Family and teammates turn out for Oakham’s Martyn
Oakham RFC’s Martyn Stimson completed 40 years with the club when playing an end of season match against St Albans which saw his friends and teammates travel from far and wide to support him as he was on the pitch alongside his three sons, Callum, Lewis and Oliver and two brothers Paul and Adam. That added up to a total Oakham playing service of 130+ years.
Martyn has not only played four decades for Oakham, from age six in 1984 to the present day, but has also coached minis and juniors. A true clubman, he usually plays hooker but is always happy to fill any position on or off the pitch.
The club’s minis and juniors formed a guard of honour as the teams ran out, taking Martyn back to his early days with Oakham, when he was a teammate of Lewis Moody's at the club. He went on to play for Leicestershire at U15,16 and 17 and was also in the Leicester Tigers Academy.
Martyn’s great service was rewarded with a presentation made by the club President, Barbara Crellin, who was delighted to be making an award to her son-in-law.
Barbara herself has taken on many club responsibilities over more than four decades, also serving as Leicestershire RFU President. She also co-founded the Rutland Community First Responders group in alliance with the East Midlands Ambulance Service, putting in around 10,000 hours as a responder, training others how to save lives and fundraising for defibrillators, all of which saw her awarded an MBE.
