Kenilworth Rugby Football Club held its annual Remembrance Weekend commemorations starting on Saturday with the inaugural Services' pre - match Lunch, held in aid of the Royal British Legion, bringing together club family and friends from across the Armed Forces and Emergency Services at Glasshouse Lane before the closely contested 1stXV game against Burton RFC.  

Previous recent attempts to hold a Services' lunch had been thwarted by the covid pandemic and therefore this year's event was eagerly awaited by many at the Club and the wider town.  Clubman and committee member Lieutenant Colonel Paul Fountaine commented how as the largest private members club in the town and a fundamental part of the civic fabric of Kenilworth it was incredibly important the Club support the Royal British Legion as best we could, during this most important of weekends.  The club has always had a large Services' contingent, both retired and active across the Armed Forces and the Emergency Services, and therefore this weekend is a key time of the year when as a club we look to give something back to the community we're from.  With club Partners Endurance Zone supporting the lunch with auction prizes, along with a generous donation from the club and members' supporting the raffle, the club has raised a staggering £1,000+ for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.  An extraordinary effort and we are incredibly grateful to our partners, sponsors and members, all of whom made this possible.

 

During the lunch, the club unveiled its memorial board commemorating members of KRFC lost in Service, previously reported by Kenilworth Weekly News (pictures attached).  Huge thanks to Club Honorary Patron Willie Whitesmith who led the research project culminating in the production of the Board, unveiled on Saturday in the presence of Kenilworth RBL Chair George Illingworth and family and close friends of the last entry on the Board - Lieutenant Mike Fountaine;  'Lest we forget'.  

 

On Sunday, Lt Col Paul Fountaine represented the club at the Service of Remembrance in Kenilworth, where he lay a wreath on behalf of the Club.  With Sunday being an active day for the largest section of the club, the Minis and Juniors comprising over 400 young boys and girls and families, a 2 minutes silence was held at 11am.  We hope very much following the success of this year to make the Services lunch an annual event on Remembrance weekend every year, and look forward to further establishing it as a key activity in the town's calendar.

George Illingworth, Chairman of Kenilworth Royal British Legion Branch commented:  "We are delighted at the generous contribution made by members of Kenilworth Rugby Football Club to the local Poppy Appeal. This is a great gesture to support of needs of service families. I was pleased to join them at their very successful Services lunch which was followed by an appropriate match win."

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