Friends celebrate life of sportsman
Jul 26 2008 by Chris Robinson, The Journal
MOURNERS turned out to pay their last respects yesterday to a popular sportsman who died while on holiday in Portugal.
David Morley suffered a serious head injury in the Vilamoura area of the Algarve last month.
After he slipped into a coma, his heartbroken wife Marie turned off his life support machine when tests revealed he was brain dead.
The 64-year-old, of Ryton, Gateshead, was cremated yesterday at West Road Crematorium, Newcastle.
Police in Portugal say they believe Mr Morley simply slipped and hit his head but his family insist he was mugged.
More than 200 mourners paid tribute to the former cricket professional who played for North teams in the 1970s.
As well as family and close friends, members of Arcot Hall Golf Club, Cramlington, where Mr Morley and his wife, 57, were members, attended.
Three pieces of music were chosen for the service, The Hollies’ He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother, Lara's Theme from Dr Zhivago and Bette Midler’s Wind Beneath My Wings.
His wife also asked for a reading from the Rudyard Kipling poem If.
Mrs Morley told The Journal her husband’s funeral was a “celebration of his life”.
She said: “Two of the songs came to my head when I was in Portugal when Dave was on the life support machine.
“I was watching TV when I got home, it was on the choir programme on BBC1 and the Hollies’ song just seemed right. I also asked for If by Rudyard Kipling to be read, another thing which just came into my head.
“It seemed to state David’s life – the way he played his sport brought people together.”
Mr Morley had left his wife and two friends that evening to buy cigars for a friend back home.
The family believe he was approached, assaulted and mugged. His wedding ring and watch were stolen, as well as a digital camera and a wallet, which was found later.
His gold chains, hidden from view, were still around his neck as he was apparently left to die. Mr Morley was the eldest of four, with brothers John, 57, Keith, 54 and sister Ann, 51.
He worked as an account manager for Barclays, where he met his wife, and was instrumental in installing credit card facilities at the MetroCentre when it first opened.
He played cricket as a professional for Gateshead Fell, Felling, Whickham and the County Club in Jesmond.
He joined Felling in 1974 and drove them to win the championship, then inspired Whickham to the league title.
After retiring he took up golf and became a member at Seahouses and Arcot Hall in Cramlington, where the couple lived for 25 years before moving to Ryton, Gateshead, 18 months ago.
