We were sad to hear of the passing of Jonathan Mills on Friday 3rd May 2024. Jon, affectionately known as ‘Millsy’, was a cherished ex-club member and 1st XV player of Folkestone RFC.

Jon was diagnosed with terminal cancer after suffering from stomach pains which lead to doctors finding a "tennis ball size tumour and a half" as Jon put it, in his large intestine in late 2022. Following its removal and a spout of chemotherapy, Jon learned that the treatment had not been successful and having declined further treatment, he was only given a few months. He defied the doctors predictions however and lived well beyond that for another year, losing his battle to the terrible disease in May.

Jon was not only a dedicated rugby player but also an exceptional cricketer. He was a member of Brookweald Cricket Club in Brentwood, Essex, where he moved to from Folkestone and recently gained notoriety following his stage four bowel cancer diagnosis, when he decided to "get a game in" and remarkably hit a century, leading his team to victory. The story went viral and featured in a number of media outlets including the BBC, The Times and Sportbible . He also did an interview on Hawksbee & Jacobs Daily Show on Talksport and was invited to watch day two of the second Ashes test at Lords on by Stephen Fry, at his table. BBC presenter Jonathan Agnew paid tribute to Millsy in May.

Many of Folkestone Rugby Club's members who knew and played with Millsy in the early 2000's met-up with him in Folkestone in June 2023 for a "last hurrah" and many also travelled up to Brentwood to pay their respects at his funeral which was held on the 24th May at Bentley Crematorium followed by a wake at Brookweald Cricket Club. Folkestone Rugby Club's junior section also paid their respects by holding a minutes silence on Sunday 5th May.

Rest in Peace, Jon. You will be forever in our thoughts.