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A letter from the past - courtesy of 'The Herald'.
Dave Walker9 Jan 2016 - 09:50
Sometimes we need to look to the past to remind us where we started from. Onwards & Upwards PRUFC.
Date: Saturday 28th June 1997
Sir, I was delighted to read in your columns (Herald, 21st June) of the wonderful new facilities opened at Penrith Rugby Club and congratulate all those involved.
I wonder if others, too, can remember the very humble beginnings of the club? When I first recall the town club — in which my late husband, Jack Todd, was greatly involved — the facilities consisted of little more than a bucket behind the Gloucester Arms, Penrith. My husband played county rugby when he and I were still serving in the forces.
Later, the club moved from the base at the Gloucester to the Foundry Field, where there was a small clubhouse. During the years there, a vast amount of work went into fund-raising, with support from the likes of builder Bob Reay, who allowed use of his garden for events to raise money for the next development — provision of a permanent home for the club at Winters Park.
What was erected there was a temporary building, made possible by the hard work and dedication of many, such as the late Harvey Askins (known as "Tosca" because of his great love of opera), the late Alec Bleasdale and, of course, Ted Chappelhow.
They and many, many people working behind the scenes made the rugby club's home at Winters Park possible.
The new development created there now is a lovely building. I hope everybody who uses it respects, appreciates and enjoys it and I hope they will think back occasionally about the sweat and tears which went into the original fund-raising to give Penrith Rugby Club a permanent base of which it can be proud.
May I, through your columns, congratulate the club on their latest initiative and hope that they and future generations find great enjoyment both in the superb new premises and on the rugby field. Yours etc,
DOROTHY TODD
Sir, I was delighted to read in your columns (Herald, 21st June) of the wonderful new facilities opened at Penrith Rugby Club and congratulate all those involved.
I wonder if others, too, can remember the very humble beginnings of the club? When I first recall the town club — in which my late husband, Jack Todd, was greatly involved — the facilities consisted of little more than a bucket behind the Gloucester Arms, Penrith. My husband played county rugby when he and I were still serving in the forces.
Later, the club moved from the base at the Gloucester to the Foundry Field, where there was a small clubhouse. During the years there, a vast amount of work went into fund-raising, with support from the likes of builder Bob Reay, who allowed use of his garden for events to raise money for the next development — provision of a permanent home for the club at Winters Park.
What was erected there was a temporary building, made possible by the hard work and dedication of many, such as the late Harvey Askins (known as "Tosca" because of his great love of opera), the late Alec Bleasdale and, of course, Ted Chappelhow.
They and many, many people working behind the scenes made the rugby club's home at Winters Park possible.
The new development created there now is a lovely building. I hope everybody who uses it respects, appreciates and enjoys it and I hope they will think back occasionally about the sweat and tears which went into the original fund-raising to give Penrith Rugby Club a permanent base of which it can be proud.
May I, through your columns, congratulate the club on their latest initiative and hope that they and future generations find great enjoyment both in the superb new premises and on the rugby field. Yours etc,
DOROTHY TODD
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