CREDITON Rugby Club members and students who had been taught at Queen Elizabeth’s Community College in Crediton are being asked if they could support a fundraiser for a former teacher at the College (now Queen Elizabeth’s School), who was also a keen rugby club player for the town.

Many people will have known at some point in their life, the great man Geoff Warne, whether it was as a pupil in Teignmouth or Crediton or maybe you played rugby with him or were even coached by him.

Geoff and his family are now embarking on the toughest journey that can beset anyone.

Geoff has been diagnosed with MND (Motor neurone disease). It has affected his whole body. He can no longer talk and needs constant care. It’s a slow debilitating disease that eventually leaves you with nothing but your mind trapped in your body. 

Geoff needs specialist equipment at home to help both him and his carers. Specifically a wet room and an electric adjustable bed. The family have been told they need to fund this themselves and this is why an appeal for help has been issued. 

After his own schooling Geoff went to St Luke’s College to train to be a PE teacher.

He represented the College at rugby where he was spotted by Exeter RFC (Chiefs), where he spent two great seasons playing with Exeter stalwarts such as John Lockyer and Bob Staddon. He was also awarded County honours and played for Devon five times. 

After qualifying as a teacher he taught for seven years at Queen Elizabeth Community College, Crediton but kept up his rugby with Crediton Rugby Club, where he became club captain.

When retiring from rugby he wanted to put as much back into the game as it gave him. He became Crediton Club coach and oversaw a very successful time. 

In 1981 Geoff moved to Teignmouth Community College where he stayed until retiring in 2019.

In 1991 he spent two years coaching Teignmouth RFC and later went on to coach the youth section. He has helped mould some great players and in particular Sam and Joe Simmonds. He was very active right up until last year when this terrible illness grabbed hold of him.

Gary Abraham, who has launched his fundraising appeal, said: "If you were ever taught by this great man please dig deep and help fund his end of life palliative care so that it can be as dignified as it can be for him and his devoted wife, Christine who cares for him 24/7."

His funding appeal currently stands at more than £18,500.

If you can help with a donation, please visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/diy-sos-to-help-geoff-warne .