Saracens Alumni Brunch April 1, 2007

The first Saracens Alumni Brunch was a great success, rekindling many old friendships and raising about $2,000 for the Toronto Saracens Rugby Club. All those in attendance were also asked to help out with Recruitment for the Saracens, with everybody there agreeing to each recruit one new player for the Saracens in 2007.

Many thanks to Geoff Howes and Shannon Smith who ran the event for the Alumni and to Nick Beveridge, who worked with Geoff on the initial concept and planning.

We will be sending out another email announcing the next Alumni event as soon as we figure out when and what it's going to be.
Thanks to everybody for coming.
Cheers,
Brian Smith

In the first photo above, Roger McEwan is describing how much bigger he felt after his hair transplant. Bob Thomas and Wayne Maddever are ignoring Roger. Wayne is probably explaining how he recently broke his right hand after punching a car in anger. Wayne is the same guy who once spent five days in the hospital after blocking a kick with his right eye. Please feel free to add your own comments in the Comments section at the end of this posting.


Kelvin Christie, Keith Hancock and Rod Thorne (nobody messes with....).
You should have seen Kelvin's eyes light up when Geoff Howes asked for MORE noise on the sideline this year.
Keith is Chairman of the Saracens Alumni Committee and has spent countless hours contacting Alumni. Most of our future contact will be via the Alumni blog and emails, rather than phone calls.

Steve Thorndyke, Mel James and Al Graham, all Past-Presidents or Captains of the Saracens.


Gord Ramsey, Mike Carig and Tim Bates, who reminded me that I was a member of the Selection Committee who dropped him on April 27th, 1976 after he had played 119 games as first team prop before I was elected Captain.



Bill Johnson having breakfast with all his friends. Actually this was his fourth trip back to the buffet table and he was, quite frankly, embarrassed.





Mark and Jeff MacDonald, Steve Godwin and Nick Beveridge, who originally came up with the idea of a fund-raising brunch.
We showed a couple of rugby games too, but unfortunately Wales put a beating on England in one of the games, so many of the Englishmen in the crowd were forced to drown their sorrows. It did bring a tear to my eye however, watching Clay Dight sing the Welsh national anthem.

Below are Pat Russell, Steve Townend, Malcolm Parrish and Jimmy "The Kick" Trainor.











The following is a list of all those in attendance at the first Saracens Alumni Brunch. If you were there and I have forgotten to put your name on the list, then you must have forgotten to buy me a beer.
There are two Founding Members on the list, Bob Thomas and Tom O’Connor.

Alex Falconer
Alex Neverman
Allan Graham
Amanda Squire
Barry Watkins
Bill Gragnoli
Bill Johnson
Bill Somerville
Bob Thomas
Brian Smith
Chris Maclean
Chris Rickard
Chris Rideout
Clay Dight
Dave Phillips
Don Winter
Gary Loader
Gary Smith
Geoff Howes
George Hendrie
Gord Morgan
Gord Pett
Gord Ramsey
Jeff Harding
Jeff MacDonald
Jim Trainor
Jose Lebrero
Keith Hancock
Kelvin Christie
Kenny Sutherland
Kevin O'Neill
Malcolm Parish
Mark MacDonald
Mel James
Mike Carrig
Mike Dwhytie
Nick Beveridge
Owen Santilly
Pat Russell
Paul Loader
Rob Brohman
Rod Thorne
Roger McEwan
Sandra Bosich
Sebastion Cabot
Shannon Smith
Steve Godwin
Steve Morgan
Steve Thorndyke
Steve Townend
Tim Bates
Tom O'Connor
Wayne Maddever
Will Goddard