The Hudson-Evans Award

THE HUDSON-EVANS AWARD

On the same night there were presentations to six worthy winners of this award but we have delayed publishing this report out of respect for Sylvia Hudson. Shortly after this evening Sylvia took ill and sadly passed away as you will have seen on this web site.

PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS

D.I.Hudson, P.E.Evans, R.S.Rossin, M.J.Sudbury, J..D.F.Rowlston

The Club would like to thank Sylvia Hudson and Sue Evans for kindly donating this award in memory of both their husbands. The award is meant to celebrate and put on permanent record those people who have given longstanding and significant service to the club.

The criteria for qualification for the award is based on recipients having served in a position of significant office during a period of not less than twenty years at the Club. Although contribution as a player may form part of that involvement, particularly as a Team Official, it is not an Award intended to recognise playing achievements alone. Nor is it to be an annual award but one that will recognise past significant service as and when the criteria have been met.

It is with great pleasure that with today’s unveiling, on such a proud occasion for the Club, we are recognising the efforts of six such Paviors. Issues of space make it very difficult to compact into a few words the influence the six have had on the Club. Whilst they are all different characters, they do share some common traits: the desire to improve and secure the Club’s future, a respect for those who had gone before them and a place in their hearts for Paviors.

There were no better ambassadors of these qualities than Dave and Pete.

Below is a summary of each person’s contribution together with a pen portrait that aims to give more of an insight into the individual.

ROGER MOAKES

Many say that Paviors is the best kept secret in NG5. If that is the case then Roger Moakes is equally elusive at the Club. He lurks around at all hours preferably when no one else is about, marking out pitches, talking to his grass, fighting off badgers, hedgehogs and moles and collecting debris from the pitches. Paviors is one of many loves in his life and he goes back a long way, educated in life and rugby at The High Pavement Grammar School between 1954 – 61. Roger was a fine athlete, rugby and cricket player and he further honed his skills at the then highly prestigious Borough Road College of Physical Education. His career choice was teaching and his unique style, whilst highly valued by pupils and parents, often ruffled the feathers of the establishment. To their cost Roger’s frustration with the system finally led him to resign and he moved into the Outward Bound business. Although he dealt with many a high flyer from industry his commitment to children was always his first and enduring love. Even today he is a Governor at Gilthill Primary School, where the kids love him especially on the outings he encourages and goes on.

Like most of the recipients of this worthy award you would think it hard for them to have other interests given their commitment to Paviors. Yet, like the others, Roger does, none more so than his love of the great outdoors and he spent time in the Lake District training for his new role in the Outward Bound industry. Even today not a week goes by without him walking the hills of the Peak District or the Pembrokeshire coast. His love of running and fell running in particular knew no bounds and he is one of the distinguished few to have completed the infamous ‘Bob Graham Round’ in the Lake District. It covers 74 miles, 42 peaks and he did it inside 24 hours.

Roger’s playing career, which started as a young boy at Paviors, spanned a number of years where he had great success with the Irish Wolfhounds and Nottingham as well as representing Notts/Lincs and Derbys in the County Championship before returning to Paviors. That return heralded the start of some halcyon years at the Club and as a hard tackling elusive centre, not to mention a deadly accurate goal kicker, he had a hand in that success. Then, as always, he was quick to share his knowledge and the youngsters playing around him benefited considerably from his experience. I’m sure, however, those youngsters would be the first to say that it was often easier getting knowledge from Roger than the ball especially when performing his ‘Artful Dodger’ side step!!

Roger’s mission to ever improve the ground goes on relentlessly. Others stand and admire the pitches whilst Roger casts his critical eye. He wants pitches where we can play at least six games each weekend and one mid week. That is the only reward he craves, so let’s hope the playing side can keep up!

LEN GRAHAM

It was by pure chance that Len became involved with Paviors as a result of an ex First XV Captain’s wife going to work as his secretary. Len had recently returned from a lengthy spell working in South Africa in the construction industry. A Nottingham man, son of Tommy Graham who played centre half for Nottingham Forest and won two caps for England in 1931, though himself a talented footballer fortunately for us preferred the oval ball. A product of West Bridgford Grammar School through which he originally played club rugby for West Bridgford, his sporting achievements on the field were equally matched academically. In his career he rose quickly through the ranks of Costains who took him to Africa and he eventually returned to Nottingham, and much to everyone’s surprise soon gave up his position there to start his own building business, a business from which Paviors were to benefit immeasurably in the years to come. As a player Len was very much part of the renaissance of the 80s as a full back, or more usually, centre. During his playing career he also became heavily involved with the development of Paviors off the pitch eventually becoming the third President of the Sports Club. Even before that he was involved in the formative years at Burntstump. His commitment grew and he was eventually responsible for the building and subsequent additions to the current building. This was formally recognised by the Club when the clubhouse was named in his honour. Len’s commitment to life and all he takes on is full and passionate never more so than on the pitch as a player. Much of the facility we enjoy today would not have been possible without that commitment and he carries that on into his post rugby life. After rugby he moved into distance/fell running and cycling where Roger also had a passionate interest. ‘Extreme’ is probably the correct description of what they got up to, neither man doing anything by halves. Len’s wife, Bren, has a huge commitment to animal welfare and they both played no small part in the highly successful development of a dog and cat sanctuary in Ashbourne. Len’s building skills once again to the fore in rebuilding all the animal accommodation to his usual high standards.

Today Bren and Len live in Majorca where he still cycles miles every week over some of the most rugged terrain imaginable; he is still as fit and determined as ever.

The Club are indeed fortunate to have had the benefits of his skills and few, if any, have done more

FRED POSANER

As time moves on, some at the Club will not know that Paviors exists because in 1922 a group of lads from High Pavement Grammar School formed Old Paviors Rugby Football Club. Well, Fred wasn’t around then but he possibly holds the unique distinction of having been taught at the School, teaching at the School, playing for the Old Boys First XV and eventually becoming President of the Sports Club, who own Burntstump. Fred played his rugby in the tight five, latterly on the front row at a time when suffice to say there were a few grey areas that often required the props to resolve themselves. He never took a step backwards, in fact many would say he took too many forward at a time when things were sorted on the pitch and laughed about in the bar afterwards. Such steely characteristics were to stand him in good stead in his work with Paviors and his own career/business paths for Fred combined a successful teaching career as well as healthy business interests in property, to the disadvantage of neither.

As the seventies drew to an end Paviors, whilst improving on the pitch from the benefit of a permanent home at last, were still in an old shed used for changing rooms and clubhouse at the top end of the field. No one really complained, after all it was ‘ours’ but Fred saw the need to move forward. So as President he single handedly set about improving our lot. Of course there had to be others involved and Fred would be the first to acknowledge this, but his determination was key to getting our first ‘proper’ clubhouse at Burntstump and a few years later the changing rooms that we still use. Today we take a lot for granted but back then the achievements of Fred, as with others, took all those steely characteristics he demonstrated on the rugby pitch.

Fred was an original Trustee of the Club underwriting all our developments until only a couple of years ago so his commitment to Paviors has indeed spanned a life- time.

PETER WARD

Pete’s life long love of the game of cricket benefitted both Old Paviors Cricket Club and Old Paviors Sports Club immeasurably. A founder member of the Sports Club at its conception in the earlier 70s his commitment to providing a high quality cricket square at Burntstump knew no bounds. He along with the help of a few others, but mainly driven by him, spent hours preparing the square during which time it went from a track that many regarded as dangerously unpredictable to one upon which batsman and bowler alike heaped praise. Of course as time moves on many newer and younger members of the Club will be unaware of the Cricket Club’s existence but without their collaboration in the early days Burntstump would have never happened.

During this time, as if that wasn’t enough, his enthusiasm for the development of the Sports Club to the mutual benefit of Rugby and Cricket alike was unmatched. He threw himself into the job and took on the responsibility of the bar. Too many today take the lovely bar we now boast for granted but when Pete started it we had nothing more than a few trestle tables in a shed!! Remember we were starting from scratch and had none of the modernity we take for granted today. If Pete had any moans he kept them to himself and set about the task that eventually bore the fruit of an efficient and profitable bar, he always had his eye on the margins. His wife Doreen played a massive role in helping/guiding him as well as doing the cricket teas during the season.

Pete would never entertain the notion that the demise of the Cricket Club began when he justifiably and, due to work commitments, necessarily cut back his involvement but others believe it so. So when the Cricket Club finally disbanded and left Burntstump it was a sad day all round but even more so for Pete.

PHIL MOLYNEUX

Philip Molyneux, known affectionately as Moly since his debut for the Club when still at school, is arguably one of the best and most influential players ever to don the green and red shirt of Paviors. Without doubt he has given more blood and received more stitches for the cause than anyone before and likely in the future. They either don’t make them like him any more, or they are a bit more careful?

An ever present at number 8, many times as Captain, he went on to coach the First XV and the Colts. He represented Paviors in the Notts/Lincs and Derbys team and a picture of him locking horns with Roger Utley adorns his mantelpiece to this day; sadly they lost to Northumberland in the semi final. To this day he has an involvement with the playing side through his son Matt, also known with equal affection as Moly, a talented player and member of our current highly successful Under 18 side. But that’s not all: after years of benefitting referees as a player with the occasional word of advice he now referees regularly and is indeed a players’ ref, with a great empathy for the game that players so enjoy and respect.

So, on the playing side, his past and ongoing contribution has been immense, but Paviors runs in his blood and his commitment to off field roles is equally if not more impressive.

He has been Club Treasurer, Club Chairman, Club President and is currently in his second spell as Treasurer, a role which today encompasses the financial affairs of the Sports Club as well. And if that’s not enough he is always to the fore when help is needed around the place for improvements, fund raising and importantly, words of advice for those around him. In every capacity he has raised the bar, so vital if the Club is to continue to move forward and improve, an outstanding example for those to follow.

The necessary brevity of this snapshot of Phil’s contribution barely does him justice. But if we could see them now, both Dave Hudson, who coached Phil, and Pete Evans, who worked with him as Club Secretary for many years, would have a pleasurable smile on their faces, as Phil is deservedly elevated to the award in their memory.

GRAHAM TURNER

It is safe to say that basketball ,where he represented England, was Graham’s first sporting love, and his involvement with playing rugby came relatively late in his sporting career. He was introduced to Paviors via his friendship with Clive Whitworth and Mel Sudbury and whilst he didn’t play much rugby in those early days, he got involved and has fond memories of helping to paint the clubhouse at Carlton as a 17 year old.

Once his National League basketball days were over and he moved back to Nottingham with his job, he started to play regularly albeit in the lower sides, initially playing on the back row but jumping two in the lineout where his basketball prowess and timing came through. This tactic was revolutionary in its day. The rigours of forward play were not for Graham and eventually he moved to fullback where he played the majority of his rugby and managed to keep his good looks. However, he still combined rugby with basketball, forming the Paviors Basketball club in the late 1970s, which played in the local leagues with a fair amount of success and are still going today.

Graham took up the role of Chairman of Selectors for three seasons once his playing days were over and was joint Chairman with Pete Evans for a season. He then took up the whistle, becoming a member of the NLD Referees Society, a membership he continues to hold to this day, and he can often be seen officiating on a Saturday and Sunday. He is the club’s referee development officer and coordinates the appointment of referees for the lower sides on Saturdays and junior section on a Sunday. He has been instrumental in a number of Paviors becoming referees, by organising the courses and then, more importantly, mentoring the newly qualified referees, a role that he continues to do.

He became President of the Sports Club in 1995 succeeding Len Graham and then Treasurer of the Rugby club in 1999 and combined that role with a second term as President of the Sports Club from 2007. He stood down from these roles in 2010, but in that time he put in place procedures and controls that enable the Club to maximise the benefit it obtains from its income streams. After a year’s sabbatical he decided to return as President of the Sports Club, his third term of office.

Whilst Graham has taken on many formal roles within both the Sports and Rugby Clubs, he has always been involved in the development, building and refurbishment of the infrastructure and facilities that the club has today. He was heavily involved in the refurbishment of the old clubhouse with Lenny Graham back in the 1980s that culminated in the opening of the Graham Lounge. He was the driving force behind the refurbishment of the current clubhouse five years ago, and two years later the improvements to the changing rooms. Last summer he project managed the floodlight installation for the training pitch, lift installation, refurbishment of the gents’ toilets and the balcony. As well as being the driving force behind all these projects he has also acquired all the funding which has always been put to good use.

In the 90 year history of Paviors no other person has done as much to improve the facilities that so many enjoy today, and is fully deserving of this honour.