I forget exactly when it was I first met Ellie Sullivan. It would have been at Rectory Field on a match day around about 2012/13, and Ellie would have been in her very early teens.
Taking an interest in what was going on, Ellie was quickly helping pre-match, fetching and carrying equipment to and from the back of the main stand. Back then, filming matches was not quite the slick, slimline operation it is now. The kit was bulky, and there was a lot of it.
Post match she would be engaged in copying the match footage on to numerous DVDs (remember those!) to hand out to coaches and players.
Soon Ellie graduated to serving in the Club shop, a role which continued after the move to Well Hall.
Once old enough, she began training with the Women’s team, but continued her support for the Men’s First XV, sponsoring players and often rocking up at away matches under own steam.
More recently, you would see Ellie in the ticket hut on match days welcoming you on arrival at the ground.
Ellie loved Blackheath and just wanted to help.
I met Ellie at Twickenham on that balmy mid-summer evening, when Tom Stradwick had just led Kent to a third successive County Championship.
There she was, resplendent in her Kent Rugby polo shirt (I was quite jealous!) enjoying the celebratory atmosphere as the victorious players all arrived at the Cabbage Patch pub.
It was there that she told me of her health issues. It’ll be alright, you’re young, and there’s much they can do – I thought. Sadly, that was not to be the case.
In hospital Ellie still loved to talk and enquire about Blackheath, watched the try-lights, and followed everything on social media, while remaining stoical about her situation.
Ellie died peacefully on Friday evening with her close family around her. She was 26.
Our hearts go out to all her family and relatives, especially her parents Rachael and Tim. She will remain in our hearts for evermore.
Graham Cox