 Uckfield Rugby Club kicked off their 40th year of existence with a gala dinner on the 19th of January. Stars of past mingled with the hotly-tipped up-and-comers.
Around 300 people, including representatives from Heathfield and Waldron RFC, Pulborough RFC, Newick RFC, East Grinstead RFC, Burgess Hill RFC, Crowborough RFC, Plumpton RFC, the Sussex County Rugby Football Union and our Belgium visitors from Kituro Rugby Club in Brussels, went to the celebratory dinner at the East Sussex National Golf Resort and Spa on January 19th, where the former Ireland captain and British Lions flanker Fergus ‘Slats’ Slattery was guest speaker.
Alan Sallows, vice-president of URFC and MC for the evening reports that the occasion was a riveting success. In fact in rugby terms a try was converted since the evening went off without any problems whatsoever. It was very well supported by club members of all decades, who had the chance to mingle among their contemporaries and meet other members.
Guests enjoyed a gourmet three-course meal, with a roast leg of English lamb for the main course.
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 Fergus Slattery spoke for around 45 minutes highlighting some of his anecdotes gleaned over 69 appearances for country and the British Lions.
In addition to ‘Slats’ the President of the RFU, Bob Rogers responded to Chairman Peter Reeves’ proposal to Rugby Union Football and Tony Keogh proposed the toast to the guests and was very proud to boast the oldest person attending, namely his mother, and the youngest person attending, his son Toby who now plays for Uckfield 1st XV.
In a short message printed in the menu, Mr Rogers wrote: “I know that your club is represented at every age level and its committees have ambitious plans to ensure that the next 40 years will be as progressive as the first. Good luck in all your endeavours; you may count on Twickenham’s support and assistance whenever it can be provided.”
Adding to the evening’s celebrations were two members’ birthdays: Matt Logan (Scottish by birth) was celebrating his 18th birthday and Mick Fahey his 60th; Matt was presented with a Scottish shirt by Fergus Slattery to mark the occasion. However, the evening spotlight belonged to the club itself and the recognition of its achievements over the past four decades.
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 The dinner took place exactly 40 years after the club’s first committee meeting, by enforced candlelight in the Red Cross Room in Framfield Road, on January 20 1967. That meeting which was chaired by John Perrett, whose 3 daughters attended the evening on behalf of their father at his expense.
In the four decades since then, the club has greatly raised its stature and enjoyed a range of county honours, at all ages. These honours included Peter Collins 11 caps for Sussex as a lock forward Brian “Chalky” White as a bustling No. 8; the most recent honour to befall the club is the selection by the Harlequin’s Academy of Kevin Martin’s son Kieran.
The President of the Sussex Rugby Football Union, Peter Sealey, who happens to reside in Uckfield, in a letter to the club committee spoke of the club’s activities off the pitch: “Uckfield RFC has been at the heart of the community – not just asking for funding but raising money themselves, taking part in carnivals, environmental initiatives to clean up the river Uck and with the Founding Fathers contributing to local charitable bodies,” he wrote.
“It is safe to say that Uckfield is proud of its rugby club and the example that it shows to the community.”
All photographs are supplied courtesty of Ron Hill Photographic and copies can be obtained from him on 01825 762181. Other photos are available from Ron and can be seen in the clubhouse.
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