Dinner raises funds for Foundation and club’s benevolent fund
While guests, players and staff had a nostalgic journey back in time at the Sandy Park 20th Anniversary Dinner, money was also raised for two important causes.
More than £16,000 was raised on the night through a live auction, online equivalent and a game of heads & tails. A total of £5,020 was donated to the club’s benevolent fund to assist players in times of need, hardship or personal distress. The remainder of the money raised will go to the Exeter Chiefs Foundation to support the work of good causes in the Exeter area.
Guests also enjoyed a delicious five-course dinner while being entertained with video footage and stories from the past and present with Chris Bentley asking the questions.
The storytelling was split into three chapters with the early years followed by the trophy era, and then onto the present day.
Exeter Rugby Club’s CEO Tony Rowe CBE was joined by the club’s former deputy chief executive Keiron Northcott, and Mark Foster and Tommy Hayes, who were both playing for Chiefs when Sandy Park opened, to talk over the formative years at Sandy Park.
Dean Mumm and Thomas Waldrom were joined by Gabby Cantorna and Patricia Garcia to chat over the trophy winning years when the men won the LV= Cup and the historic double of league and European titles, and the women won back-to-back to Allianz Cups.
Lastly, Paul Brown-Bampoe and Andrea Zambonin discussed the current and future of the club with Emily Robinson and Amy Rule.
Also in the room were Don Armand, Richie Baxter, Dave Ewers, Moray Low, Brett Sturgess, Elvis Taione and Ian Whitten, plus Garnet Mackinder from the women side.
Long-serving current members of staff were also invited to the event to look back at the last two decades on and off the pitch and tribute was paid to Rowe for his unswerving ambition for the club and the business.
Like Chiefs, Sandy Park has also grown to become one of the leading conference and banqueting centres in the region, hosting multi-day events, Christmas parties, exhibitions, large-scale dinners and business meetings.
Chief operations officer Natasha Pavis said: “It was a wonderful evening to celebrate all that Sandy Park has witnessed and become to our city. It was lovely to see so many familiar faces among our guests who have all played their part in supporting this business and our teams.”
Find extra photos here.
