NEWS FROM THE CHAIR.....MAR '25

“TIME FLIES WHEN YOU’RE HAVING FUN “

Since my last letter, the club has continued to be a hive of activity across all our age groups and senior teams.

The Senior season signed off in style last week as the 2nd  XV played their final match of the season in front of a home crowd, bolstered a large contingent of supporters from our VPs Lunch. 

The lunch was attended by players who have represented the club from the 1950s to the present day, including Peter Field. Now in his 90s, Peter received a well deserved ovation not only for his on field efforts, but also decades of support and effort across the rest of the club, which included the maintenance of the club pitches.   Club President, John White, also led a very interesting and well debated conversation on the proposals for the changes to the 2025/26 season which we are hoping to be resolved in the very near future. Following the Lunch, the crowd were treated to an excellent display of club rugby, with Vees running out 34-31 winners in the last play of the game.  Post game, the club was taken over by the Seniors for their end of season Social. 

The Mini and Junior sections in the club are also seeing their seasons draw to a close. We were proud to have hosted a visiting team from Brighton as part of their end of season tour vs our U12s, and as is usual at this time of year, the county festivals and tournaments were also well attended by our age grade teams. As we head in to May, our Minis and Juniors will all be heading off for their own tour in Henley.  

In other club news, the annual Quiz Night was once again a resounding success. Special thanks go out to Sonja Goulder-Perks and Juliette Warren for the time and effort that they put into the organisation of the evening. 

Before club rugby shuts down for the summer, there are still several social events on the calendar to make a note of: 

April 25th - Colts End Of Season Social

May 2-4th - Tour Weekend

May 16th  - Coaches Awards Evening

May 18th - Mini and Junior Presentation Day

Although the core of rugby activity will stop across the summer, the work at the club will not. As is now tradition, we will be arranging a number of days whereby we will need volunteers to come and help will various club projects. Please make yourselves available where possible, for as long as you can make it. After all “many hands make light work”.

I am also glad to announce that the Chair’s Volunteer of the month goes to Ross Graham for his tireless work on improving our bar facilities, alongside managing the Senior 1st XV.  

Have a great summer. 

Ian “ Shanks” Graham

Club Chair