Frederick Kempton
Fred received his RAE Long & Meritorious Service Award in September 2007 from Bart O'Toole
Fred received his class 1
(level 5 in modern parlance) in season 1984/5 and by season 1987/8 was
Harrow's training officer. He held this post until 2003/4 by which time he
had combined it with that of chairman. For many years he also served as the
County's Southern Division representative as well as being one of Harrow's
delegates to the Middlesex Referees' Association.
Harrow society President
Graeme Thorley paid the following tribute:
Fred was the man who got
me through the training course and as such was one of the key influences on my
refereeing career. Indeed he was a key influence on a whole generation of
Middlesex referees. He had a passion for the game, for refereeing, for Harrow
society and of course for his beloved Chelsea.
He was a principled man
with a strong belief in doing the right things in the right way and was not
backward in coming forward if he thought standards were slipping. I had to
admire him for that. He always remained approachable as training officer and
was free with his advice if approached for guidance on any refereeing matter.
My very first game after
qualifying was at 57 Club in Neasden where the visitors were Barnet MO; it was
in the London Commercial League division 1. I lined to Fred and got the
princely sum of £6 for my efforts. I well remember him trotting across during
a stoppage in play to upbraid me for not being in line with the second last
defender, something I hope I managed to remedy in my subsequent lining
career. I also noted the diagonal he ran and copied it once I started
refereeing, assuming this was the way it was done. Of course it was the
opposite of what most referees did so Fred was also responsible for me
upsetting legions of assistant referees by making them take right backs when
they lined to me!
In recent years Fred had
suffered far more than his fair share of ill health but showed remarkable
fortitude and as much good humour as anyone could have the right to expect.
He was genuinely delighted
to receive his RAE Long and Meritorious Service Award in September last year.
It was great to see so many of his refereeing colleagues present, some of whom
had travelled a great distance. It was equally great to see Fred with that
twinkle back in his eye as he received the recognition he so soundly deserved.
All those who knew Fred
and worked with Fred know the contribution he made to Harrow society. We
shall all miss him. We send our condolences to his partner Pat and his son
David, who was himself a senior referee and who did so much to support Harrow.
Funeral
Arrangements