On the evening on May 7th 2019, during the County Cup finals at Welford Road, Leicestershire Rugby Union also hosted an awards ceremony for the Mitsubishi Motors Voluntary Recognition programme in association with the RFU. Also recognised at the reception were this years candidates for the Leadership Academy.

The evening of presentations was kicked off by LRU Chairman, Paul Green who welcomed our honoured guests the Lord Lieutenant for Leicestershire, Mr Mike Kapur OBE, The Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Rutland, Captain Jamie Weir and Chairman of Leicestershire County County, Mr Ozzy O’Shea.

Paul handed over to Andrew Johnson from the RFU and one of the team who produce the programme to give a brief overview of the course and how important it is to mentor and guide our future leaders through the game and to help with the running of our clubs and grassroots rugby. Andrew thanked all the mentors on this years course for giving up their time to guide the participants and assist with their questions and projects for them to take back to their clubs for implementation. Thank you mentors! The candidates were then invited up to receive an individual award in recognition for their hard work.

Following the Leadership Academy presentations, Helen Wrighten, Volunteer co-ordinator, introduced  the next guests to present the awards for Volunteers in the county. A surprise celebrity in the form or Jonny May, England International and Leicester Tigers player was kept a secret from the nominees until the evening. Jonny was accompanied by Hannah from Mitsubishi Motors and Anna McDonnell, Acting RFU RDO.

Each nominee was presented with a framed certificate, Mitsubishi Motors gift and either a crystal goblet or hip flask. This year’s nominees were:

Paul Cribb, Ashby
Ian Whittle, Ashby
Lloyd Hankins, Ashby
Sam Wotherspoon, Fulhurst College
Jason Reid, Hinckley
David Callaghan, Leicester Forest
James Schreder
Marc Birr, Leicestershire Rugby Union
Gail Bates, Leicestershire Rugby Union
Dean Toon, Leicestershire Rugby Union
Geoff Blackburn, Leicestershire Referees Society
Guy Wood, Loughborough
David Seymour, Loughborough
David Burrows, Melton
Josh Price, New College
Chris De Luca, Oadby Wyggs
Scott Lydon, Old Newtonians
Henry Mitchell, Quorn
Nick Farmer, Shepshed
Lee Ralph, Shepshed
Shona Green, South Leicester
Stuart Marsden, South Leicester
Paul Stone, South Leicester
Eleanor Wilkinson, Ashby

Finally, from all the  nominees, one person was selected as the Leicestershire volunteer of the year, and will be invited to attend a meal and presentation at Twickenham in September where 3 people will be chosen as the national volunteers of the year. That person was Lloyd Hankin from Ashby RFC for his work and dedication towards growing the girls section at Ashby RFC and the women and girls game in general. Congratulations Lloyd.

For more photos from the evening, please follow this link where you will be able to download any images for your own albums or club noticeboards.