PIRATES RUGBY CLUB WELCOMES BACK ARMED FORCES MEMBERS

Wanganui Chronicle, 3 October 1946, Page 6

PIRATES RUGBY CLUB WELCOMES BACK ARMED FORCES MEMBERS

SEVERAL ‘OLD TIMERS” ATTEND

More than 125 members of the Wanganui Pirates Rugby Football Club served in the armed forces during World War 11, and last night those who returned were guests ol the club at a dinner in the Savage Club Hall, and at a social function which followed.

The president of the club (Mr. W. Deerness) was in the chair and wel. corned the returned servicemen, following a moment’s silence observed in tribute to those who had made the supreme sacrifice.

Among these present were a number of -old timers,’’ including three foundation members—Messrs R. McGregor, Arthur Coe and J. Kench.

Mr. Deerness specially welcomed the “old timers.’’ "It is particularly pleasing,” he said, “to see so many of them present, and we hope that more and more ‘old timers’ w 11 attend these gatherings, more particularly because the club is celebrating its jubilee next year. We hope any ‘old timer’ who has any newspaper clipp ngs, or knows anything about the early days of the club, will hand them on to the secretary, because we are compiling a history of the club, and want it to be as complete as possible.”

Referring to the efforts of the club on the administrative side, Mr. Deerness said that during the war those who were too old to go determined that they would keep the club going, and they tallied round and encouraged those who were not old enough to serve in the forces and those who were in reserved occupations.

“It was a hard job,” Mr. Deerness said, “and at one stage the executive was down to four members—Mr Stewart, Mr. Dave Buck, Mr. Charlie Ryan and myself.” Mr. Deerness said that the United Club was formed, and it was in a tough competition, in which Army teams competed, with tne Jimmie Ward, V.C., Memorial Shield as the trophy. Mr. Deerness said that the club had recently run two very successful functions, the unveiling of a very fine Roll of Honour and the Pirates’ ball, which was held in honour of the visiting Australian Rugby players, and was attended by more than 590 people. The toast of “Returned Servicemen” was proposed by Mr. C Stewart, and replied to by Mr. G. Berryman. Mr. Harvey Gilbera, vice-’resident of the Wanganui R.S.A.. i•: ’ Mr. J. Beck,

•cident of the Wanganui branch o the 2nd N.Z.E.F. Association extended special welcomes to the returned men.

The toast of “Old Timers” was proposed by Mr. Chas. Thrush. This toast received a vociferous welcome, and each ‘Gid timer,’ as he got up to speak, was greeted with great applause. Those who responded to the toast

• ere Messrs Arthur Coe (1896), Ron McGregor (1896), C. A. Wainwright (1896), A. Gibson, C. T. Young and Peter Stott. Mr. E. McCormick, another “old timer,” and Mr. J. Kench, both of whom were present, received special words of welcome. Mr. Stott, in his reply, said that while tributes had been paid to the “old timers,” he wished to stress the pleasure they all felt at being present to welcome the men back from war. how great an evening it was for those who belonged to the club to be able to do so. While a good standard v/as set in World War I, that standard was maintained in Hip second war.

Mr. Stewart, when he proposed the toast to the “returned men,” also stressed that point, and said that to send something like 130 players into the Armed Forces was a great credit to a club with but four teams. The toast of the “Prcs.~ ‘ was proposed by Mr H. Kench, and replied to by “Crossbar.” Special tiibutes were paid to the referees, and Mr. H. Neilson, of that body, contributed items. Mr. W. Stewart, Mr. C. Broome and Mr. O. Larsen contributed songs and Mr. A. Reyworth humorous items.