Rugby legends lined up for charity’s extra special Christmas Lunch
Wooden Spoon - The children’s charity of rugby
Rugby World Cup winner Neil Back and icon of the sport Dean Richards will be guest speakers at a charity’s extra special Christmas Lunch in Coventry.
The duo will share memorable tales from their glittering careers in the game at Wooden Spoon Warwickshire’s festive get together at Coventry Building Society Arena on Friday, December 5.
The charity, which supports projects that provide for disabled and disadvantaged children across Coventry and Warwickshire, hopes proceeds from the Lunch will take the total raised since its inception in 2006 to more than £500,000.
While the event will triumphantly celebrate the good work the charity does to support those in need, it will also carry a reflective tone following the sad passing earlier this year of former Wooden Spoon Warwickshire Chairman Ian Holroyd.
“There’s no doubt it won’t be the same without him,” charity spokesperson John Collins said. “Ian was a real mainstay and Chairman of the charity for most of its 19 years in existence.
“We have directed funds raised this year to the Ian Holroyd Memorial Library at Evergreen School in Warwick as a lasting legacy of his amazing contribution to the charity.
“Ian was very passionate about supporting good causes locally and a very charismatic person. He had great contacts in the local business community and in the world of sport which helped us to attract some really big stars to our events over the years.”
The maiden appearance of Neil and the return of Dean will enable the charity to continue its tradition of attracting household names in rugby to its Christmas Lunch.
Coventry-born Neil made 66 appearances for England and was a member of the team that famously lifted the World Cup when they beat Australia in their own back yard in 2003. Dean, who was born in Nuneaton, was a decorated No.8 who played 48 games for England.
In addition to their sterling service for England, both Neil and Dean were members of victorious British and Irish Lions tours and won a catalogue of major honours at club level with Leicester Tigers.
“Few people have achieved as much in world rugby as Neil Back and Dean Richards so we’re thrilled to have them speak at this year’s Lunch,” John added.
“I’m sure they will have some amazing memories to share that will excite and enthral our audience.”
The event will once again be compered by Adger Brown and will feature a festive lunch, a Heads & Tails bottle raffle and auction. It raises in the region of £10,000 for good causes and is attended by around 300 people from the business community and local rugby clubs.
Jenni Ford, Marketing and Sales Director at Coventry Building Society Arena, said: “We’re proud to once again be hosting Wooden Spoon Warwickshire’s Christmas Lunch.
“The charity does some incredible work in communities across the county. This year’s Lunch promises to be incredibly poignant following the sad passing of Ian Holroyd. It would be a wonderful tribute to him if the charity could push past the £500,000 total fundraising mark.”
Wooden Spoon Warwickshire raises around £40,000 each year through the Christmas Lunch, an annual golf day and fundraising activities coordinated by its six partner rugby clubs - Nuneaton, Nuneaton Old Edwardians, Old Laurentians, AEI Rugby, Kenilworth and Harbury.
Every single penny raised is spent on projects in Warwickshire and Coventry. Nursery Hill Primary School in Nuneaton and Allesley Hall School in Coventry were both able to install new facilities this year thanks to money raised by the charity, which is part of the Wooden Spoon national charity.
A limited number of Christmas Lunch tickets are still available. For tickets, and further information about the event, visit:
https://woodenspoon.org.uk/events/wooden-spoon-warwickshire-christmas-lunch-2025/
Wooden Spoon - The children’s charity of rugby