Royal Wootton Bassett RFC

Incredibly, it has been 10 years since our rugby club relocated to Ballards Ash, and a tremendous amount has been accomplished during that time.

Now, as the club gears up for the next 10-year phase of development, and with the recent retirement of Mark Wightman as President of RWBRFC, the rugby club has announced significant changes in several key areas of its executive management.

New Club President

Assuming the role of Club President this season is former Vice-Chairman Andrew Gassor. We caught up with Andrew and asked him about his feelings regarding his new position.

"I am deeply honoured to have been invited by the Executive Committee to serve as President of the rugby club. Historically, the President's role was viewed as a hierarchical position, filled by a respected member of the community - and my predecessor, Mr Mark Wightman, certainly embodied that role. But Mark also demonstrated the need for the President to be fully engaged. In addition to being a figurehead for the club, Mark's contributions behind the scenes have greatly benefited the entire club. While I certainly do not aspire to having any hierarchical community standing, I will do my best to emulate the support previously given throughout the Club."

"The club's management must continue to evolve into a strong, progressive team for the future. With new individuals come fresh ideas, and it has been gratifying to witness new volunteers join the executive team recently. Under the capable leadership of our Chairman, Chris Elias, these individuals may feature in future succession plans whenever the need arises. I wish them every success and will provide support wherever possible."

New Vice Chairman

Assuming Andrew's former role as Vice Chairman is Dave Thompson, who many are already familiar with as a coach of the club's Under 15s team.

"Having been associated with the club since 2003 when my son Dan started playing in the Minis, I have gradually become more involved in volunteering at RWBRFC," explained Dave. "When my younger son Chris began playing, I started coaching rugby, and I am currently coaching the U15s for the upcoming season. I completed the RFU Leadership Course during the 2016/17 season and have enthusiastically supported many Vice-President's lunches over the years!"

"Now, having been elected to the position of Vice Chairman at this year's AGM, I am acutely aware of the trust placed in me, and I will do everything in my power to continue moving the club forward and upholding the club's values and high standards set by those who came before me."

New appointments

Also joining the Exec committee is Dave Floyd, who has agreed to retake the Clubhouse Manager role, and Suzie Cullen, team manager for the under-6s, under-7s and under-9s age groups who has been invited to join the committee this season as Strategic Planning Manager.

"I have three children, two of whom play in our Minis and Juniors, and my husband plays in the Seniors. I have a varied background in hospitality, distribution, logistics and software development. Due to the extraordinary growth across the club, part of my role will be reviewing and mapping all the processes which take place across all sections of the club. We plan to make improvements by automating and documenting many of those processes." explained Suzie.

"Another focus will be our army of volunteers who make the club run, ensuring their role is properly recognized so we can make volunteering as easy and enjoyable as possible!"

Club Chairman, Chris Elias, warmly welcomed the new additions to the leadership team. "It's fantastic to welcome Dave Thompson, Dave Floyd, and Suzie Cullen to the Exec, as they bring a wealth of experience from various aspects of the club. Undoubtedly, they will have a busy time ahead as we prepare for the start of the new season!"

So as RWBRFC enters a new era with its revamped executive management, there is a palpable sense of enthusiasm and optimism across the club. We invite you to join us in embracing their leadership, as we embark on an exhilarating journey of growth, camaraderie, and continued success.