Taylor awarded life membership by Cirencester RFC (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Taylor awarded life membership by Cirencester RFC

A SUCCESSFUL season for Cirencester RFC came to a conclusion last Friday with the staging of the annual friendly match between a club XV and the Veterans.

A good-tempered and well refereed game was played in warm conditions with the club finishing as victors, due mainly to their superior fitness and speed on a rock-hard surface.

The Veterans, who scored two tries, fielded two players aged 56 and 62 in a 22-strong line-up.

The match was followed by a well attended dinner, held in a marquee at The Whiteway.

The 172 guests were given a highly amusing speech by the ex-Wales, British Lions and Barbarians fly-half and captain, Phil Bennett, and were entertained by his stories of Lions' tours and matches that included that 'try' in 1973.

Brian Gargett, who thanked Mr Bennett, responded in witty manner on behalf of the Vets.

After the speeches, the CRFC club awards were presented as follows: Kath Weighell rose bowl, Sharon Scrivens; top junior tourist, Tim Robinson; top tourist, Bonzo Brereton; most improved player, Andy Crouch; top try scorer, Paul Rowley; players' player, Andy Crouch; clubman of the year, Tim Thompson; president's trophy, Bryan Taylor.

Club chairman Simon Collyer-Bristow announced, to a standing ovation, that the committee was awarding Bryan Taylor CRFC life membership in recognition of his many years of dedication to the club both on and off the field from his first match for CRFC in 1969 through to the present day.

Taylor still occasionally pulls on his boots for the 3rd XV, regularly helps with coaching both the senior and junior teams and is always at the heart of all social activities at the club.