Celebrating Our Volunteers at Royal Wootton Bassett RFC

On Friday, November 22nd, Royal Wootton Bassett RFC hosted its Club Volunteers' Evening, a special occasion to celebrate and thank the incredible volunteers whose dedication and hard work keep our club thriving.

This annual event is our way of recognizing the unsung heroes who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure everything runs smoothly. It was also an opportunity to announce the recipients of the 2024 Club Person of the Year Awards, which honor individuals who have gone above and beyond in their service to the club. Club Chairman Chris Elias and President Andrew Gassor presented awards to this year’s exceptional winners.

Senior Club Person of the Year: Herman Van Waveren

Herman Van Waveren was awarded the Senior Club Person of the Year for his outstanding contributions over the years. As the club’s go-to expert for IT solutions, Herman has played a pivotal role in setting up and maintaining our Wi-Fi, operating systems, and servers. These systems are the backbone of the club’s day-to-day operations.

In addition, Herman dedicates his weekends to filming 1st XV matches, producing high-quality videos that are invaluable to referees, our coaches and players. His unwavering commitment and expertise make him an integral part of Royal Wootton Bassett RFC.

Junior Club Person of the Year: Amy Moody

17 year old Amy Moody was recognized as Junior Club Person of the Year for embodying the spirit of a young volunteer. Week in and week out, come rain or shine, Amy shows incredible enthusiasm as she supports the next generation of rugby players.

Her natural ability to connect with children has made her a favorite among the kids, who are always delighted to see her. Amy’s positive influence has been instrumental in fostering a strong contingent of girls in the Under-11s, inspiring them to see a bright future within the Ravens.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of our club, transforming it into the vibrant, family-oriented community we all cherish. We are deeply grateful to every individual who dedicates their time, energy, and passion to the club’s success.

Previous winners

Senior Club Person award

2014-2015 - RWBRFC Grounds Team

2015-2016 - Sam Allen

2016-2017 - Jim and Laura Brierley 

2017-2018 - Karen Wilkinson

2018-2019 - Martin Chard

2019-2020 - Phil Cohen

2020-2021 - Awarded to the whole club for enduring Covid19 lockdown

2021-2022 - Caitlin Williams

2022-2023 - James Booth

2023-2024 - Herman Van Waveren

Junior Club Person award

2014-2015 - Rhys Floyd

2015-2016 - Chris Roshier

2016-2017 - Evan Vaughan-Lewis

2017-2018 - Jackson Allen and Jamie Wilkinson

2018-2019 - Evie Bowers 

2019-2020 - Ed Washbourne

2020-2021 - Awarded to the whole club for enduring Covid19 lockdown

2021-2022 - Evan Marsh-Ballard

2022-2023 - Harvey Cook

2023-2024 - Amy Moody