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MasterChef comes to Alton Rugby Football Club

MasterChef comes to Alton Rugby Football Club

Nigel Youell17 Oct 2017 - 13:34
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Jane Devonshire, winner of MasterChef 2016 and an “ARFC Mum” opens the Club’s brand new kitchen

Sunday 15 October was an incredible day for Alton Rugby Football Club (ARFC). Out on the Anstey Park pitches, things were completely abuzz with dozens of young players, aged from Under 7 to Under 12, visiting from across the area to take part in the Club’s Age-Grade Festival, sponsored by Lions’ Sporting Academy. Back at the Clubhouse, things were just as lively as Jane Devonshire, winner of MasterChef 2016 and an “ARFC Mum”, opened the Club’s brand new kitchen.
For many years, our elderly kitchen has struggled to meet the catering demands imposed by players, members and visitors – often hundreds at a time. After a period of intensive fund-raising, the Club began work on an extension to house a new state of the art kitchen in June this year and Sunday saw the new facility unveiled in all its glory.
Tom Mills, ARFC President, explained that he was “extremely proud of what everyone had achieved and looking forward to seeing the new kitchen enjoyed by Club members, and the wider Alton community, for years to come”. Tom thanked all the members who had worked tirelessly to fund and deliver the kitchen, as well as the ARFC’s “100 Club”, Hampshire RFU and many local suppliers who had all helped make it possible. The latter included PSL Limited, Dave & Allan, Terry Plumbing Services, Darren Ford, Bruce Oliphant, Kubo Kitchens, First Stone Worktops, Hampshire Drawing Service, Electrifix, Browns of Alton, Chaplin Windows, Catering Appliance Superstore, WKL Building Supplies & Caterplan Solutions.
Tom was also keen to note the particular contribution of the Roger Hammett Memorial Fund which raised over £3,500 towards the cost of equipping the new kitchen. As many of you will know, Roger was an ARFC volunteer who was heavily involved in the running of the Club’s Sunday kitchen. When Roger sadly passed away, friends and family were determined to raise money for the new venture. A plaque in his memory is now located outside the kitchen and was unveiled by his wife, Sue.
Huge thanks must also go to Tom himself and to past-President, Charles Clark, for the key role that they have played in making sure – often against all odds – that the Club finally has the kitchen it needs & deserves!! Without their ongoing hard work and determination, we simply couldn’t have made this massive step forward.
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