News & EventsLatest NewsCalendar
ARNHEM TOUR - UPDATE

ARNHEM TOUR - UPDATE

Tony Coyle9 Dec 2013 - 05:37
Share via
FacebookTwitter
https://www.chilternrugby.com/

Calling all senior and vets players to sign up...

We have about 90 confirmed tourists so far - roughly half supporters and half Under 15 players/parents.  We need more senior and vets players to sign up.

The journey
Two coaches will leave the clubhouse early at 6am so we get around the M25 before the morning rush hour.  One coach is for the senior/vets players and the other for supporters.  It’s two hours to Folkestone, through the tunnel and just over three hours to Arnhem.  It’s not "Too Far”!  Plenty of cafes/bars/service stations on the motorway for stops.  We should be sitting in the bars in Arnhem city centre by mid afternoon.  The Under 15 coach is leaving later on Friday.

The hotels
We are staying in two hotels right in Arnhem city centre - one for the senior/vets players and the other for supporters.  The Under 15s are staying slightly out of town at Wolfheze.

The matches
On Saturday afternoon there will be three matches against Arnhem Rugby Club - senior, vets and Under 15.  The senior team will be a mix from all four senior squads; our full 1XV would be far too strong.  The vets team is anyone aged over 35.  All matches will have rolling subs so anyone who goes on tour who wants to play, will play.  We can also include a few short ‘cameo’ appearances. 

The Tribute
We are going to Arnhem to play tribute to John Grayburn, a former Chiltern First XV player, on the 70th anniversary of the Battle for Arnhem.  He was 26 years old when he died.  This includes a trip around the Airborne Museum, tour of Arnhem’s “John Frost Bridge” and Sunday service at Grayburn’s graveside.  The people of Arnhem still hold a very special place for the Brits and we will be there during their national Remembrance Weekend.

The itinerary
Fri 2 May 2014
06:00 coaches leave Amersham
20:00 Official Dinner
Sat 3 May 2014
11:00 Airborne Museum, Hartenstein
13:00 tour of Arnhem Bridge
14:00 matches Arnhem RFC
18:00 BBQ at Arnhem RFC
Sun 4 May 2014
11:00 Lt Jack Grayburn VC, Oosterbeek Cemetery
12:00 Lunch Hartenstein
13:00 coaches leave Arnhem

Other stuff
Subject to any unexpected last-minute commitments, Josh Lewsey has said he will be joining us in Arnhem.  As a precursor to the tour, the Parachute Regiment will be parachuting onto the First XV pitch with John Grayburn’s VC before the Presidents Luncheon match on Saturday 22 March.  On Friday evening 4 April we will be showing the famous film “A Bridge Too Far” in the clubhouse, with an interval for supper. Lastly, Chris Smith and a small group will be cycling to Arnhem on tour, raising money for Help for Heroes.

The money
There are some general costs, subject to final numbers… coach £55; hotel (2 nights B&B) £69-£78; Friday Dinner £30; Sunday Lunch £12. We will have three separate kitties for senior/vets players, supporters and Under 15 so that each group pays fairly for what they consume; each group contributes to its own kitty. There are some costs which we won’t know until the day, for example, how much we contribute to the BBQ at the rugby club after the matches. Our best guess is that the tour will cost each person between £250 and £300.

Payments
We need first deposits of £100 now
to guarantee places on the tour. We have a deadline for second deposits of £150 by the end of March.  Please make online payments to: “Peter Williams”, account 1516 9160, sort 30-90-18 and very important to put your name as reference. Please also send an email to p.williams@robsonsweb.com confirming you have made the payment, your name and with which group you are associated.  Or give a cheque of £100 payable to “Peter Williams” to Peter Williams up the club or hand over the clubhouse bar.

The tour will be awesome.  Sign up immediately.

Kind regards,
Peter Osborne

Further reading