On September 25th 1935 a letter from Richard Budworth was published in the The Times newspaper.
FOOTBALL MEMORIES
TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES
Sir.- After reading your correspondent's "Football Memories" in your issue of September 19 various old memories came to me.
I can recall the time when in Rugby Football matches there was no referee, and each side appointed its own umpire. This led to various complications of course. I can recall a match in which the visitors' umpire disallowed a try by the home XV., though he was at the moment unable to see what had happened owing to a large oak tree that grew just on the touch-line. Afterwards he was always known (by supporters of the home team) as "the umpire who could see through a tree." I can also remember the delightful story of a match between two famous Yorkshire XV's. This was after referees had been instituted. The referee could blow his whistle, but only if one or both umpires waved his flag. On this occasion nothing had been scored up to nearly the call of time. Then suddenly one of the home team dropped a brilliant goal, to the huge delight of the many hundred spectators, but to their horror the referee blew his whistle and the goal was disallowed! When asked what the objection to the goal was, he said that he had seen Mr.___, the home team's umpire, waving his flag, and felt sure that unless some very gross breach of the rules had taken place, Mr.___ would never have raised an objection. He had seen nothing that could invalidate the score. As a matter of fact, Mr.___ had waved his flag in sheer delight at his own team's success!
Later on, of course the system was changed, and the referee was given the absolute decision, and the umpires being relegated to the touch-line.
I am, &c.,
R.D.BUDWORTH
Budworth spent his last days as Vicar in Horspath, Oxfordshire and died in London on 7th December 1937. He was in London to see Varsity match.
His obituary appeared in The Times on 11th December 1937, and said
CANON R.D.BUDWORTH
The funeral of Canon R.D.Budworth took place at Horspath, Oxford yesterday. The service was conducted by Prebendary L.J.Percival, Precentor of his Majesty's Chapels Royal and Domestic Chaplain to the King, the Rev.R.N.Douglas and the Rev.O.S.E.Clarendon. Family mourners and others present.
A memorial service for Canon Budworth was held yesterday at Durham School Memorial Chapel. The robed clergy present were the Bishop of Durham (Dr.Henson), the Rev.H.K.Luce (Headmaster), who officiated, the Rev.M.J.Ellingsen, and the Rev.F.A.Youngman. The Dean and Canons of Durham were absent, attending Evensong in the Cathedral, at which reference was made to the death of Canon Budworth.
On Saturday July 14th 1973 at the annual reunion dinner of the Old Dunelmian Society the headmaster of Durham School, Mr.M.W.Vallance, announced that the sports centre was to be named after the late Canon R.D.Budworth.
{Article taken from the Clifton Rugby Football Club History}