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Quick Links: David Hirst |  Jerry Hohenkerk |  Jackie Horseman |  Veronica Prebble |  Ken Nichols |  Brian McNeilly |  Tracey Brewer |  Steve "Saucy" McManus |  Greg Stokes |  Phil Begg |  Gordon Howard-Smith |  Heidi Mepham |  Roger Stanley |  Roy Wake |  Malcolm Sealby |  Ann Sandeman |  Bob Swell |  Paul Sandeman |  Bill Ruddock |  Len Bolton   Peter Southee President: I am a retired Nuclear Power Engineer, but remain fully occupied with the Rugby club, Chair of Governors at William Parker Sports College and Pension Fund Trustee for British Energy. I gave up playing rugby for Old Colfeans when we moved to Hastings in 1976 but have been a member of the club since 1977 when my son aged 7 joined the mini section.  Richard played for the club from under 7 up to the 1st XV before moving up North. As with many parents I was persuaded to help out with the junior teams and joined the committee in 1987. Before becoming President I was chairman for 15 years and during this time the major achievment was to oversee the move from Bexhill and the building of our new clubhouse at William Parker. David Hirst Chairman joined the committee at the start of the 2006/07 season and took on the role of Club Coaching Coordinator. I have three boys playing in the youth section and very keen to see this area of the Club grow along with the adult sections. I can often be found getting in everyone's way during senior team training as I valiantly attempt to prove I'm is still fit enough to hold my place in the back three of the Hastings and Bexhills 3rd XV. Jerry Hohenkerk Vice-Chairman & Assistant Coach I joined Hastings & Bexhill Rugby Club in 1976. I played initially for the 3rd XV, but subsequent seasons I played for the 2nd XV and then the 1st XV. In 1976 the club started its junior/mini section and I became an assistant coach for the u14’s/u16’s. I became a committee member in 1977 and have served on the committee since apart from a short period in the 90’s. I assisted in all aspects of the new build, when the Club moved to William Parker School site including the design and laying of the new pitches. My roles throughout the years for the club have been from: player, cleaner, bar staff member, grounds & premises maintenance, pitch marker, relief cook, child welfare officer, physio, first Aider and any odd jobs that needed doing I have endeavoured to do. My role with the players has been and continues to be an assistant coach; I have currently the RFU level 2 coaching award. I have a vision that the club will be united in all aspects with the best infrastructure for the development of the whole club from mini’s through to the 1st team. My passion is to support all players and coaches (throughout the club) to develop them into a functional, successful and happy team. Jackie Horseman Membership Secretary           Title... Veronica Prebble I came to the club in 1988 as a spectator at the Polegrove in Bexhill as my then partner played for the first team at that time. I was asked if I would like to cook for the teams after home games and I accepted this in 1991 in a kitchen fit for the knackers yard. I started to introduce other foods for visitors/ spectators to help make a little money for the club instead of just the players meals after the games. I have been a committee member since 1991 and enjoyed having a part in helping planning our new clubhouse building and it’s decorating, which was opened in 1996 here at William Parker School Site.    I still do the catering for most occasions with the help of friends, fellow rugby wives and girlfriends. This has now become a very professional outfit catering for parties weddings along with the regulator end of season dinners etc. I look after our functions bookings at the clubhouse along with our stock of club sports wear in between the club cleaning twice a week.  I’m very proud to have been given an Hon. Life Member. Ken Nichols Fixtures Secretary After a few years at the Polegrove in Bexhill and who can forget St Marys I moved into the junior section with Bill Ruddock. We had a successful 6 years with the team taking them from under 12 to Colts. Six of the team went on to play Sussex County and today H&B 1st XV still have some of the players. For a time I managed the 3rd XV at H&B and again enjoyed seeing players come to us and then move on to the 2nd XV and 1st XV. Some time back I took on the roll of Fixture Secretary for the club along with club contact for Sussex and Kent RFU, later adding Secretary for the Sussex Bureau and I am on the committee for the Sussex Competitions. Brian McNeilly Press, Social Secretary and Sponsorship I joined Hastings and Bexhill RFC about 9 years ago and both of my boys played through the junior sections of the club until colts. About 5 years ago having not played Rugby for almost 20 years I found myself back in the thick of it, seeing a chance to play on the same team as the boys as they took up adult rugby.  It's only then I realised how much I missed it. Rugby is a bug and once you have it there's no cure, like minded people playing in the mud. I now look forward to each weekend a chance to meet good mates and keep hold of youth a little longer. I got involved in the running of the club a couple of years ago having helped run the 3XV team and I want to see the club continue to grow and hope to see it join the ranks of the larger clubs in higher leagues. Tracey Brewer Minis & Junior Chairperson Born and bred in Sunny Hastings, having attended local Schools, most of my working life has also been fairly local. I have two boys, both play Rugby, under 12`s and under 11`s this coming season. I got involved through my Husband, when we first met he was playing senior Rugby and coaching the ladies team. I had a go myself having no real understanding of the game at the time. Although enjoying it I was unable to continue playing or for that matter training, but really loved the club, the people and the game. I loved watching my husband play and spending time with the others at the club. When my boys were at an age that they could try this beautiful game I enrolled them in the mini section of the club joining the under 7`s playing tag Rugby. At first they seemed more interested in playing with the other boys and girls, more throwing mud than a rugby ball. But fantastic coaching and a little time gave us two tag rugby players. They continue to play a high standard of Rugby thanks to the continued commitment of their coach’s. Over time I became involved by helping, making teas for spectators and such like on a Sunday morning generally lending a hand when possible. I soon came to appreciate what went on behind the scenes and how much time people gave up for the club in the running and organizing. This brings me to the present day, I've now taken on a roll thats getting me involved in allsorts of activities, including still making tea and coffee on a Sunday morning. I feel lucky to be involved in a club where you are made to feel welcome, where I can watch and be involved in my boys Rugby along with seeing others that are the future of Rugby. You never know we could have another Johnny Wilkinson, Martin Johnson or better! Steve "Saucy" McManus 1st XV Captain As Captain I hope to keep up the traditions of the Captains that have gone before me. We face a hard season ahead and I will be looking to build on our past success having got into London 4, and stayed, we now need to endevour to make as many games as possible count in order to move forward as both a team and club. I'm hoping that we can bring in some new blood to compliment the players that have put in the years and made H&B the great family club it is. As a team we learnt a lot being in London 4 last season and must use this if we are to maintain and grow as a team. Whatever happens I'm looking looking forward to the challenge and know I've got good team mates all wanting to prove thier worth. Greg Stokes 2nd XV Captain At 25 years old with 11 playing seasons behind me, I am looking forward to the challenge of leading the 2's, with the support of my fellow players to a successful season. Phil Begg 3rd XV Captain I've played rugby since my early teens at 14  I played county rugby representing Oxforshire. In my late teens I was playing for Bracknell RFC and stayed with them until I was 32. I had a briliant time throughout my time at the club touring the Far East, Kenya, Belgum and loads of other places. I moved to Hastings and ended up having a bit of time out of rugby. Once my son was old enough to play I joined Hastings and Bexhill, about 6 years ago. since then I've got involved in the coaching at at the moment I coach the under 12s, along with helping Bill Langley coach the ladies team, this is my second season as 3rd team capitan and am enjoying seeing the club growing. Gordon Howard-Smith Vets XV Captain To Follow Heidi Mepham Womens Captain To follow Roger Stanley Head Coach I was first introduced to Rugby at Secondary school in Spalding, I remember crying for the best part of a day when I found out the School played Rugby not Football. I got over the disappointment and grew to love the game playing County rugby at Under 15 and Under 18 levels. I did a degree in Chemistry at York University then a PGCE at Sheffield Universities spent a year topping up my Suntan in the Algarve before starting a teaching career. I played in the back row first for Sidcup then Sevenoaks before ending my playing career at Eastbourne. At Eastbourne I made my first team debut against H & B in the Sussex Cup. I coached for a couple of years at Eastbourne before moving on to H&B. I have also been involved in coaching Sussex teams at Under 17 and Under 18 level. I believe my role as a coach is to ensure players have well developed skills and sufficient understanding of the game to be able to make appropriate decisions for themselves and to play according to what they see in front of them. Players should take on the responsibility of getting themselves sufficiently fit and strong to compete effectively Roy Wake Trustee Born and bred in Bexhill on Sea, I became a member of the club in 1971, the year Clive Dunn sang Grandad and Ernie was the fastest milkman in the west. I played until 1996, with some 20 years in the 1st XV along with 3 years as the 2nd XV Captain. I also took up ref'ing and was a Sussex society referee for 9years until with regret I had to call it a day when my knees told me to stop. I still like to do a little and during our last family fun day I refereed a couple of tag games. I had 3 great years coaching the then under 16 team of which several have now been 1st team players for sometime. I have also been an active Club comittee member for many years and was proud to have been made Hon.life member.  I now look forward to seeing the club grow. Malcolm Sealby A chance conversation with a teacher and ex H&B star fly-half Mike Girardot  was my first introduction to Hastings & Bexhill rugby club some 20 years ago. He persuaded me to take my two sons, who were about 5 and 7 at the time, to join in with a sport I knew very little about at the time. It was a decision I have never regretted. The last 20 years have given me, and my family, a great deal of happiness (promotion at last) and heartache (all of those play-off days) but more importantly a great deal of friendship. If it is a family, fun and friendly club you are looking for, then H&B is the one for you. I look forward to the next 20 year and wish all the players the very best for the coming season. Ann Sandeman To follow Bob Swell Treasurer In 1997 I came to the club with a seven year old son mad to play Rugby. Standing on the sideline, I too, soon got caught up in the game and took on the role of team co-ordinator, keeping track of scores and chasing up players etc. It's funny and you don't see it coming but the 7 year old is now playing adult rugby and has had time in the 3rd XV and regularly plays for the 2nd XV now. Me, I've been involved as co-ordinator for so long I've found it hard sit back and just watch, therefore getting a chance to join the comittee meant I can still offer support to others within the club at all levels. Paul Sandeman To follow Bill Ruddock Sussex Rep I've been a club member since 1986 and have played for both the 2XV & 3XV. I was 3XV team captain for 1 season.  Along with Ken Nicholls I coached a junior side from under 12’s all the way up to colts level.  Now am now a county referee which I've been doing for the last 6 years. But still like a little run out with a Vets team when I can. I am currently the club's representative at county meetings. Len Bolton I was born, bred and educated in Liverpool (City of Culture, 2008). Left school at sixteen, working in Accounts, first with a Cattle Food Manufacturer, then with the Brtish-American Tobacco Co. Having left school with a School Certificate (sufficient in those days for a University place), I was able to use this for a place in Edge Hill College of Education in 1965, as a mature student. I elected to work in Rural Primary Schools, which took me and the family, first to Somerset, then to Broad Oak, Brede, from where I retired in 1994. After retirement I was able to begin following H&B in person, rather than from a distance. My playing career began with a works club, Automatic Telephones. Saturday mornings would find most of the team clearing horse and sheep droppings from the pitch, and stoking an ancient wood fired boiler. When that club folded, I tried other clubs in the Liverpool area, and joined Hightown. It is worth noting that in those days it was usual to buy your own jersey, and any form of shoulder padding was banned. Even setting foot in a rugby league ground brought a lifetime ban from the RFU. After a couple of years in the first, injuries began to take their toll, and I dropped down to the thirds, a home for people with experience, helping to bring on youngsters. After nine years, marriage and a house move took me to Ormskirk RUFC, but chidren curtailed my playing days there. I restarted playing at college, and managed to play at fly half in the 1st XV for two seasons. Since 1994 I have become more actively involved in the club, and it is good to know that the ethos of the game, the friendship and good fellowship is as it always was.

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