Ben’s hard work for club and school recognised

Rugby

Amazing, tireless, irreplaceable – just three of the words used to describe nominees in the 2016 Kent RFU Volunteer Awards, writes Mark Stokes.

Now in their second year, the awards were set up to recognise those people behind the scenes who work so hard to make rugby the sport it is.

Nominees included coaches, administrators and players from both ends of the age scale.

Ashford teenager Ben Gray was the young volunteer-of-the-year for his work both at his hometown club and Towers School. A keen player himself for Ashford 2nds, Ben also runs touch sessions, referees and helps deliver tag rugby to special needs children.

The senior volunteer-of-the-year award went to an octogenarian whose commitment to the sport stretches back more than three decades.

David Haigh is Canterbury Rugby Club’s press officer, matchday commentator and programme editor, but they are just some of his roles.

A former Society Referee he is also the club’s RFU registration officer and match referee liaison officer as well as being East Kent representative on the county committee.

Ashford’s Martin Kelly was runnerup in the junior volunteer-of-the-year section.

The evening was held at Shepherd Neame’s Visitor Centre in Faversham.

Awards were presented by former England women’s captain Catherine Spencer who said her career would not have reached the heights it did without the support and encouragement of volunteers.

Ben Gray, Charlie Meredith and Alfie Fulcher, the three nominees in the young volunteer-of-the-year category