IPF Ambassador to visit Didcot RFC
Feb
Former England captain, rugby legend Bill Beaumont will be stopping off at the Didcot Rugby Club next Sunday (Feb 27), on his way back from England's RBS 6 Nations match against France at Twickenham, to meet the teams playing in the second Martin Llewellyn Memorial Cup game (kick-off 12.30pm).
Beaumont is the captain of the RFU's Injured Players Foundation (IPF) Ambassadors XV, an august array of 15 former players who support and work tirelessly for the cause.
Last years inaugural match between the Didcot 1st XV and Didcot Past raised £10,000 for the IPF and hopes are high that they can even top that this time around when the proceeds will be split between the IPF and the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Air Ambulance Service.
"We were stunned lat year, we were expecting half that," admitted organiser John Galpin, himself seriously injured while playing back in 2009.
"I won’t hold my breath but to get to £10,000 again this year, I would be really chuffed."
Signed England shirt donated for auction by James Haskell
Photo: RFU Archive
It's very much a fun day and last year's match saw over 40 former Didcot players pulling on the jersey once again to play for the Didcot Past side.
"Last year even my Dad, Mick, a former No.8, played ten minutes, like a lot of them did, and then left it to the younger ones," added Galpin.
A large percentage of the money raised last year came through a post match charity auction when a signed England shirt went to the lucky bidder, who has since donated it back to this seasons auction, for £2,500.
England back row man James Haskell has also come up trumps and has donated an England shirt signed by the entire 2011 squad for Sunday,s auction, while autographed items from Jamie Oliver, Tim Henman and World Darts Champion Phil Taylor are all up for grabs at the right price.
Once again, festivities including the charity auction will stretch long into the night with local bands K Lacura, Shattered Dreams and soloist Mike Davey entertaining the guests at the Marlborough Club in Didcot, the club's social base.
