OLRFC to repeat successful Fundraising Festival Event

‘Rugby for Heroes’ in aid of Forces Charities 10-12 May 2013

Old Leamingtonians RFC will host the ‘Rugby for Heroes’ Festival for the fifth year running on 10th-12th May 2013 and are aiming to put on their best ever Festival of sport, music and fun for all the family. All profits generated from the Festival will be donated to Help for Heroes, the Royal British Legion and to ‘353’ a ‘not for profit’ cause set up by the family of Private Conrad Lewis, who received a Mention in Despatches for his actions prior to being killed in action in Afghanistan in February 2011.

In the last four years, OLRFC has raised more than £18,000 for Help for Heroes and other Forces charities. This year the Club is proud to welcome Aqua Food and Mood, Chapter, Equiniti Paymaster, Liquidblu, Rybrook BMW, the Warwickshire Golf & Country Club, and Warwick Racecourse as official Festival sponsors. We recognise the support of a host of Warwickshire and National businesses, who are advertising in support of the Event. We also thank 353, the Royal British Legion and Help for Heroes for their significant input.

This year we are again proud to welcome back as our newly appointed Official Festival Patron and rugby playing guest, television presenter Monty Halls! Monty is a former Royal Marines officer and since leaving the services in 1996 he has worked in some of the most demanding environments on earth, won Channel Four’s ‘Superhuman’, and presented series and documentaries for the Discovery Channel, The National Geographic Channel, BBC1 and BBC2, Channel 4, and the History Channel. Famous for his adventures with his dog Reuben in the Great Escape series, he most recently presented a three-part documentary on the Great Barrier Reef and a BBC series entitled ‘The Fisherman’s Apprentice’. Monty will attend this year on a break from filming a new dive expedition series for broadcast later this year.

Monty said “the OLRFC Rugby for Heroes weekend is a fantastic event raising money for some very important causes, through the medium of an excellent festival of rugby and music. I am honoured to have the role of Official Festival Patron bestowed on me on the Fifth Anniversary and look forward to donning my rugby boots again!”

The event begins at 7pm on Friday 10th May with a real ale and pie festival and live performances by Dartmouth’s very own Harry Quick, local folk artists Jonathan Waller and Eleanor Stanley, and Kenilworth 7-piece The Last Minute.

On Saturday 11th May there will be Mens’, Veterans and Ladies’ 10s Rugby tournaments, including guest appearances by teams from the Army’s Royal Artillery, Royal Logistics Corps, the Parachute Regiment, Army Veterans and a host of county and touring sides.

A Spitfire and Hurricane from the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will be performing a spectacular evening flypast at 5pm on Saturday 11th May (weather permitting). The display by the BBMF team coincides with the 70th anniversary of the famous Dambusters raid in 1943 – they will put on a fantastic show at OLRFC in memory of all our heroes!

The Saturday night music line up features The Sambassadors of Groove, Harry Quick, Coventry band The Loaded and evergreen Festival favourites, Bristol rockers Whytehouse.

On Sunday 12th May, the following rugby events will also be held:

* Mini Rugby for U7/U8s * U15 Three Towns Touch Rugby tournament for the Conrad Lewis Cup
* Girls Tag Rugby Tournament

In line with the Festival tradition, a Remembrance service will be held each day at 1pm and led by the Warwick and Leamington Branches of the Royal British Legion. Many Legion standards will be in attendance, on Saturday and Sunday. Reverend Jerry Sutton, Padre to the 4th Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, will lead the Services. The Shirley Pipe Band and Warwick Corps of Drums will be in attendance.

Over the full weekend there will be charity and rugby apparel stalls, a historic Spitfire living history display, Royal British Legion Riders motorcycle line up, a fantastic festival campsite, a buzzing real ale bar and plenty of freshly prepared, delicious food.

OLRFC Club Chairman, Richard Wormell, said; ‘the Club is proud to be associated with ‘Rugby for Heroes’ and fund raising for the charities it supports, and I am looking forward to a rollicking good weekend of rugby and fun’.

The Festival Ticket price will be just £10 for 18+ adults for the whole weekend; under 18s will go free! Anyone who wants to register to take part in some way or to bring a team to play, can go to the Festival registration page on www.rugbyforheroes.org, or contact Mike Vallance on trekmonkey46@aol.com and 07545 602029. Rugby team registration fees are £100 per team and camping is available on site at £10 per pitch or £20 for caravans and motor homes!