I hope you’re enjoying the summer (winter for those down under) and looking forward to supporting the club in the new season. There are quite a few things to update you on, including some great news on the HOBs fund raising target, a golf day and dates for next season’s Hob-Nobs, so read on! 

General Update: We had 3 Hob-Nobs last year (October, December and March), each of them was well supported by between 30 and 40 Hobs. Sometimes it’s difficult to count, let alone photograph, all of the HOBs at any one time as they’re usually off somewhere reliving tales of daring-do on/off the pitch, or generally just catching up with mates they haven’t seen for years (or since the last Hob-Nob). As well as the Hob-Nobs, we also got a couple of teams together to join in the John Fisher organised Grove RFC Golf Day. As ever, we are indebted to the club and the Harwell RBC for making us so welcome on our Hob-Nob days, a special thanks to Richard Homewood, Owen Sutcliffe, Jenny & Dougie Bosley and John Fisher for making things happen!

VP Memberships: We now have 39 VPs, all officially members of the rugby club with names proudly displayed on the HOBs web site and able to request international tickets through the club. At £12 pa or £1 pm this is a great way to support the club and give a little back for all the great times we had as players at the club. I’ll be in touch with paid up VPs as soon as next season’s membership falls due. If you haven’t yet signed up as a VP, please reply to this email and I’ll send you details of how to pay, we can now collect payments from overseas HOBs as well. 

HOBs Shirts: We now have 42 HOBs proudly wearing their HOBs version of the club polo shirt. These Canterbury shirts are great quality and, at only a few outings a year, will probably last us a life-time! If you haven’t yet ordered your shirt, please reply to this email and I’ll send you a size guide and details of how to pay, we can now collect payments from overseas HOBs as well. 

HOBs Fund Raising Target: When we started out on the HOBs adventure we set ourselves a 5 year target of raising £1,000 to buy the club a new set of shirts. I’m really pleased to announce that we have revised the target to £2,000 to buy both teams a new set of shirts. This change is because through the generosity of HOBs attending Hob-Nobs, becoming VPs and buying shirts, we have raised £1,217 in the first two years! Well done everyone and please keep supporting the Hob-Nobs and paying your VP membership. 

Thanks from Nick Millett: As you may recall, Nick, as one of the few HOBs that can still break into more than a trot unless there’s a beer on offer, was undertaking the 5 mile run around the grounds of Blenheim Palace in aid of the Oxford Children’s Hospital. Nick has asked to pass on his thanks to those who kindly supported him in raising £457 for this very worthy cause. Well done Nick! 

Summer Golf day: Spurred on by the HOBs success in getting people back together it was great to see some Grove Old Boys (GOBs) and Didcot Old Boys (DOBs) following suit at last year’s Grove RFC Golf Day. This year, John is organising a separate Old Boys golf day and hoping to get support from HOBs, GOBs, DOBs and any other OBs he can find!. The golf day will be on Friday 15^th August, we will meet around 11.30 with first tee around 12.30 and finish with a 2 course meal late afternoon. Entry is £35 per player. If you or a group HOBs or other friends would like to play, please reply to this email to register your interest. 

Autumn Hob-Nob: This year’s Autumn Hob-Nob will be on Saturday October 18^th. This is a “double header” with the 1^st XV at home to Farnham Royal and the 2^nd XV at home to Oxford Harlequins. We will meet from 13.00 at the sports pavilion, which is situated to the right of what used to be the Harwell Main Gate and just a short walk away from the rugby pitches. As usual, a light lunch will be served in the pavilion. Kick-off will be at 15:00 and there will be a post-match meal with the players back at the Royal British Legion, Harwell. All this fun is just £10 per person, partners very welcome. I’ll email you again nearer the time to gather names of people likely to attend, but feel free to register interest now. 

Spring Hob-Nob: This year’s Spring Hob-Nob will be on Saturday March 7^th. This is a “double header” with the 1^st XV at home to Berkshire Shire Hall and the 2^nd XV at home to Alchester. We will meet from 12.30 at the sports pavilion, which is situated to the right of what used to be the Harwell Main Gate and just a short walk away from the rugby pitches. As usual, a light lunch will be served around 13:15. Kick-off will be at 14:30 and there will be a post-match meal with the players back at the Royal British Legion, Harwell. All this fun is just £10 per person, partners very welcome. I’ll email you again nearer the time to gather names of people likely to attend. 

Cheers for now and I look forward to seeing you at one of the events!

 

Andy