There was a good turnout of members and guests to experience a 4 course meal on the theme of the Home Nations at Restaurant Nineteen09 cooked and served by Scarborough TEC catering students at the Club meeting on Thursday 26 February 2026.
Chairman Richard welcomed a number of guests: Shaun Redman the National Councillor for Yorkshire & North East all the way from Bridlington; Paul Radcliffe a guest of Vice Chairman Simon and Martin Johnson a former member of Scarborough 88 who had enjoyed the visit to the Distiller’s Lounge in January so much he obviously wanted to experience another 41 Club meeting. Worryingly there was no sign of the promised guest speaker Ben Foden but Richard assured everyone that he would arrive as soon as evening training at Scarborough Rugby Club had finished.
Before the start of the meal Richard invited Shaun to address the meeting. Shaun produced a large wooden box which when subsequently opened was found to contain a red oilcan mounted on a wooden plinth. This somewhat unusual object proved to be the National Community award also known as the Michael Lockey award which had been awarded to the Club at the National AGM in Aviemore as long ago as April 2025.
Although the Michael Lockey award had been mentioned in an email received from the National Secretary in April no further information had been forthcoming. From the comments made by Shaun about his wife complaining about the box cluttering up her hallway for so long it is now readily apparent what had happened to the award in the intervening period.
Simon was given the honour of accepting the award for his sterling efforts in making the Charity Night held on 5 December 2024 such a success.
Elaine will not have to complain to Simon about the award cluttering up her hallway for very long with Secretary Mike disclosing in his report after the meal that National wanted the award returned in time for the National AGM in April!
At the end of the meal Richard announced that David Henderson had been appointed Sergeant at Arms and would be fining any member who was found not to be wearing a 41 Club badge the sum of £10.00. Simon followed this announcement with an offer to sell members a 41 Club badge celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Club specially designed by David Henderson at the bargain price of only £5.00. With such a sales technique Simon has clearly missed his true vocation!
Simon also invited members who were unable to attend the 70th anniversary celebration on 21 March to make a contribution to the event using the link for guests on the website.
Richard closed the formal part of the meeting with a vote of thanks to both Catering Officer John for arranging the evening and to the Scarborough TEC catering manager Paula and the level 2 and 3 catering students for respectively performing the front of house duties and providing an excellent meal.
Guest speaker Ben Foden who as promised by Richard had arrived during the meal was introduced by Mike who it was revealed had been instrumental in arranging for Ben’s appearance.
There followed an informative and entertaining account of Ben’s rise from playing schoolboy rugby at Bromsgrove School to playing for England gaining a total of 34 caps including games at the 2011 Rugby World Cup. On his journey Ben played for both Sale Sharks and Northampton Saints before ending his playing career playing rugby in the USA.
Ben is now head of rugby at Scarborough College which position he combines with his role as head coach at Scarborough Rugby Club whose first team now has a healthy lead at the top of Regional North East 2 and fittingly in their Centenary Year appear destined for promotion to Regional North East 1.
After thanking Ben for his talk Richard closed what had been a thoroughly entertaining evening with the usual toast to RTBI.
Your Rugby Correspondent
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