TRIBUTES have been paid to a much-loved rugby club doctor and Newport GP, who died last Sunday.

Dr Lindsay Roblings, 77, was Newport RFC’s club doctor for 40 years and was a GP in the city up until he retired aged 60. He had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease earlier this year.

His wife Marjorie said: “He was very well-known because he was involved with all the successes and failures of Newport rugby club. His first love was Newport rugby – he was black and amber to the core. He was such a nice man.

“I’ve had letters from so many people and places where I didn’t know he was involved with. He was always very busy.”

Dr Roblings was involved with the organisation of the Snelling Sevens, and in 1978 founded the rotary club in Caerleon.

He was also the founding member of the squash club in Newport, and was a member of the management committee of the Newport Athletics Club.

“His practice used to be on Corporation Road to the back of the Athletics Club,” Mrs Roblings added. “You could hear the whistle during the evening surgeries, it was that close.

“Through the rugby mainly he made so many great friends. He was very involved with all aspect of Newport life.”

Dr Roblings, a fluent Welsh-speaker, was also heavily involved with the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol when it visited Newport in 2004.

Towards his later years, Dr Roblings was a keen golfer and became the president of the Raglan Parc Golf Club.

Dennis Bennett, honorary secretary of Newport RFC, said the club would hold a minute silence ahead of their game at home to Llanelli on Saturday, for his “outstanding service to the club”.

Mr Bennett said: “Everyone at Rodney Parade was devastated to hear of the death of Lindsay Roblings.

“He was very popular with the players and he would often attend meetings of Newport Former Players Association to share a memory or two. It was very reassuring to see him walk out on to the pitch to treat a potentially serious injury.

“Lindsay still attended games at Rodney Parade and it was always a pleasure to see him and have a chat. We are all going to miss him.”

Mr Bennett added: “On a personal note Lindsay was my family doctor and he would recall that his very first home visit as a GP was to my wife.

“The last time I saw him was on a golf course and he made a point of asking about my wife and family. Lindsay Roblings was a real gentleman.”

A private cremation will be followed by a service of thanksgiving at St Mary’s Church, Magor on Monday, September 23 at 11.15am.