What is Ide Rugby Club?

Ide Rugby Club is a Barbarians Charity Rugby Club whose aims are to:

• Provide a lasting memorial through the playing of rugby matches, to those rugby playing servicemen and women who were killed in serving their country in particular those from the Ide RFC team 1906/07 team who died in WW1.
• Provide a lasting memorial through the playing of rugby matches, to those rugby playing servicemen and women who were killed in serving their country 1914-1919.
• To raise funds for charities connected to good causes associated with service personnel
• To perpetuate the name of Ide Rugby Football Club

Why Ide Rugby Club?

Ide had a rugby club in 1907/08 whose picture was spotted in the Poachers Inn, it transpires that a number of those boys in the picture were either killed or injured in the First World War. They only lasted two seasons. The picture is below.

We conducted some research and it transpires that a number of the boys in this picture never returned to play.

FRANK GIBBINGS:
He was the son of Jane and the late Gregory Gibbings of Prospect Place. He was born in Peter Tavy in 1881 and worked in Exeter as a clerk as the time of the photo. He died locally in 1947 aged 69. No trace of a relationship between him and the other Gibbings mentioned.

AUGUSTUS SATTERLEY:
Augustus served in the war in India as a Driver in the Royal Field Artillery. He wasn't killed in action but died in the military hospital in Tavistock in 1919, aged 29 as a result of wounds sustained in the field.

PERCY CORNELIUS HARDY:
Percy was born in Ide in 1884 He worked in Devon as a school attendance officer (probably a reserved occupation) He moved away from Ide early in his career and died in Devon in 1972.

FREDERICK BUDD:
Frederick lived in Alphington where his mother (a widow) had a shop. He was born in Exminster in 1891 and worked as a market gardener in Alphington. He joined the Welsh Fusiliers as a Driver (pulling gun carriages by horse) and had Territorial status. He survived and died locally in 1955 aged 64.

FRANK SATTERLEY:
Frank joined up as a Private in the 13th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment but only seems to have served in the UK. He survived the war and you can find him still living in Ide in the 1930 Kelly's Directory and working as a carpenter.

ALFRED JOHN COX:
The photo describes him as A. G. Cox but I think this is a mistake - Alfred John's links with Ide can be clearly traced (he was the son of William Cox and the brother of Arthur) while there is no trace of an Alfred G in the records. Born in 1882, he became a Chief Petty Officer and served on HMS Tornado. He was killed when munitions on board exploded in the North Sea 15 October 1914 aged 33. He is listed with Exeter's casualties because he moved to live in St Thomas when he married his wife Amelia.

JOHN EDWIN VOYSEY:
John died fighting after he joined the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry; He was the son of Edwin and Fanny Voysey and husband of Edith Voysey. He died 21 November 1917 aged 37.

W.RUMBELOW:
Had some problems here as the Rumbelows had two sons with the initial W. However because of their ages I have settled on William, who lived near the church in Alphington and died locally in 1957 aged 69.

W.GREEN
Like the Rumbelows, the Greens had two sons with the initial W. This time I have settled on the younger boy - Wallace Green, who was born 9 July 1893. This date was recorded when the record of his participation in the Munitions Industry was recorded. The family lived near the church in Alphington. Wallace died locally in 1972 aged 79.

CHARLES PULMAN
Born in Exeter in 1877, Charles lived in Cowick Street, right beside the station. He died in 1936 aged 60.

ARTHUR HENRY COX
He was the son of William and Charlotte Cox and brother of Alfred (see above) and his father was Ide's Baker. Arthur was born in Ide in 1890 and became a baker but later moved away from the village.

EDWIN GIBBINGS
Born in Exeter in 1887. He lived in Okehampton Street and worked as a foundry labourer probably at Wippells. Died 1937 in Exeter aged 51.

FRANK NIX (NICKS)
In Devon this name gets spelled both ways. He was born in East Budleigh on a farm in 1884. He worked as a slaughter man for a leading Exeter butcher. He died in Taunton in 1952 aged 63.

WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM
Born in 1888, he lived in Exeter in Clifton Street where his mother had a little grocer's shop. He died in 1939 somewhere in Devon.

So the natural conclusion was that, as these boys loved rugby and some of them died during the way would it not be great if we as Ide recognized their sacrifice in some way. And so the club was formed.

Nigel Gooding, President of Wessex and Ian Rae, Ex Topsham Captain, whilst in the Poachers Inn in Ide discussed and the idea was sown. In June 2014 Ide RFC was reformed under the Devon RFU umbrella as a charity side affiliated to play charity matches.

When and will you play your matches.

The most important thing is that we recognize the 2014-18 anniversary of WW1. We intend to play 2-3 matches a season with the permission of Richard Parr we have permission to play matches at Weir Meadow, Station Road, Ide RX2 9RS.

We would like to play our first match in Oct/Nov 2014 to coincide with the Royal British Legion poppy appeal.

Who will play for you and who will you play.

We would like the team to be made up of invited players from local clubs who understand the nature of barbarians’ nature of the club and support the charity event. The committee will appoint two coaches who have links to local rugby and more importantly Ide.

Local lads from Ide will also be invited to play.

We wish the players to recognize that they are participating in something very unique and a memorial to those men and women who gave their lives. Therefore it will become an honor to play for Ide RFC and players will be given suitable recognition.

Who will you play?

It will be our aim to play sides with military connections or local clubs if we cannot source the military sides due to operational commitments.

What are you colours?

The colours from the picture look like a sky blue and black so the basis of the club colours will form that set of colours.

Where is the clubhouse?

The club will be based out of one of Devon’s finest rugby pub, the Poachers Inn in Ide.

What sponsorship opportunities are available?

With the club being newly formed and having a charitable cause we will rely heavily on local businesses. The first challenge being the purchase of kit and we will be actively seeking sponsors of our first kit.

Who will run the club?

An interim committee has been established with Nigel Gooding acting as president and secretary, Ian Rae as Chair, Tony Stearman.

We will be meeting in August to agree and constitution and forma committee. So interested parties are asked to contact Nigel Gooding, Club Sec nigelgooding@me.com

Our twitter feed is: @iderfc
Facebook is Ide rugby football club
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