Cllr Ian Parkes, mayor of Teignmouth, writes:
It was a real pleasure to be invited by club president Ray Moore, as mayor, to be guest speaker at Teignmouth Rugby club's vice-presidents' lunch prior to the visit of table topping Bideford on Saturday.
My speech centered on the contribution the club makes to the youth of the town, its general involvement and support of the community. it presented a cheque at the lunch to Teignmouth Hospital League of Friends, money raised by their carol service at Christmas, and the way the club represents the town so ably throughout Devon and Cornwall.
But it is the club's contribution to youngsters in particular that is so impressive. the high standard of coaching the club provides is well renowned but of course, there is much more involved – transporting the youngsters, kit washing and giving the kids the right standards to adhere to, the standards team sports need and insist on, to mention just a few. My background is with Broadmeadow ST and the round ball game and I know the amount of hard work and committment required, week in, week out, to provide the sort of opportunities that Teignmouth Rugby Club provides to hundreds of our youngsters.
The club would not, of course, be anywhere without its volunteer backroom staff and special mention was given at the lunch to Maureen Powell, the club secretary of some 40 years, the sort of person who quietly works behind the scenes making sure the club runs the way it does.
The club is very welcoming with a good value membership tariff, has great beer at reasonable prices and is nicely situated so if you haven't been before come and give the club your support. the next home game for the first team in the league is against Falmouth on March 12.
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