John Kear: Dave Woods pays tribute to rugby league legend

For more than 30 years he was a cherished member of the BBC radio and TV commentary team. His knowledge was unsurpassed, his humour never diminished.

We gave him the tag of ‘Tight Yorkshireman’ – always the last to get to the bar to buy a drink, we’d joke, and he’d play up to that role.

But, that was a myth. He was the most generous fella you could meet.

And, he was certainly always the last to leave the bar once the drinks were in because he loved the stories, the memories and the opinions we’d all share about our great game.

“Of course I love calling games with him because he’s so enthusiastic,” said BBC rugby league commentator Matt Newsum, my former colleague.

“But away from the mic I love hearing his life stories, getting him carried away on his favourite Led Zeppelin songs, and introducing him to the delights of halloumi after his initial scepticism. I can’t publish what he said at first.

“The biggest compliment I can give is that when my dad died last year, John became the next best thing to me – he was much, much more than a colleague.”

We sat beside each other for so many memorable matches – from Paris to Sydney, from Castleford to Catalans. He was such a cherished friend.

JK loved being part of the game, whatever the role. So, it is consolation, though barely, that one of his greatest thrills was being part of the BBC’s Challenge Cup final team.

That’s a role he once again fulfilled the day before his unexpected and devastating passing.

He had one passion greater than rugby league and that was his family.

Anyone who met JK knew how much his wife Dawn and all their kids meant to him. As much as we are hurting that he’s gone, their pain will be infinitely greater and they are so much in our thoughts.

Good night Keary, from Paris and Sheffield, and all those other places you left your lasting legacy.

You were the best of us.