Vale Bernard “Bernie” Rupert Seymour

A true Sea Eagle Immortal

Bernie, aged 84 years, passed away peacefully on 27 April 2017, in the presence of members of his family. The news of Bernie’s passing quickly spread throughout the Manly Warringah District, where he was held in the highest esteem by members of the public and the rugby league community.

He was a “larger than life” character, who always had a word, smiling and friendly face for everyone he met. However, that off the field character changed once Bernie ran out onto the playing field, where he played in the forwards and quickly gained a reputation as a rugged and fearless tackling machine, who never took a backward step. He rose through the Sea Eagles RL Club grade team ranks playing in the third, reserve grades and then first grade for 45 games, being honored as number 96th first grade player, from 1954-1963. Additionally, he was the first Sea Eagles player to play 200 grade games for the Club.

When his playing days were over, Bernie remained actively involved with the Club in numerous roles as a Coach, Selector, Administrator, Committee Member & was granted Life Membership in 1985. He is among an elite group of men who laid the foundations for the Sea Eagles RL Club to become the successful Club it has been for many years. Up until recent years, he attended most training sessions of the first grade team and never missed a match at his beloved Brookvale Oval. He was instrumental years ago in the formation of a Touch Football Competition and the team “Bernie’s Boilers”.

Unbeknown to Bernie his daughters Joanne & Michelle had told the local visiting Men of League Wellbeing Volunteers that he just loved a hot meat pie/cold beer or hot chips/beer and it came to be every time that they visited Bernie they would take one of his favorites to his great delight. The pleasure that the sighting of one his favorites & the smile it would bring to his face, is beyond words. You can just imagine the reunion he will have when he meets up again with some of his old team mates including Roy Bull, Doug Daley, Rex Mossop, Jim Peebles and Billy Lloyd to name a few.

Bernie joins his loving wife Janette and will be dearly missed forever by his daughters Joanne, Michelle and son Scott along with his grandchildren Joshua, Molly, Amy, Bryce, Patrick, Liam and Ruby. In addition his countless friends and acquaintances that had the pleasure to know him will be mourning their great loss of a true gentlemen.

The family cordially invite friends of their Dad to a celebration of his life to be held in the North Chapel, Northern Suburbs Crematorium, Delhi Road, North Ryde on Friday 5 May 2017, commencing at 11.15 am.