Up, up and away as rugby club hits 75
The skies above a town in Shropshire were filled with 75 red and white balloons as part of celebrations to mark the anniversary of a sports club.
Members of Whitchurch Rugby Club released the helium balloons at its clubhouse in Edgeley Park in the town to mark 75 years of success.
And they used the opportunity to raise funds for club facilities and player development.
It follows a red and white ball earlier this month which attracted more than 350 guests and raised about £2,000.
Mark Dyche, chairman of Whitchurch RFC, said: "It is fantastic to have been able to celebrate the last 75 years of rugby in such style.
"The balloon release and ball has been very well supported by the community and allowed us to raise a huge amount of money that we can invest back into the club to ensure that rugby continues to have a bright future in the town."
The balloons, supplied by John Ward of Sentiments in Whitchurch, were released by the club's mini-section at a training session.
The group of more than 100 youngsters included Brook Hill, a player at the club who suffered a serious head injury when he was in a skiing accident in France earlier this year.
Brook is now back in training at the club after making a marvellous recovery, according to doctors.
The balloons were sold for £10 each and the owner of the balloon that travelled the furthest received £100.
The club was formed in 1936 and until the early 1970s it relied mainly on the facilities at the local grammar school.
However, in 1959 a pre-fabricated club house was opened in the town and then in 1970 a pitch was acquired on Edgeley Park and a new clubhouse and changing rooms built there four years later.
Today the club still fills four full-size pitches to accommodate four senior men's sides, one ladies XV, under 19s, under 17s and a strong mini and junior section.
