Dateline: 29th June 2009

By David Chatterton,
Outgoing Cornwall RFU President.

First may I welcome you all to this Annual General Meeting of the CRFU.

You should all have received a copy of the very comprehensive reports submitted by the Hon Secretary and the Chairmen of the CRFU Standing Committees and the Associate Bodies and so I will not attempt to steal their thunder in my opening remarks, but will allow their words to take credit where credit is due. The CRFU is most fortunate to have so many people on the various Committees willing to take on the tasks of organising and controlling the game in Cornwall and I would like to thank them all for their dedicated work over the past year.

I would particularly like to thank Alan Mitchell, our Hon Secretary, and Richard Simeons, our Treasurer, who fill the key posts for the Union. They give many hours of their time to ensuring that the CRFU runs as smoothly as possible and for the benefit of all our Clubs and Bodies. We are extremely fortunate to have men of such quality and efficiency.

In this 'professional' age it is easy to forget that both the County and nearly all our Clubs are managed by 'Volunteers' and I thank all those volunteers for ensuring that the game of Rugby Football in Cornwall remains vibrant. I thank all those Clubs for welcoming me so warmly when I visited them.

I congratulate all our Clubs on their success. Not just those who have won something, but those who have measured success by just improving or even by just surviving. The continuing improvement of facilities at many Clubs is also noteworthy.

I am particularly pleased with the development of the 'Schools of Rugby' which continue to prosper and ensure future adult players at all levels.

Tonight is my 'swansong' after 3 years as President and there has been many highlights in those years . The County team improved so much. After the Shield Final last year I had hopes of winning the County Championship this year, alas it was not to be despite great support from the Clubs - perhaps next year? It was great this year to have the old South West Group together again.

Celebrating 125 years of the CRFU and the 1908 Olympic Games were both magnificent occasions as were the Lions Dinner organised by Penryn RFC and the Old Dunstonian Lunch celebrating 75 years of touring.

I consider that the past 3 years have been most successful in many ways, but I leave much to be done and achieved in this ever changing game of ours.

In conclusion may I thank you all for allowing me to serve the game in Cornwall. It was a great honour, privilege and pleasure. May I wish the CRFU and it's next President, David Martin all good fortune for the future and thank you for having me.