Archie Swift's dedication to a cause he gave his life to will go beyond the grave. In ailing health he left instructions for the design of his own headstone.
Archied died aged 88, on Sunday, and his memorial stone will, as he insisted, be embossed with the logo of Salford Lads Club. It is a fitting final request for a man who was part of the famous club for more than three quarters of a century.
Spokesman for the Club, Leslie Holmes said: "Archie's wife, Rosemary, only found out last weekend that he had organised for the club badge to be on his headstone - that is typical Archie. People gathered at the club yesterday and the mood was sad but full of stories about Archie and the legacy he has left."
In a statement, the club said: "The club are sad to announce that Archie Swift MBE who was involved the club for 76 years has died aged 88. Archie was born just 30 yards away on what was then Huddart Street and is now Huddart Close.
"He joined the club in 1946 aged 12. This was a life changing event for Archie, one of eight children brought up by his father when his mother died. He attended his first Salford Lads Club camp in 1946 and his final camp in 2010.
"Archie has been a key figure at the club throughout all this time, running football and rugby teams and eventually becoming a trustee.
"He was awarded an MBE for his lifetime work at Salford Lads Club in 2006. Archie's knowledge and enthusiasm for the club has affected the lives of many local young people, including a young Graham Nash who was one of Archies group on the 1956 camp."
Leslie said: "I remember Archie telling me stories about the club when I first came here in 2002: one that I always remember is 'I brought a priest in here one day, right here in the entrance hall, a cracking fella I used to do a lot of work for him at the church, and I said now father this is my church'.
"For many of us who keep this amazing place going Archie was a very special character who will be missed and always remembered."
