HAVING a ball – residents at a Rugby came home have celebrated the bicentenary of the game of rugby.
Overslade House Care Home held a rugby-themed Summer Fete, 200 years since William Webb Ellis famously took the ball in his arms and ran with it on The Close at Rugby School.
Rugby Lions player-manager Dean Hamilton and players Chris Richardson and Ryan Smout joined in and passed a rugby ball back and forth with residents, staff, and guest of honour Mayor Maggie O’Rourke.
Resident Richard Scott-Herridge’s granddaughters, Caitlin and Ella Morgan from Old Laurentians Dragonesses were also in attendance.
The centrepiece was a giant living rugby ball which has been installed in the care home’s grounds.
The idea came from Helen Levine as the home’s tribute to 200 years of rugby and also as Overslade House’s entry to the Rugby in Bloom competition.
The plan evolved into a large grass Rugby ball due to the input of Carl Levine, who made the metal frame work, and Nick Derry and Helen Derry who grew the grass from seed and constructed the ball by sewing the grass together and filling with soil and wood shavings.
Former rugby player Nic presented the ball to Overslade House Senior General Manager Violeta Baesu.
Violeta said: “This has involved a huge amount of work and sparked a lot of memories for residents to talk about. I am overjoyed to be receiving such an amazing piece of work and thank you to all those involved in creating Overslade House’s dedication to the game.”
The fete also featured a visit from The Alpaca Pals, entertainment from Rugby’s Got Talent finalist Simon Coates, and a book sale which raised over £200 for Alzheimer’s Research and Children with Cancer UK.
