Marlow Rowing Club Quiz Night

Marlow Rowing Club held a quiz night in aid of The Harry Mills Charity on the 9th February.

The quiz night was organised by the junior section of the Rowing club - Sophie Pain, Juliet Steynor, Dan Clarke & Mikey Mottram along with coach Russell Peacock.

Around 15 teams participated (6 to a team) many of them junior rowers. In addition there was a silent auction with superb prizes ranging from a blade signed by the GB team, a flying lesson, a sports massage, rowing accessories and a mobile phone. There was also a raffle with more modest prizes (including a pair of Harry's socks!).

There was a great atmosphere and after several tense question rounds led by question masters Sophie & Juliet, Team Harry emerged champions!

The whole event was very well organised and good fun raising around £1,475 in total which was split between the Rowing Club and Harry’s charities.

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Marlow Rowing Club Quiz Night Poster

Rugby Socks Presentation – Merlins win 32 – 0

In October 2007 at an U13 festival Newbury RUFC donated a sum of money in Harry's memory. It was decided by the coaching team of the u13s to use this to fund replicas of Harry's distinctive socks (black & white hooped) with his initials on the back which the Marlow Merlins would then wear throughout their time at Marlow RUFC in his memory.

On Sunday 3rd February the Marlow Merlins pulled on their socks for the first time to play in the Bucks Plate semi-final against Aylesbury. The socks proved lucky and the team played one of their best matches of the season, going on to win a decisive victory ; 32-0.

Afterwards, in the packed Clubhouse, John Watson gave a moving tribute to Harry and presented Mark Foster the Youth Director of Newbury RUFC with a pair of ‘Harry’s Socks’. (John’s tributeis reproduced below)

The special framed plaque was unveiled featuring photos of Harry in action together with a pair of the socks and takes pride of place alongside a framed picture of one of his rugby heroes – Matt Dawson

Richard thanked both Clubs for their generosity, saying that Harry had loved playing rugby for Marlow and that he hoped his spirit would live on through the team and bring them luck. He & Judi also showed the assembled crowd the original pair of Harry’s muddy socks!

The socks went on sale, priced £10, with profits to Harry’s charities, and almost immediately sold out! New supplies have been ordered and purchases can be made through the club in person or by emailing office@marlowrfc.com

Special thanks go to Newbury RUFC for their generosity, John Watson & Marlow RUFC for their organisation, Graeme Kempson for the idea, Dave & Helen Walker for arranging the plaque, and of course the Marlow Merlins.

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Bucks Free Press Report

Maidenhead Advertiser Report

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Marlow RUFC: Harry’s Socks Presentation
John Watson's Tribute

Good Afternoon everyone.

Firstly, I would like to welcome all of our special guests here today. We have of course Harry’s family, Richard and Judi, George, Jenny and Marie. Also a special welcome to Richard’s Mum and Dad

We also have Mark Foster Youth Director from Newbury Rugby Club. Welcome. More of them later.

I am also delighted that we are joined by Peter trunkfield, Former President of the RFU, our Chairman, Gwyn Stone, our Youth Chairman Debbie Loveday and our Mini’s Chairman Mike Simmonds. Welcome.

We are here today for two purposes, both of course in memory of Harry and both of course to ensure that we continue to remember Harry.

Firstly, we will discuss socks and then we will unveil a photograph of Harry as a lasting memory to him in the Clubhouse.

At the start of this season we ran a small U13s tournament. We ran the tournament in Harry’s memory and invited Clubs that we were friendly with. Newbury came along and of course they won all of the trophies – and these were presented to Newbury by Richard and Judi. Newbury were also very generous. They had collected £400 at their Club and brought it as a donation to Harry’s charities. A very kind and generous donation that touched many of us. Thank you.

At that time, we were also seeking to create a lasting tribute to Harry. Graeme Kempson reminded us that Harry always wore a unique pair of socks – the traditional Black and White hoops. I believe that they were hand-me-downs from George. Seeing these socks always reminded Graeme of Harry. So, with Richard and Judi’s permission, we used the £400 to purchase socks with Harry’s initials on the back and our age group will always wear these socks throughout our time at Marlow, in memory of Harry. The sales of the socks to our age group and to anyone else who wishes to buy a pair, will ensure that Newbury’s initial investment will be paid to Harry’s charities plus a healthy surplus will be added.

Today, we wore Harry’s socks for the first time – and won!. It was a moving moment to pull on these socks. Every time we play a game, as we pull on our socks we will think of Harry. And if anyone asks who’s HM, we can explain that he was the best player in the Under 12’s: he was very fast, had great vision and skills, but most of all was so full of fun to be with and always enjoyed the game.

So, thank you Newbury. Also I would like to thank Graeme Kempson and David and Helen Walker for all their hard work in having the socks made and also making the photograph of Harry for hanging in the Club.

What I would like to do now is ask Richard and Judi to kindly give a pair of socks to to mark Foster from Newbury and then unveil the photograph.

RFU Talking Rugby Dinner raises £745

Alan Black (Blackie) of the RFU organised a ‘Talking Rugby’ Dinner in the Great Hall at Bisham Abbey on Friday 1st February with proceeds going to Harry’s charities.

The event was a sell out with over a hundred guests from local rugby clubs attending together with Peter Trunkfield (RFU Past President) and Simon Winman (RFU Head of Funding & Facilities).
After dinner Blackie introduced the panel;

ROB DEBNEY (RFU Elite Referee)
CHRIS JONES (Rugby correspondent – The Standard)
PETER SCRIVENER (London Wasps Commercial Manager)

There followed a lively question & answer session on topical issues surrounding the game including a vote on the likely outcome of the England v Wales match.

Finally, the draw was held for a hand blown ‘last drop’ crystal decanter donated by Trevor Fulton and won by Roy Carlisle. The event raised £745 for Meningitis Research Foundation.

Links:
http://www.rfu.com/
http://www.thelastdropltd.co.uk/