: Thursday December 12, 2024.
(Image: PA Wire/PA Images)
Northumbria Police said heavy rain brought by Storm Darragh on December 8 raised the river levels. The force deployed specialist officers from its marine section alongside the National Police Air Service, drones and dog handlers. Volunteers from the North of Tyne Mountain Rescue were also on the hunt.
Opening an inquest this week at County Hall in Morpeth, Northumberland coroner Andrew Hetherington said Mr Voyce was last seen at around 11.45pm on Saturday, December 7, when he left the Queen’s Head pub in Glanton. His wife Anna reported him missing the next morning when she realised he had not returned home, the coroner said.
The coroner adjourned the inquest and said the hearing will conclude on April 1. After his death, Mr Voyce’s widow said in a statement: “Absolutely devastated and heartbroken doesn’t even describe how we feel.”
Mr Voyce started his senior playing career at Bath, then spent six years with Wasps where he helped them win European and domestic titles, before leaving to join Gloucester in 2009. He won nine caps for England and made 220 Premiership appearances before retiring in May 2013.
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