Southwark Tigers RFC held a tea party at the House of Lords hosted by our friend and supporter Lord Tim Clement-Jones. The event gave the club a chance to thank our sponsors and our volunteers. We had a large room in the House and access to terrace on the Thames! One of the parents made the Tigers cake – which was enjoyed by adults and children alike.

This was the first afternoon tea taken at the Lords by Southwark Tigers. The purpose of the event was to thank the sponsors and to thank and acknowledge the volunteers– without whom the club cannot run. Southwark Tigers RFC receives all its finding from sponsors. It costs c £20,000 pa to run the club – now a club of over 150 players, with teams at all ages from 6 – 16 years old.

Many thanks go to Trayport who sponsored the event – paying for tea for the 100 guests and who also helped to arrange the party. We were really pleased to have so many of them able to attend,
Elliott Piggott (CEO), Brooke Petersen, Asif Iqbal and Sybille Muller.

Elliott presented the medals to the Tiger volunteers who have contributed so much to the club. The players handed the medals to the volunteers and posed for pictures.

Maggie Hammond, club secretary, made a mercifully short speech before passing the presenting baton to Vernon Neve-Dunn. So many people were honoured but special thanks must go to our sponsors from Taylor Wessing (Clare Ferguson and Sarah Le Cheminant), The Big Yellow (Tom Wilcockson) and sponsors of our energy station (Anne Andlaw and Charles Guest). All the sponsors were given framed photographs of the players signed ‘in grateful thanks for your generous help and support’

The Tigers main award for Long Service went to Anne and Gerry Parry - they have been with the club since it was formed and deserve massive recognition. Her passionate speech showing how much the club means to her and Gerry.

The finale of the party was Michael (Crash) leading the children in the Tigers' Haka. .... okay it needs some work but it was fun!