Christmas lunch hailed huge success

By Flo Eggins
20/12/16

The inaugural Wooden Spoon and Exeter Foundation Christmas lunch has been hailed a resounding success with nearly £20,000 raised for the two charities.

Joining forces ahead of the busy festive period, some 380 people packed into Exeter’s premier Conference & Banqueting Centre, Sandy Park, to help raise funds for the two rugby charities.

Guest speaker for the day was world renowned rugby referee Nigel Owens MBE, who regaled the crowd with anecdotes from his career officiating over some of the biggest names and sides in world rugby. Entertainment was also provided by local favourite, comedian Tank Sherman, and the two comperes, Exeter Chiefs’ Chris Bentley and former Bath and England International David Trick.

Funds were raised with a raffle and auction, which included a signed and framed Exeter Chiefs shirt from the 2016 Premiership final and one of Nigel Owens’ Rugby World Cup jerseys, also framed and signed. The audience also contributed to the total raised by playing a game of Spoony v Big Chief, which involved the mascots competing against each other in games such as catching rugby balls and racing on the Sandy Park pitch.

Roger Haywood, Chairman of the Devon Wooden Spoon, said: “It is such a great total to have raised and we are hugely thankful for everyone’s generosity. The funds raised will enable the Devon branch of the Wooden Spoon to continue investing in projects for disadvantaged children through Devon.”

Chairman of the Exeter Foundation, Tony Rowe OBE, added: “We’re delighted to have raised such a fantastic sum; the generosity of the guests was wonderful. Our share of the money raised will go into our undesignated pot, from which Exeter-based organisations can apply for project grants. The funds will certainly go to a fantastic local cause.”

The Exeter Foundation was also presented with two cheques totalling nearly £50,000 to further bolster the undesignated pot, from the 19240 Shrouds of the Somme project and the Exeter Chiefs Cycling Club.

Next year’s event is already booked to take place on Friday, December 8th at Sandy Park; those wanting to attend are invited to email enquiries@exeterfoundation.org.uk to register their interest. Further details will be released in the New Year.

For more information about either the Wooden Spoon or the Exeter Foundation, please visit their respective websites: www.woodenspoon.org.uk and www.exeterfoundation.org.uk