CHINNOR RFC Thame would like to thank Amanda Pearce Higgins for the instrumental role she has played during her two years as a Board Member at our Club.

It was announced at our Annual General Meeting earlier this month that she would not be seeking re-election as a Non-Executive Director.

Among many other roles, Amanda has been and remains a member of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and was recently elected to one of their senior committee roles. Understandably, this makes it difficult for her to devote so much of her time to the Club and we wish her all the best in the new role.

Amanda - who was our Board Member with responsibility for Community Engagement, Equality and Diversity - will remain committed to helping us, and we would like to thank her for her hard work and commitment to women’s and girls rugby at the Club as well as the functioning of our Community Department, which is headed up by Matt Goode and powered by Community Group.

Chinnor RFC Thame President, John Ashfield said: “In her time with us she has been instrumental in bringing a more nuanced view of the development of the game and played a key role in the return of women’s rugby at the Club.

“She has also led our Community Department in developing camps and programmes for children and the vulnerable. With Matt Goode and Community Group leading the team, we have developed a department which attracts funding to enable us to work with the community and to support youth development.”

John added: “We now have more than 60 women and girls regularly training and our Kites team will play regular fixtures against other clubs this coming season. We have worked with more than 200 youngsters and provided help and support where it is needed most - Amanda was instrumental in making this happen.

“She has brought a fresh perspective to our Club and led both our inclusivity and diversity programmes. We are pleased to keep her as a friend, but sad to lose her wit and intelligence around our Board table. We will, however, be a better organisation for the time she has spent with us. Thank you, Amanda.”