Chipstead Rugby Club - 50th Anniversary Celebrations

As I'm sure you already know, we'll be celebrating our 50th anniversary in October next year.

We sincerely hope that all of us who are involved with Chipstead RFC in whatever capacity will take this golden opportunity to celebrate all that has been achieved in the past 50 years to get us where we are today together with the strong platform we have developed to take us into the future with even greater success.

The main part of the celebration will be from Saturday 3rd to Sunday 11th October 2009 and we have decided to mark the fact that the 3rd is anniversary of the Club's first match with a dinner dance in the evening. It could be argued that it is more logical to hold it at the end of the week ie the 10th. We have, however, decided to go for the 3rd for the above anniversary reason and because Sunday 11th is the day of the Mini Festival, an integral part of the week's programme.

Put Saturday 3rd October 2009 in your diaries now and also tell anyone you know who is thinking of coming to Chipstead for this week.

Finally, in view of all of the 50th anniversary events which will be taking place and particularly the 3rd October ball, we have also decided that, instead of running our traditional May Balls in 2009 and 2010, there will be less costly and more informal end-of-season gatherings in May 2009 and 2010.

For further information or to register your interest in the events that will be taking place, please contact us

Introduction

Chipstead RFC will celebrate its 50th anniversary on Saturday 3rd October 2009 and this paper sets out the proposals for the celebration of this great achievement.

Although the primary focus will be on a programme of events during the week-commencing the 3rd, it is planned that the celebration will be marked by events etc., during the whole of the 2009-10 season.

The celebrations will also be guided by the following principles –

1. They will be self-financing
2. They will involve the whole Club
3. They will involve the local community

But first and foremost

1. The emphasis will be firmly on enjoyment and fun!!

In putting this paper together, every effort has been made to incorporate suggestions received from members to date. However, if anything has been missed or if you have an idea which has not been covered, please feel free to raise it with me or Karen Clark, Director of Corporate Affairs.

Planning and delivery

As stated above, this paper outlines proposals for the celebration.

To ensure these proposals come to fruition, much work will need to be carried out behind the scenes in the coming weeks and months.

To achieve this, a Working Group will be set up which will report to the Executive Board.

To assist the Working Group, input will be requested from individual Club members particularly those with expertise in relevant areas. It is, of course, so much better to have volunteers coming forward to help than having to press people into service. So, please think now about how you could possibly help and let either Karen or me know as quickly as possible.

Week-commencing Saturday 3rd October 2009

Saturday 3rd October

(a) During the day at the Club

1. An events day including displays of 1950s-60s clothing, cars and motor bikes from the period and prizes for the best displays
2. Unveiling of a display of memorabilia linked to the Club’s history. (This will be on display for the remainder of the season)
3. A Vets match (to follow the scheduled league match(es)

Opponents to be either Hove (Chipstead’s first opponents in 1959) or a team comprising representatives of clubs well known to Chipstead

A hot / cold buffet will be provided throughout the day

(b) Evening

1. 50th Anniversary Ball at Epsom Racecourse

This will be a black-tie event for all adult Chipstead members, past and present, and guests. Consideration is to be given to the provision of transport to and from the event.

Monday 5th October

1. Buffet supper at Clubhouse for longer-term members

Wednesday 7th October

1. Floodlit 1st team match against either a Surrey President’s XV or The Penguins (who played in the 25th anniversary match)

Dinner for both teams afterwards

Friday 9th October

1. Floodlit 7s event comprising locals and dads (The feasibility of this event will depend on scheduled Seniors matches the following day)
2. Anniversary Golf day

Bar food / buffet to be provided in the evening

Saturday 10th October

1. Seniors match(es) in the afternoon. A hot / cold buffet will be provided throughout the day
2. An evening event with a live band / disco

Sunday 11th October

1. Chipstead Mini Festival

Format as in previous years but followed by a Colts and/or Under 16s/17s match

Throughout the 2009-10 season

Each age group and section of the Club
It is proposed that each age group and section of the Club –

1. Under 7s to Under 17s
2. Colts
3. 1st and 2nd XVs
4. Dads
5. Social members
6. Vice Presidents

organise an event to celebrate the anniversary.

The nature of the event can be of the group/section’s choosing (eg raffle, race night, disco) and subject to the following conditions -

1. Approval by the Exec. Board both in terms of its nature and its timing (to ensure an even spread of events throughout the season
2. The event should be open to all members of the Club.

Additionally, emphasis should be on the events being held at the Clubhouse and/or on The Meads.

Finally, each age group/section must ensure their event is self-funding.

May 2010

1. End of season BBQ
2. End of season dance/disco

Lower key and more informal than the traditional May Ball either on site or at another local site eg Chipstead Golf Club

Other proposals

Club photo of all members

1. Players to be in Chipstead strip; VPs collar and Club tie

Merchandise

1. Design and sale of 50th anniversary merchandise through the Club shop

Chipstead Flower Show

1. Club stall

Peter Mills

Chairman

Chipstead RFC – 50th Anniversary – Plan – 19.11.08