President's Page
My name is Ian Potter. If you would like to contact me, click here
15th September 2011
WELCOME TO A NEW SEASON AT WINDSOR RFC
Welcome to another new season at Windsor RFC. This is my first year as President and I am very honoured to be given the opportunity to take on this role. In the past, I held the position of Chairman for 5 years and Hon. Secretary for 3 years. I see this present role as very different and very much about promoting the Club both within our own members and players, but also about visiting other clubs and rugby organisations as well.
I’d like to offer my personal congratulations to the two new VPs elected at the last AGM in June, Graham Sandilands and Simon Brooke.
Graham has been involved with the club since 1991, initially coaching in the Youth Section and more latterly he was Club Secretary for 5 years.
Simon joined the Club in 1982 and became a regular 1st XV player, and in later years coaching in the youth section.
Both Graham and Simon are still actively involved with the Club.
At the AGM, the members also agreed unanimously to elect Andy Lee VP, a Life Member. Andy who as recent as two weeks ago, emigrated to Australia with his wife Sheelagh to join their son and daughter. Andy has been a tremendous servant of the club for many, many years. He joined as a player in 1973, has coached, refereed, was Club Hon. Treasurer back in 1995 for 3 years and then Chairman for 5 years. He has also been Rugby Chairman and returned later to be Treasurer again to steer the club through a very difficult time. I’m sure you’ll all join me and wish Andy every success and happiness in his new life. He will be sorely missed by all those who know him, though I’m sure he will keep in touch with the Club and no doubt we will see him again in the not to distant future.
You can read full resumees at Club Honours Season 2010-11.
This season sees a number of changes on the Club Board, (the Club became incorporated at the start of the year), with Graham Birch joining as Secretary and Neal Katz as Youth Section Vice Chairman. Francis Boundy moves to the role of Treasurer, and Syd Allen takes on the role he never wanted as long as I can remember, that of Club Chairman. We wish them every success for the coming season and those who have stood down; many thanks for all your hard work over the years. I would also like to mention Stan Price, who stood down as Secretary of the “Postminders” after many years. Stan has handed over the reigns to Dave McKinlay. Many thanks go out to Stan and of course, our best wishes to Dave in his new role.
Unfortunately my first letter as President to VPs needs to mention the sad passing of two older players and also a young man from the youth section. Firstly Robin Harston, who was an OW in the early sixties, passed away in June. His son Tom played many times for the 1st XV in the late 90s/ early 2000s. Also Richard Compton, who played for Windsor in the late 60s and early 70s. Both funerals were well represented by Windsor members. Lastly the very sad passing of Tom Martin, a young man in his late teens, who tragically lost his life in a railway accident a few months ago. His parents wanted his name added to our memorable board. Our thoughts and sympathy go out to their respective families.
This season sees the 1st XV continuing in Southern Counties North, where they finished mid-table last year after a very promising start, but after a bad spate of injuries and unavailability of players, saw us slip down the league after Christmas. This season we have very high hopes of achieving great success. We have a wonderful blend of experienced players plus a number of young exciting players, who have progressed up through the youth ranks. We wish them every success for the coming season. Our first home match will be on the 8th October against Grove. Please come and support the Club if you can.
The Clubhouse is also going through a number of refurbishment projects at the moment. We have just had the kitchen extended and refitted, as well as made a number of alterations to the changing room area that has given us additional space and extra storage. Next on the agenda is to replace the Clubhouse windows with new double glazed windows and doors and also to replace and extend the existing patio, more than doubling its size. We hope to make this a covered area that will double up as additional social space when needed for functions and events. This coupled with an upgrade to the Clubhouse heating and lighting will greatly benefit the club, its members and guests.
All this costs money, quite a lot of it! We are actively trying to secure funding from various external organisations and have recently secured a grant from the Rugby Football Foundation towards the kitchen upgrade and a grant from the council, (RBWM), towards the patio.
The club therefore have a number of ongoing financial commitments, particularly raising enough funds to complete the planned refurbishment work. Can I therefore ask all members who haven’t yet, to pay up their Membership Subcriptions as soon as possible, and any VP donations will also be gratefully accepted and put to extremely good use.
Please send them to John Saunders, the Club's Membership Secretary:-
John Saunders
1 Washington Drive,
Windsor, SL4 4NR
Tel: 01753 852989
saundersfamily4@btinternet.com
Finally, some dates for your diaries.
The Presidents lunch will be on 14 January. Please attend if you can, I’d very much welcome your support at this, my first Presidents lunch. Other dates that may interest you, the Windsor Reunion lunch on 18th February and the OWs lunch on 14th April. We will also be having the Club's Christmas lunch on 17th December. Please direct any lunch enquiries through Sean Leone, email: sleone9@aol.com or you can ring him on 01753 863713
That’s about it for now, I very much look forward to seeing you at the Club during the season
Yours sincerely
Ian Potter
President
WRFC
Mobile: 07947 811591
Email: Ispathome@aol.com
CLUB HONOURS
Windsor RFC has a strong tradition of honouring members, who have made outstanding contributions to the life and soul of the Club. There are 4 different honours available, Life Member, Vice-President, the Gordon Wigley Award and Postminder. Election to the latter is outside the control of unelected Vice-Presidents and other Club Members; maybe Dave McKinlay, Postminders Secretary, will enlighten non-Postminders sometime, maybe not!
A candidate for LIFE MEMBER or VICE PRESIDENT can be proposed, with appropriate written contribution, by any member at the end of the season to the Honorary Secretary. Their commendation is subject to Board approval. Additionally, current LMs are informed of the Board’s approval and their consensus sought. With VPs, it has been the tradition for a maximum of 2 to come from both the Senior and Youth sections, the latter also subject to their committee approval, but as the Club has become more and more integrated, distinctions have become somewhat blurred. The President then presents the candidates’ commendations to the AGM, which votes on their election.
The GORDON WIGLEY Award is recognition by the Board of the outstanding contribution a member has made to the running of the Club during the past season. This contribution may not be obvious to normal members and indeed the Board may wish to retain some confidentiality about the nature of the contribution. It is therefore not subject to AGM election. The award is not mandatory every season. All GMC members work hard for the Club, and it is their recognition that a particular member has worked way above normal expectations during that particular season. The above, as far as I know, complies with the wishes of Gordon and his family.