A COACH at Melksham Rugby Club has been nominated for Mitsubishi Motors’ Volunteer of Year Award.
Under 11s coach, Sean Randall, was nominated by his team who wanted to do something to thank Sean for all that he has done for the team.
The nomination citation said, “Sean stepped up to help coach our team five years ago when we found ourselves without a coach and with only four players. Sean was 19 years old, at university training to be a primary school teacher, and had no coaching experience.
“He gave up his weekends and holidays, he even stopped drinking on Saturday nights so he was capable of coaching on a Sunday. Parents would drive him to matches so the team could play until he passed his test. He also passed his referees exams, numerous coaching levels and first aid. We are now a 15-strong under-11s team thanks to Sean.”
Sean said, “I was so surprised when I got an email inviting me to the awards – I didn’t know they were going to nominate me, but I’m extremely thrilled.
“When they were without a coach five years ago, I knew that they needed someone to help and I thought I had the skills and experience to step in. I hadn’t coached younger players before, but I settled into it straight away.
“What I enjoy most is seeing the progress of the players. I don’t see it as a job because I enjoy it so much. I’m currently studying at Bath Spa University to be a teacher so a lot of my time is taken up with that, but training with the players at the weekend is a break from that.
“I’d like to take the team right through to seniors level; they work hard and definitely have potential.
“The rugby club has always been really supportive throughout my time coaching, and it is a brilliant environment to be involved in.
“There are so many volunteers who give up their free time to support Melksham Rugby Club who all deserve praise.
“I’m looking forward to the awards ceremony and I think I’ll take my fiance along with me.”
If Sean is selected as a Volunteer of the Year finalist, he will attend a black tie awards evening at Twickenham Stadium in September.
![Melksham Times Past
A column about days gone by in Melksham by local historian Lisa Ellis
The Independent Chapel and Women’s Rights in the 1840s
A document I recently transcribed lists the baptisms performed at the Independent Chapel. This record is especially helpful in that, along with baptisms, a lot of them include birth dates - one of the ways I discover which day someone was born.
The following is taken from a Wiltshire Times article published on 9th November 1878 which reports a speech given during the 100-year services and to celebrate their renovations (what we now know to be the Rachel Fowler Centre).
One speaker, Rev. T. Mann, minister in Trowbridge, talked about the Chapel’s origins when he related how Rev. Honywill came to Melksham and how he’d gone on to remain as the minister for the Independent Chapel for almost 60 years. [Honywill and his family lived on King Street in what we now call “Legion House”.]
Read more on our website, the link is in our bio.](https://scontent-lhr6-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.75761-15/505444438_18038424887647822_3264519508333556874_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_ohc=aLBu4qWxSc8Q7kNvwHaVKlW&_nc_oc=AdlPbhxQewT_cSiTru31F-5KIjiDsVWMpCZRRI9rD6F5r9thoch559YVoStjbAgUtcg&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-lhr6-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=LXEyVdf4JnNeYoQ52WXzVA&oh=00_AfNKFktSzThG--xszpxiOTO4LXiH0FfuQLjmBatZSq5t_A&oe=68586A4A "Melksham Times Past
A column about days gone by in Melksham by local historian Lisa Ellis
The Independent Chapel and Women’s Rights in the 1840s
A document I recently transcribed lists the baptisms performed at the Independent Chapel. This record is especially helpful in that, along with baptisms, a lot of them include birth dates - one of the ways I discover which day someone was born.
The following is taken from a Wiltshire Times article published on 9th November 1878 which reports a speech given during the 100-year services and to celebrate their renovations (what we now know to be the Rachel Fowler Centre).
One speaker, Rev. T. Mann, minister in Trowbridge, talked about the Chapel’s origins when he related how Rev. Honywill came to Melksham and how he’d gone on to remain as the minister for the Independent Chapel for almost 60 years. [Honywill and his family lived on King Street in what we now call “Legion House”.]
Read more on our website, the link is in our bio.")
