Our Platinum Jubilee Champion

As well as last weekend being a very special one for Her Majesty The Queen, it also proved to be so for our very own Worth Old Boys Rugby Football Club Chairman, Desmond Calnan R'69, who received a Platinum Champion Award from Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall, in her role as President of The Royal Voluntary Service.

Desmond was among 3,000 nominations when the WOBS RFC Committee and Vice Presidents unanimously decided to enter him for the award to recognise his life-long work and dedication to the Club. He was also one of only 70 of the awardees to be invited to the Big Jubilee Lunch on Sunday 5th June at The Oval Cricket Ground.

Desmond was the Club's founder and for 28 years has been its lynchpin. He's spent thousands of hours doing the thankless tasks that make the Club tick and played a vital role in raising broader support and finance to sustain the Club long-term, as well as funds for charitable purposes, most recently for Ukraine refugees. As one VP simply put it "Des is an inspiration".

Desmond has injected enthusiasm, passion and camaraderie through the highs and lows that come with team sport. Over the years, hundreds of Worthians have benefitted from WOBS RFC as they start to make their way in the world. The Club is a community that extends beyond physical wellbeing, companionship and charitable activities. One player, aged 19, who lost his father to cancer described the Club as his “lifeline”. 

The award itself is a specially designed official Platinum Champions pin and certificate signed by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, who Desmond said was incredibly interested in chatting to him about the strength and importance of the community side of the Club.

A big congratulations to you Desmond. So very well deserved!