Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.
Gemma and Keith, the parents of Christopher Tickle, who was injured playing
rugby for Eccles RFC in September last year, and subsequently tragically died a
few weeks later, were presented with Christopher’s Duke of Edinburgh Gold Medal,
at the Lord Mayor’s Parlour on Tuesday evening along with his friend Ross
Seward. Earlier this year Gemma and Keith travelled to St James’s Palace London,
to receive Christopher’s Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award Certificate from His
Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh.
In Chris’s memory, Chris’s parents have set up the Christopher Tickle Fund
(details at www.ecclesrfc.org.uk) and have identified the Nicholls Spinal Injury
Foundation www.nichollsfoundation.org.uk as their chosen charity.
In memory of Chris and as part of the on going fund raising, Eccles RFC have put
in place a number of Annual events, but are also using the presentation at the
Mayor’s parlour to launch the running of Duke of Edinburgh awards at Eccles RFC
hopefully as another lasting legacy to Christopher’s memory.
Paul Newton, who recently joined Eccles RFC after relocating to the area, is an
approved D of E Instructor and was the catalyst that has helped something that
the club has previously talked about get off the ground. Initially the plan is
to run it with one Junior year group at the Club, but ultimately the overall
plan is to roll it out to all eligible year groups and then open it up to the
local non-playing youngsters. Eccles RFC intends to link up with local D of E
provider Oakwood High School to help provide this service. Paul will be helped
by others at the Club including Ross and Community Rugby Coach Trevor Parrott.
Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme at Eccles RFC.
Currently we have 20 of our Under 15's team registered to take their Bronze DOE
Award.
All participants have chosen to take Rugby Union as their physical recreation
section and will participate in various rugby related activities.
On the weekends on the 10th and 17th May all 20 will have taken the rugby ready
referees course which should give them an insight into how difficult it is for
Dave, their coach, to referee their games.
They are also in the process of organising a charity activity as part of their
volunteering section of the award. When this is arranged it will be advertised
on the website and support from club members and families will be appreciated.
They are already preparing for their outdoor expedition, an expedition
preparation day was held at Eccles RFC where the boys did camp site preparation,
cooking and camp craft, navigation and map reading.
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Practise walks are be held in May and an initial observed overnight expedition on 18th June.
The boys then have to plan, organise and carry out their final expedition which subject to final paperwork completion will ensure completion of their Bronze Award.
Many thanks go out to Mark Baines and Danny Hollowood who stepped forward to do the British Expedition Award and have put a lot of time into the work the boys have done so far. Carole Pass has done all the administration and communication and without her assistance we would not have got this far.
Paul Newton
DOE Coordinator
Eccles RFC.
