Westville stalwart laid to rest
In memory of Dave Hopcroft, who died on Friday, 15 April.
DAVE Hopcroft died on Friday, 15 April at the Highway Hospice at 85 years old and his funeral service was at Christ Church in Pinetown on Wednesday, 20 April.
As a family man, he left behind a legacy of love as the ideal husband and father. Dave and his wife, Lorna, were married for 63 years, with their life-long journey beginning at a dance 65 years ago when 16-year-old Dave offered the then 15-year-old Lorna a ride home.
They were married in the UK and were described as a match made in Heaven. Their family of two grew to a family of five with the birth of their first son,
David, followed by their late son, Steven, and then their daughter, Angela. Their family grew extensively to five grandsons and two granddaughters.
Dave and his British family began life in South Africa in 1968 when he was transferred to the Johannesburg branch of Commercial Union Insurance.
They moved to Durban in 1972 and lived in Westville for more than four decades. Dave was the manager of Commercial Union Insurance Company in Durban for many years.
He was particularly well-known in the soccer world for his prominent role as president of the National Referees Association (Natal) during the 1980s and 90s and also served on the committee of the National Referees Association of South Africa. His passion was soccer refereeing, which he took up in 1978, and his last game was 32 years later at age 70.
It was during the mid-1980s that Dave became president of the National Referees Association (NRA) Natal, which, under his superb leadership, reached its greatest heights and was the envy of similar bodies around the country. Dave worked like a Trojan to achieve such success. Apart from chairing committee and member meetings, he lectured on the laws of the game and also took on the huge responsibility of uplifting and appointing referees to about 100 games per week.
In later years he was appointed to a top position in the NRA of South Africa. Dave always practised what he preached – ‘Service before self’.
His long-time friend, Errol Pilled, described Dave as a man who led by example and was always fair, honest and loyal. “A man who touched many lives – passing on his knowledge and friendship. A true gentleman, with the highest integrity, and recently he faced his illness with dignity and courage,” said said Errol.
His other loves in life, other than refereeing, were his family, his July holidays in the Berg with his children, doing DIY around his home, cryptic crosswords and giving insurance legal advice, sometimes in court as an expert witness, which he continued to do well into his 70s.
“Dave’s and my friendship extended over several decades. During retirement, we so enjoyed our six-to-eight weekly breakfast get-togethers – never once at a loss for words,” said Errol. He extended his condolences to the family on the death of their loved one.
