Anniversary celebrations for Swifts
OLD Birdies from around the country will join in the Swifts Rugby Club celebrations when they host their annual memorial service this weekend.
In commemoration of the club’s long-standing history, a thanksgiving service will be held on Sunday, starting at 11.30am at the St Katherine’s Anglican Church in Uitenhage.
The traditional bring and braai will take place after the service at the Skillicorn Club House (Uitenhage Cricket Club) from 1.30pm.
Swifts member Clyde Scheepers said the club was about more than just rugby to the community.
“The club was a source of entertainment for the community as there were monthly events held to cater for both young and old,” he said.
“Shops would even close on game day for locals to attend games.”
Founded by the Rev Charles Bloomer Jecks in 1891, the first team selected to represent the club was made up of young church choir members who played in the local junior league.
Formerly known as the Choir Rugby Team, it was from this side that the Swifts Rugby Club was formed a short time later.
Scheepers said the club was steeped in history, having set records which are still in existence today.
Furthermore, he said that members of the club took up military service in both world wars and later returned to the field to raise funds for humanitarian projects in which they were engaged.
In between the wars, the team saw many of their players selected for various Eastern Province teams, and during the 1935 season, the team’s entire backline was adorned with EP colours.
The 1962 season was filled with accomplishments for the Swifts, as they went on two unbeaten runs spanning 18 and 16 games respectively, separated by a loss to Park Rugby Club.
Being the home of the rugby club, Scheepers said there was a memorial display of the club’s photographic history from inception to 1991, when it closed.
Former Swifts player and captain John Millson, who is also the club historian, said playing for the club meant the world to him because the camaraderie was always high.
“At the club, we were more than just teammates, we were family,” he said.