Neil Marston, the Upper Eden chairman, held special celebrations for his recent 60th birthday – and all with a Gallic flavour.
A French Barbarians side visited Cumbria, as part of a regular link up with the Upper Eden club, and a game was staged which benefited two worthy causes – the RFU’s Injured Players Fund and the Great North Air Ambulance – to the tune of around £1,500.
Neil said: “I chose these charities as the air ambulance serves us so well and we have used this service at the club. My nephew Wayne, suffered a catastrophic rugby injury many years ago whilst playing for Kendal.”
As for the French link, he said Upper Eden first met the team from Lyon in 2009 at a Veterans tournament – for over-35s in Saint Savin, Bourgoin.
He said: “The French club is called Les Sans Genie De Lovale and Upper Eden Vets won the tournament and have done so on five further occasions.
“Since that original meeting Upper Eden have toured to Lyon twice and they have been here the same. We have developed a very special bond with the French over the years making friends for life.”
On the day Neil’s XV played against a French Barbarians’ XV made up of players from their link. One of their players Stephane Weller is an ex-French international who played with the likes of Serge Blanco and was marking David Campese on the opposite wing.
Liam Nicholls, RFU club developer, played for the French Barbarians and Neil’s two sons James and Matthew played in the game.
The Kirkby Stephen Silver Band played both national anthems before the game.
Neil added: “In total there were 14 French couples with the majority of the men playing in the game. They arrived in Kirkby Stephen on the Friday and we visited Keswick on the Saturday on a double decker bus taking in a cruise on Derwentwater followed by Traditional English afternoon tea, cricket and a barbecue at Long Acre wedding barn Keld Kings Meaburn.
“The owner of the wedding barn, Johnny Addison took the French guests on a farm walk and truffle hunt with his two pigs. Many of the French ladies have not visited the UK before.
“After the game on the Sunday we held a full court session as this is something the French love. Catering was a hog roast from Fell and Dales and live music from the Seals.”
Neil has also just been appointed chairman of Cumbria County RU.
