Patrons Lunch raises cash for rugby club

Nov 14 2012 by Paul Thomson, East Kilbride News

East Kilbride Rugby Club’s junior section hosted their annual Patrons’ Day lunch last Saturday at Torrance House to raise funds for the club.

Such is the weekend chef-ing repute of Calderside High School’s finest Techie teacher, Eck Gilmour – who controlled kitchen proceedings – patrons travelled from far and near to sample his offerings.

Long-time Primary One coach Stuart Lynn came from China to partake of the former first-team hooker’s venison and sticky toffee pudding. This was, said Stuart, a stranger combination than anything he had tasted in Shanghai, but was pleasant enough in its own way.

With over 80 diners, junior section president Craig Steven, a first team hooker of slightly greater renown than Mr Gilmour, was confident the festivities would make a healthy contribution to club funds.

In addition to the price of a ticket for the event, there were numerous raffle prizes on offer to keep the Finance Secretary’s abacus moving along. In turn, this money supports many diverse club activities, most immediately three buses and match tickets that were needed to take the boys to the Scotland versus New Zealand game.

Whilst individual fundraising events take place throughout the year, such as the forthcoming disco in aid of the P7 end-of-season tour to Frankfurt, Patrons Day underpins much of the clubs general expenditure.

Part of the mission statement of those running the section states that no parent shall have to pay more than 50 per cent of a cost, whether the payment is to cover a new top or shorts or is for a seat at a Glasgow Warriors Heineken Cup game – the club will always pay at least half.

East Kilbride Rugby Club are currently on a mid-season break, while the Scottish National team play their Autumn Test series, but will return to league action on December 1 when they travel to Irvine.