YEAR FINISHES ON A HIGH FOR THE WELSH CHARITABLES

The Welsh Charitables RFC who on the 8^th December celebrated their 10^th Anniversary finished their charity fund raising year on a high with their Tribute Dinner to John Dawes OBE in the presence of HRH the Prince of Wales.

The Welsh Charitables were a team who were based in the Stirrup Cup Country Club Cwmbran (later to become the Commodore Hotel) and used to play charity games over the Severn Bridge on a Sunday in the late 60's early 70's. They were made up of 1^st and 2^nd class players from various clubs throughout South Wales and the Eastern Valleys and often had International players of the day having a run out for them. They also went on tours of the west country on a regular basis and entered a team to play in the Cherry Blossom Tournament in Washington, USA back in 1972 becoming the first Welsh Team to win the tournament. It was not long after that success that the team disbanded.

28 years later, David Power decided to approach local businessmen, former rugby players and enthusiasts and ask them each to give him £50 to reform the side with the intentions of raising money for local charities. Bob Davies, a former Ebbw vale full back and original Welsh Charitable  became the first President; Bobby Windsor of The Pontypool Front Row fame became the first Chairman; Mike Grindle, another former Ebbw Vale player and Welsh Charitable became Vice Chairman; The Rev Malcolm Lane JP, a bank manager at the time became treasurer and the legendary JPR Williams became club Patron. And so it was on Friday 8^th December 2000 the Welsh Charitables RFC held their first ever charity fund raising event which was a luncheon at the Commodore Hotel Cwmbran, which was quite fitting as that was the original home of the Welsh Charitables.

Over the past 10 years the Welsh Charitables RFC have raised some £100,000 throughout the Principality by holding 'Charity Sportsmen's Dinners', 'Tribute Dinners', 'Golf Tournaments' and the occasional game of rugby for their nominated charities which are St Anne's Hospice, WREX (Welsh Rugby Former International Players Association), ty hafan the family hospice for young lives, The Princes Trust Cymru, and St David's Foundation Hospice Care.

The fund raising dinners are regarded by many to be some of the best they have attended and are part of the rugby calendar. Legends of the game such as Clive Rowlands, Dai Morris, David Watkins, The Pontypool Front Row, Gareth Edwards, Phil Bennett, JPR Williams and John Dawes have all been honoured by the Welsh Charitables RFC with their own Tribute Dinner and the Pontypridd Stalwart Bob Penberthy was the first recipient of the "Dinner with a Legend".

Honorary Life Vice Presidencies have been awarded to Bryn Meredith, Sir Tasker Watkins VC and Clive Rowlands, and Honorary Vice Presidencies have been awarded to many former rugby Internationals and reads like a who's who of Welsh Rugby. A few rugby and sports correspondents such as Peter Corrigan, Robin Davey, Peter Jackson and Anthony Woolford, have also been made Honorary Vice Presidents.

David Power Hon Secretary of the Welsh Charitables RFC said "Who would have believed all those years ago when I approached 100 people for £50 to reform the Welsh Charitables RFC that some 10 years later we would have the future King of England as one of our top table guests it's just tremendous for everyone concerned with the Welsh Charitables RFC".

He went on to say "I must say on behalf of everybody associated with the Welsh Charitables RFC a big thank you to everyone who has supported the us over the past 10 years and in doing so helping us to raise much needed funds for our supported charities, also all the former internationals who regularly give of their time attend our fund raising events and  sign numerous autographs which adds to the occasion and we look forward to your continued support in the years to come".

Dates have already been arranged for this year's events and keeping with tradition of holding events throughout the principality the first charity fundraising event they are holding is a "Dinner With a Legend" to Former Llanelli, Wales & British Lion Second Row Delme Thomas on Friday 11^th March 2011 in the Castell Howell Marquee Crosshands. The next is the 10^th Annual Mayor of Torfaen/Welsh Charitables Sports Dinner to be held at the Greenmeadow Golf & Country Club Cwmbran on Friday 20^th May. Also later in the year at the Greenmeadow Golf & Country Club on Friday 16^th September 2011 is the Annual Vice Presidents Tie Presentation and Dinner, finishing off on the 4th November venue to be arranged in Cardiff the Annual Tribute Dinner and this year's recipient is the Former London Welsh, Cardiff, Barbarian, Wales & British Lions Wing Gerald Davies CBE.

Anyone interested in sponsoring any of the above events or attending any of them they are asked to contact The Hon Secretary David Power on mobile 07973705062 or email david.power@welshcharitablesrfc.com and to keep checking the website for regular updates on www.welshcharitablesrfc.com