“Rugby has been a big part of my life, not least because I grew up there (my family moved to Rugby from Lancashire in 1967).  From the age of about 16 to 18, Saturday nights were spent at the weekly disco at the Rugby Lions clubhouse.  Boz Scaggs’ Lido Shuffle always takes me back to those times. 

My father was also a first class rugby player, playing in the second row for Birkenhead Park and Cheshire in the 1950s, with his older brother Bill, playing at No 8.  Family lore is that Bill, who had a run out with the Barbarians, would have played for England except he was held back for not having a double-barrelled surname. He was a lovely, quietly spoken man, who frequently had to apologise for his younger brother’s behaviour on the park and was known to have taken a punch intended for Dad, in a case of mistaken identity.

I loved listening to Dad’s tales of his playing days which meant a lot of travelling, including to play Leicester on Boxing Day and overnight ferries back from Dublin after games at Lansdowne Road, and having to go straight into work when they arrived back in Liverpool.  Training was also different then, especially when Dad was working in London but travelling back to the Wirral.  It was once round the pitch with his boots on and then steak and chips for tea.  He ended his rugby career playing at Warlingham after a move down to Oxted.  In his later years he enjoyed his visits to TWRFC where he was always made very welcome.

My connection with TWRFC began in the early 90s when I moved to Tunbridge Wells. At that time Alan was coaching Jonathan’s age group as well as playing himself so I spent a lot of time on the touchline, and still do.  I have been an active volunteer, including five years as Hon Treasurer, and more recently organising the pre-match lunches as well as supporting Alan in his Presidential and bar manager duties. 

The club means a huge amount to me.  It has been incredibly welcoming and I have made lifelong friends.  I enjoy supporting the boys on a Saturday, the banter on the touchline, and the conviviality of the bar afterwards.  I love the family atmosphere and it has been a delight to watch as each new generation develops its own connection with the club.  It has involved a lot of hard work of times, but it has been great fun, and very rewarding.”

“No minis then so my first game of rugby at 11 years was for Beckenham GS Bantams. After school, I played 16 seasons for Beccehamians, playing with a lot of very talented players before leagues were introduced. Our best result was in a game that saw us score 100 points against Juddians.

Played two years when we lived in Tonbridge for the town side, which was again with a great bunch of guys.

Our new abode was a shambles and I was “persuaded” to retire and restore the place. However, from up the ladder were spotted a set of rugby posts….! Across the fields and a few pints later I was signed up and played up until Christmas for Johnny Johnson’s side.

Sadly, rugby retirement coins died with the burning down of the old clubhouse, no loss to the building but certainly for the memorabilia. Having been involved in building the OB’s clubhouse I was soon involved again in the new build. With such a great building facility we needed to match it with better playing areas and as Chairman of the Borderers (by now) we purchased the field for our present 4th XV pitch. This was followed by purchasing ground over the hedge in Sussex, and change of planning use and a complete rejig of the playing area gave us 4 pitches and 2 excellent cricket squares.

A few years later we substantially improved the changing room requiring a new lease and the second maximum lottery grant. Heading up these projects was extremely rewarding and embraced so much graft and skill that was available from club members.

On the playing side I dabbled in coaching but soon realised that my lack of ‘know how’ would hold me back so Preliminary, Intermediate and Senior RFU courses followed. The latter taking half my annual leave at Bisham!

At this stage, Mini Rugby had been introduced at only 3 Clubs in Kent (including OBs) so I suggested to 2 club stalwarts Ron Birkby and Fred Delves that we had a go in Tunbridge Wells. An advertisement was placed in the Courier and in the first week almost 100 youngsters turned up. Look at it now! Fantastic. On to the Juniors and some great talent was developing such as messrs Conboy, Nelson, Huntly, Bishop and Purland obtaining trials at England under 16 Level whilst playing together at TWRFC.

Although my first love is rugby we had a close relationship with the cricket section and until recently TW Harriers and Southborough Wheelers. This was crucial in obtaining funding and maximising the use of our splendid facilities.

I still enjoy our sport and of course reminiscing at our quarterly curry club meets.

Thanks guys for so much fun and great comradeship.”

“I have been associated with TWRFC for 50 years.

At the age of 12 I would run the touch for the 1st XV and my first game for the club was in the 4th XV at the age of 15 under the captaincy of Graham Spittles. In those days the first game of the season was Burgess Hill – an away fixture we always looked forward to, more for the return journey home and the drunken mile.

Progressing up through the teams, I captained the 1st XV 1984/5 season, losing only 4 games. I finished my playing career by captaining the Vets for 2 seasons, reaching the Vets Cup Final before, unfortunately, losing to Purley.

I went on some fantastic tours with the club: Northampton, Germany (3 times), Holland, France, and Jersey to name just a few, but these tours created lasting friendships.

I was social secretary for 10 years and have some great memories of club suppers, dinner dances and Gentlemen Smoking Evenings which were all a great success and a lot of fun. I still enjoy coming up to the club on Saturdays watching the league matches or travelling away on occasions to support the club and of course having a few beers with old and new.”

(PHOTO: Simon with Alan Skinner on tour in Orleans)

In conversation with John Evans……

Can you let me have some background on your rugby life and your connection to the club please John?

VP since 2012-13

Clubs I have played for in chronological order (Not always in the 1st XV) –

Porth County Boys

Ton-Pentre Wanderers (Founder member. But we only ever had one fixture!)

City and Guilds College (on Wednesdays)

Imperial College (on Saturdays)

Treorci (on college vacations)

Tylerstown (when they once turned up one short to play Treorci.)

Chemsford (Still an Honorary Member)

St Albans (on loan from Chelmsford)

US Portsmouth (on Saturdays)

HMS Collingwood (on Wesnesdays)

HMS Mull of Galloway (on Wednesdays)

Felixstowe (on Saturdays)

Colchester (on Saturdays)

Thames Valley / Maidenhead (Now an Honorary VP)

I can only remember being carried off once, and I cannot recall being sent off (but I had finished playing before the Yellow Card came in.)

Other involvements –

As Referee Advisor/Assessor –

Berkshire

Southern Group

South West Division

Kent (now retired)

Berkshire (Chairman), Southern Group & South West Division Grading Committees

Also

Hon Treasurer (Subscriptions) Maidenhead RFC

Hon Treasurer Berkshire Referee Society

VP Tunbridge Wells

Can you let me have your personal favourite rugby photo of you?

I cannot find an interesting photograph, but I have attached a caricature of myself presented to me by the Berkshire Referees Society when I left Marlow in 2011. I hope it might do (At last it is different.) I do not know the artist nor why he has drawn me as being left-handed, which I am not, nor why he has left off my right little finger.

The caption which I have left off, reads “Berkshire Society of Rugby Union Referees 1970 -2011”.

All the above has been achieved in 80 seasons!

And your most embarrassing moment?

When playing for Chelmsford. We had an away game against Hendon. Four of us were in a car and well on our way when the driver asked. “Does anyone know where the ground is ?” Silence...all round

No mobile phones in those days. Best suggestion was to go to Hendon Public Library, and hope they had records of Local Clubs and Societies, which they did. But the Rugby Club card was blank!. So we drove back to Chelmsford in shame……..

After the past nine months we have had, and with just 12 days to Christmas, I feel we all deserve a festive treat.

After the hugely positive response I received to the profiles in the autumn of this season’s new TWRFC Vice Presidents, I have started a process of gathering together such “profiles” from across the club.

Through 2021, I intend (with your help) to try and compile a historical record of the club through the memories, reflections and experiences of many of the individuals who have helped us to get where we are today. For example, from taking soundings, many of the next generation of minis parents wouldn’t know who I am….let alone some of the people who’s efforts over the years are giving their children the chance to play at St Marks.

If you want to learn about the pubs that were once at the heart of the club or how the Minis section came into existence then you are in for a treat today.

To do this, I need ALL your help as I will be looking for volunteers of all ages to send me their reminiscences in the New Year and to get you started I am publishing 5 such profiles of senior club members (in alphabetical order):-

John Evans (our oldest living VP and with me in the photo….pre-beard in my case!)

Simon Jones

David Moxon

Kathy Skinner

(Big) Phil Sprackling

If you want to help with this or learn more about the “project” then do let me know at gwithers10@btinternet.com. I will not be starting the next stage until after Christmas but it would be good to have a few people lined up in readiness?

Merry Christmas

#oneTWRFC

Graham

x

The winners of the November draw are:-

No 65 Rob Greig – £250

No 104 Sue Wickenden – £100

No 72 Michelle Greenall – £50

Despite Sue having what might seem an anachronistic number (104 in a 100 club!!!), we have lost a few members since March so are looking for some new players. It’s a great opportunity to both help the club and (perhaps) make a few bob for yourself.

Please contact Alan Skinner at skinners205@btinternet.com for more details.

The October 100 Club draw results were:-

1st Prize – Number 87 Sally-Ann Spence £250

2nd Prize – Number 91 James Bailey £100

3rd Prize – Number 80 Brian Whiting £50

The winner of the £1,000 September Big Draw is number 24 Glenn Douglas.

Well done Glenn

“My first introduction to the club was when Simon Jones first invited me 30 years ago to watch England play at Twickenham with the Vets, little did I know that later on Steve Webb would convince me that it would be a good idea for my pub company to sponsor the inaugural Tunbridge Wells Sevens event in 2012. I could never have anticipated that what would become the Whiting & Hammond Sevens would even see me playing my part on the pitch!

In that first year the team I sponsored (the W&H Leopards) were the Plate winners but despite an annual attempt to emulate this with a W&H team we have not been able to pick up anymore silverware – often failing at the final hurdle. This is despite me pulling on kit and boots and playing my cameo appearance on the field which resulted in a sore body and the odd black eye….that was not in the original “pitch” Webby gave me! It was hard playing in my youth as being a chef I had to work weekends when matches and training took place, it hasn’t ever stopped my enthusiasm for supporting and watching games at Twickenham and travelling to Australia to watch the Lions Tour.

We have had he usual “highs and lows” that go with sponsorship over the years (the latter largely connected with our persistent weather misfortunes, damaged marquees and a stolen Hog Roast) but the highs have certainly outweighed these. It was great to associate W&H with such a dynamic event and it was particularly satisfying that our final year of sponsorship saw Tunbridge Wells RFC both retain the Cup and also win the Plate with the Under 18s squad in 2019.

We now support the club in other areas such as hosting the annual Youth Ball, and taking over club lunch catering whilst I have gone on to play my part too with the occasional 3rd XV and Vets run out! Aside from this I remain a passionate supporter of the club from the touchline and a vigorous “luncher”.

I think rugby is one of the only sports where throughout your life there is a bond and camaraderie amongst everyone, I have continued through TWRFC to meet and make some great life-long friends. I think the club is fantastic and I am proud to be part of it and honoured to be asked to be a VP.”