It may be the case that amidst the plethora of sporting achievement that framed the life of Archie Evans M.B.E his dedicated involvement with Keswick Rugby Club might escape reference.

Archie had a finger in many pies but he was a rugby man first and foremost and rugby men who benefited from his wise council are estimated in thousands. Archie died after achieving a good age and being ill for a while but for multi generations of close friends and rugby brothers convinced of his indestructibility news of his death was as surprising as it was sad.

When Archie re appeared at Keswick Rugby Club during the late sixties he was welcomed with open arms by older members who had known him the first time round. Younger members were told that he had come back to Keswick after working in Kenya and that he was a good bloke who knew his stuff and was likely to want to get involved in the running of the club. News of Archie's credentials became widespread when one young lad said that all he knew about Kenya was that they had some good middle and long distance runners. John Branthwaite the then Club Chairman was on hand to provide the young lad with the instant information that Archie had been their Coach and that they worshiped him.

Rugby man is not always endowed with those dual qualities of ability and commitment and, certainly, never to the same depth as Archie. By comparison to the magnitude of what he became to the club after his retirement from teaching his early involvement was was critical but low key. Archie gradually got to work and was a keen Committee member who always contributed to the debate and who, more and more, was asked to provide the last word. Fellow committee members were aghast at his knowledge, his famous connections, and his uncanny take on what would and would not work. From day one Archie stood out as a gifted decision maker; his summations were economical and calculated, he liked the responsibility, and he didn't mind going out on a limb.

Archie became Keswick's County Representative and alongside Gareth Roberts was the founder of Keswick Rugby Club's Mini rugby section.

Archie was a superb mini rugby organizer because he was popular with young players, liked, and was liked by, parents, and, placed at the  enlightened sharp end of his mini rugby initiative were Mums put to work on and around the pitch rather than in the kitchen.

In early 1981 club stalwart Malcolm Craghill asked Archie for advice on how to organize a half marathon and within days Archie had the entire operation planned and and a date fixed for the inaugural event.

Retirement allowed Archie the opportunity for deeper rugby immersion and  with more 'spare' time, he dedicated his energies to Keswick Rugby Club and it's re-invention as Cumbria Rugby Union's 'Centre of Excellence'. Archie led Keswick's bid and was convinced of the strength of Keswick's credentials. When Keswick failed to achieve the elevated title Archie was devastated but he didn't whinge and with morale undimmed turned his attention towards initiatives more specific to Keswick's interests.

Archie didn't know when to stop and was at his happiest if he was up to his neck in involvement. Archie was never seen searching for the soft option and because he was so popular he never had any problems recruiting help to support his projects. In his roles as a major league administrator and member of numerous Committees he was well placed to press for the use of Keswick as a venue for a variety of prestigious representative matches. Because of Archie's influence  Keswick was regularly chosen to host big games such as Cumbria Schoolboys vs Kenya Schoolboys, The North Schoolboys vs France 'B', Cumbria Schoolboys vs Japanese Schoolboys as well as a County Cup final and Cumbria County Championship matches. Archie's spadework for these events was usually done before the Keswick Committee became fully informed, and, despite presentations designed to to look as if the cachet was collective  the signs of fait accompli were clearly present. The Keswick Committee hung on Archie's every word and didn't worry about insurmountable logistics because to Archie nothing was impossible.

The best evidence of this, and of Archie's promotion of rugby at the grass roots as well as elite levels, occurred when it was discovered that a Schoolboy International between England and Spain, arranged by Archie, was scheduled to take place at Davidson Park on the same day as the  annual visit of serial socialisers Corstorphine RFC.  The rugby cultures could not have been further juxtaposed and amidst pressure from the majority of Keswick's General Committee  that the tourists be dissuaded  Archie calmly advocated that with a bit of juggling both events could take place without either providing an imposition on the other. He was right.

Archie was an extremely gifted rugby coach and it was disappointing that his widespread administrative commitments meant that the time he could dedicate to coaching became severely curtailed. Archie  was a great advocate of coach development and was a sympathetic mentor of young coaches learning their trade. When at Archie's invitation an RFU coaching supremo visited Keswick in 1995 and told a meeting of Cumbrian coaches that they were years behind the rest of the country Archie was affronted and made Coach Development a major target in the following years of his membership of The Cumbria RFU.

Archie's accession to the post of County President took place at the County A.G.M at Davidson Park and was marked with a speech in which he said he was proud to be English, even more proud to be Cumbrian, prouder still to be Keswickian but proudest of all to be a member of Keswick Rugby Club.

Archie was a brilliant public speaker both on the cuff and off. It helped that he was informed to the hilt, tactful and every wary of pitfalls that might cause upset or strike a discordant note. His various speeches were more often than not the highlight of Dinners, Award Ceremonies, Birthday parties, meetings, and in the aftermath of a hundred matches big and small. They were sometimes epic and always inspirational. 

This won't be the only tribute to Archie, and no wonder! but it will be the one most proud to boast of Archie's dedicated association with Keswick Rugby Club.