Prior to the match against Folkestone on October 7, Thanet Wanderers held a well-attended lunch, when members were joined by representatives of the club sponsors. together with honoured guests Colin Blackham, the President of the Kent RFU and John Corrigan, who is a fundraiser for the RFU Injured Players Foundation.
Peter Ruranski, who is the club’s director of marketing, organised the lunch and welcomed and thanked the sponsors whose support is vital to the club.
The President of Thanet Wanderers, Peter Dickinson, together with the club’s junior chairman Annemarie Carfoot and coaching co-ordinator and girls rugby coach Maggie Watts have worked tirelessly to complete the RFUs self-evaluation of the club’s activities. This includes the training and safety of players, coaches, match officials and volunteers; the playing and social environment within the club and its links to the community and club management, finance, governance, policies and procedures.
The outcome was that six key objectives were established to move the club forward. The RFU set exacting standards but the club was recently re-awarded the meritorious RFU Club accreditation certificate.
The RFU’s regional development officer, Gareth Jackson, helped considerably with the application and a grant has been secured to further the development of touch rugby at the club. There is the possibility of another grant towards the installation of a lift at the club.
Mr Blackham, who retires as Chairman of Kent RFU this year, presented the award to Peter Dickinson and spoke warmly of the help the Thanet club had given him when he was helping set up his own New Ash Green Club.
John Corrigan thanked the members for the generous donation on his last visit a year ago and also spoke of the work of the foundation in supporting seriously injured players and his part in raising funds through sponsorship of his cycling activities and, as on this occasion, through passing round the bucket. A message since received says,’Many thanks to you all for Saturday, a fantastic sum donated £235′.
Speaking afterwards, Peter Ruranski thanked head of catering, Kelly Smith, and director of operations Gerry Doyle and the young waiting staff who operated so efficiently.
The empty plates were evidence of an excellent lunch. He thanked those Thanet Wanderers supporters who had attended and particularly club member and sponsor Gary Lewis who, as he has many times in the past, organised a group to attend a Wanderers’ function.