Armchair Club attracts rugby legend Bill Beaumont

The 64-year-old Beaumont, who captained England 21 times and won 34 caps for his country, will be the club’s guest of honour at Portland College, Mansfield on Thursday, November 24.

The club, which raises money to help local sportspeople, considers it quite a coup to attract Beaumont, who is one of the leading global figures in rugby. He is chairman of the World Rugby organisation and the Rugby Football Union, and vice-chairman of the International Rugby Board.

As a player, he led England to their first Grand Slam for 33 years in 1980 and landed three county championships for Lancashire before retiring in 1982. He is now boss of his family’s textile business and heavily involved in charity work.

Beaumont will be joined at the Armchair Club dinner by internationally acclaimed comedian Kevin Connelly, who is one of the stars of BBC2’s hit TV show, ‘Dead Ringers’. Tickets are priced £35, with tables of eight, ten and 12 on offer for groups. Log on to the club’s website for full details.

Over the years, the club has given a helping hand to the likes of Rebecca Adlington, Sam and Ollie Hynd, Charlotte Henshaw and Oliver Wilson.