We asked her former teammates Kym Hyde (KH) Elaine Cross (EC) Sarah Escott (SE) & Charlie Bronks (CB) to remind us just why, to this day, Linda is remembered as a legend of the game.

For those who never had the privilege of playing with Linda, what was she like on the field?

KH: It was clear early on that she was destined for a great rugby career. She agonised over leaving Antlers to go to Wasps and play a better standard of rugby. She was courted by a number of the bigger clubs and I think it was partly the influence of another Black player Georgie (Paula George ex Wasps & England) that finally swayed her. I think Georgie’s achievements, (along with Jackie & Maxine Edwards) really made her see that background and colour really were not an impediment in women’s rugby. When you think about national level sport in the late 90’s/ 00’s women’s rugby was actually hugely inclusive, with two Black national captains of the team – far in advance of other team sports. At Wasps, she quickly became an integral part of the team, and she loved her time there although at heart she was always an Antler. She remained loyal to Antlers even after she left, and as we know she came back to the Club after her international career and brought with her the experience and knowledge she had gained elsewhere.

EC: Although we were a good team, on the pitch we all knew she was playing way below the level she was capable of. She could pick up the ball from her 22 and run the length of the pitch with only our cheers willing her on. After bouncing a few defenders away most oppositions gave up the chase too! It was no surprise when she went on to play for Wasps and England. She was formidable on and off the field.

SE: She came down to the club with Emma Bowyer. She had no kit and I got her a pair of boots as we were going away the next weekend to Northampton for a training weekend. She was thrown in at the deep-end and was clearly a natural. I remember her getting into all the rucks and mauls even though she was a back, so we started her as blindside flanker. It was great to have her on the field as even if she didn’t run straight she had the pace to run round everyone. And once she started going direct, no one wanted to tackle her! She always had a fag at half time and there was always a gang that was last out of the changing room as she always had a pint and a fag after!

Does any one moment for you stand out for you playing in a game with Linda for Teddington?

EC: There was one particular game on the Barton’s Cottage pitch when she got caught about five yards from the try line by a gutsy chase back from one of the opposition. She went down hard but ever the pro turned to pop the ball off to one of her teammates only to find that we were all back in our 22 cheering her on. I will never forget her slow striding walk back and her words of advice to the 14 of us! We never did that again !!!! We were always following her up, not quite on her heels but as close to her powerful runs as we could get.

KH: Not one in particular because she was a joy to have as a team-mate – willing to do the hard yards, and always sharing the glory. She would have been the first to admit that training on a cold wet night in Bushy Park was NOT her favourite pastime, and we had many conversations about shall we just go down the pub instead – but mainly we turned up. As a Captain she was a joy to follow and very successful both before and after her move to Wasps and as a friend, she was the warmest, funniest and most loyal person to have around. I have to say she was a pain in the arse to carry home when drunk though, and I can’t begin count the times I’ve done it!

CB: There was a time when we played on the pitch at Bushy Park and Linda lost some of her hair extensions and they are pretty expensive! So after we had to check for them and we were finding them in our pockets and on the pitch for days!

How would you describe the impact she made at the club overall?

KH: In terms of Antlers – her Clubhouse exploits are the stuff of legend. That she is still talked about so often by so many people is testament to her lasting influence on the Club. She embodies the ethos of Antlers – and I think that’s her legacy. When she was very very ill a couple of days before she died, we were talking about her will, and about “after”. She said she was just scared that because she hadn’t had a family of her own and hadn’t done anything amazing with her life, that she would be forgotten. Even to the end, she underestimated just how much she touched and influenced so many people just by being their friend.

SE: She had a huge impact obviously and is still talked about and remembered so well. Off the field she was huge fun – and the Tours, what can I say. Linda Sumo wrestling in Paris and winning…….San Francisco in 2007 with lots of old girls coming out of retirement and doing it on and off the pitch……it was messy., And it was a chance to spend more time with Linda when she told me about her health problems but they were not yet diagnosed. We also did a mini tour to Scotland with the Classic Lionesses in 2008 as well and Linda came on that and was in total party mode and still chatting the boys up……..Charlie may be able to confirm if she was successful or not!! I was so glad to go the San Francisco Tour. It was a chance to get back in touch with the Antlers gang and then be able to help when and how it was needed with Linda.

When she was diagnosed, the club rallied around and organised support - tell us about that?

SE: When she was diagnosed there was a group that rallied round to help with the practical stuff in the first instance, hospital visits, shopping and so on. That was led by Gareth and Elaine Cross but included others like Yorkie, Stuart Harrison, Babs and Charlie. When she needed more specialist help she moved from Mortlake to St Margaret’s then to Whitton where the house was specially adapted. I remember when she moved in and we had cleared the garden which was a jungle so she could enjoy the sun and sit out when the weather was good. The fundraiser was an amazing achievement, £60-80k raised from an event set up in less than 2-3 months and without the use of social media like we do today. I think we coined the term “rugby family” way before hashtags were common parlance! And the response to the call was totally reflective of the regard players and rugby supporters had for her. I remember her being the life and soul of the party and she started to be affected by the cancer after that.

KH: The support for Linda when she was diagnosed was amazing – and a testimony to the esteem she was held in at Antlers and in the wider rugby community. She had very little close family and while I can’t remember who came up with the fundraiser idea, I do remember her being completely blown away that 1) people wanted to do that for her and 2) so many high profile people turned out to support her. It was a really bittersweet night for those close to her and her “Rugby Dad” Roger Uttley spoke very movingly on her behalf about how overwhelmed and amazed she was at the extent of the rugby community’s support for her. In true Linda spirit she packed so much life in to the period after the diagnosis and confounded all expectation. It was a truly amazing night and the funds raised most definitely helped her live her best life for the few years to follow.

Linda was one of the few Black players in the England team and at Wasps and Teddington, how important role did she play in increasing visibility and inspiring others and how much did that impact her?

KH: I think she would have had a pretty irreverent laugh at being written about in the context of Black History Month, but she would also have been quite self -deprecatingly proud to have been considered in those terms. I think it was rare that her race was on issue on the field but I do remember one instance. One was on one of the early Antlers tours to Ireland. We played a team where every other player was called Mary. Linda was on good form – running through defensive lines and making great ground. We had a line out and there were some shenanigans going on. She broke off with the ball and a Mary yelled in a broad Irish accent “Ah ya big black f*cker” and jumped on her back, to be carried down pitch. It was the only time I’ve ever seen her really have a go at someone for a racist comment. The player later apologised – as did the rest of her team, and all was forgiven in the clubhouse.

EC: She was very proud of her heritage but I always remember that she just wanted to be part of the group and not the focus of the group which is a tough call when you are crowned the ‘sumo queen’ during our mixed tour to Paris. Frenchman Bernard did not know what hit him when he challenged our lindyloo to a wrestle!

CB: Obviously Linda was an incredibly gorgeous Black woman – but she was simply Linda to us and Linda Uttley if you didn’t know her yet. Seeing Linda in her prowess playing a game of rugby she stood out for being a brilliant rugby player but she was also a brilliant Black rugby player and I am sure that there are a lot of women and girls who looked to Linda as an aspirational role model.

Is there anything else you’d like to say about Linda?

CB: She was ‘our’ Linda even in an England shirt. I remember her first game for England and she combined this sort of surprise and pride at the same time. Linda was hilarious, could be feisty, fiercely loyal and fabulous and these qualities were with her to the end when she was five or six stories up in a hospital ward miming to me to get her the f*ck out of here like Rapunzel in her dressing gown so me and Ali Kervin would sneak in and get her out when she insisted on stopping at a KFC on the way home and a quick pop in the Turks Head in her dressing gown. Linda to a tee!

KY: We shared a flat for 3 years, she was my maid of honour, shares a birthday with my oldest daughter and was god mum to my youngest. She was the single most important non family member in my life. “Auntie Linda” is a very important role model for both of my sporty daughters. The confident and self possessed athlete she was on the outside belies a lady who at times had very little belief in herself. Certainly in the early days, newly separated, still working in Waitrose and pre- Wasps or England days she really lacked confidence. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that rugby made her the person she was. The size, shape and strength which was a massive asset to her through her career was pre rugby something that made her feel very uncomfortable and self conscious off pitch. Rugby as we know embraces and celebrates all shapes and sizes and that’s why I think she felt so immediately at home at the Club (and her supreme ability to have a drink and a good time didn’t hurt either!)

EC: For me Linda was both formidable and supportive on the pitch; a loveable, huggable, big laughs and mischievous fun person off the pitch; and a sensitive and caring mate in those quieter moments together. We miss her so very much and in a months’ time we will be by her grave reminiscing the old stories, having a hug, sharing few tears and laughs and all with an obligatory glass of port in our hands to toast our Lovely Lindyloo.