Chairmans Newsletter

Dear Members,
 
The midway point of the 2018/19 season fast approaches. A tremendous amount has been achieved at Keynsham Rugby Football Club, both on and off the pitches.
 
Firstly, well done to all those who have represented our Club by taking to the pitch and thanks to all the coaches, referees, volunteers and supporters who help make it all happen.
 
The Club’s minis festival was hosted at the Crown Field in October and despite the diabolical weather conditions, was, yet again, a tremendous success. The feedback from our visiting teams was positive without exception and a great complement to all those volunteers who organised and helped make the festival happen on the day.
 
Our Under 18s squad is going well in the Colts National cup with good wins against Hereford RFC and Bromsgrove RFC. The next round sees the squad travel to Leicester where they play Syston RFC on February 9th. 
 
I am sure you will all have noticed the improvements made to the club house and patio areas and I would like to thank the many volunteers, from all sections of the club, who have given of their time (and from their pockets) to help complete the various projects. What I would ask is that while we all enjoy our club and its facilities, please can we always respect those facilities, making every effort to ensure they are left clean, tidy and in good order for the next member that needs to use them.
 
On the social side the senior section got the season off to a great start by organising the annual Music and Cider festival. The introduction of the Gin and Prosecco bar to this year’s event proved a winner and has prompted a gin festival that will take place later in the season – date to be confirmed.
 
In January the Club is very privileged to have Jason Leonard speaking at our annual Sportsman’s Dinner. Needless to say, it’s a sell out and a quick reminder for those lucky enough to have reserved tickets that the final payments has to be with the Jenna by 11th January 2019.
 
And so, what is a very important annual event in the Club’s diary, on which have enclosed a note prepared by our President. I don’t think I can add anything to Rupert’s words, other than to say it’s an 11.30am kick off and I hope to see you there.  
 
BOXING DAY 2018
 
As everyone knows, on Boxing Day the Club has a game of rugby between the under 30s and the 30s and over.

This game has been played on Boxing Day for well over 50 years and is a tradition and part of the Club's Christmas festivities.

The game became a Memorial Match following the tragic accident in the early hours of Christmas morning 1992 when two Club members were killed and eight injured by a drunken driver outside the Club entrance whilst waiting for taxis after our Christmas Eve disco. Some forty others witnessed this terrible accident.

This year the game will not only be a memorial to those who died in the accident but also to all Club members who have died since the Club was formed.

Please come along and support this Memorial game and enjoy the festivities in the clubhouse afterwards with food, music and a Christmas drink with your friends and other Club members.
 
John "Rupert" Hibbitt.
President
 
Interested players – please contact John Pearce for the U30s or myself for over 30s.  Via whatsapp…
 
There are still tickets available for the New Years Eve Family Party -  please contact Rich Seward on richseward1802@gmail.com asap if you do not want to miss out as they are almost sold out.
 
Finally, I would like to wish you and your families a very happy Christmas and a very peaceful and successful 2019
 
Kind regards,
 
Craig Wetton
Chairman