Wendy Taylor has been presented with an RFU VIP Award by England star Lewis Moody for her exceptional voluntary contribution to Esher Rugby Club.

Moody presented the award at the club’s 86th annual dinner, where he joined 150 players, sponsors and supporters of the club as a special guest.

The VIP awards were exclusively designed by the RFU to reward volunteers whose efforts go beyond the call of duty and make a special difference to their club.

Wendy has been volunteering at the club for many years in a number of different capacities, as an age group manager for 9 seasons, seeing her age group through from the mini rugby to U16’s this season, fundraising for the youth section on matchdays raising thousands each season, and as a professional providing assistance with clubhouse essentials such as heating and air conditioning.

Last year she was awarded with a club award for Volunteer of the Year, and has since taken on the massive role of membership administration for the entire youth section – responsible for over 500 youth members.

Despite also running her own business, Wendy has taken on coordination of all of the club’s catering including players meals for all seven senior teams and junior teams at every age group, pre-match hospitality for up to 170 guests as well as catering for a large number of club events and private bookings, and has significantly improved the quality of catering across the club.

Perhaps the most valuable contribution that Wendy has made is in engaging the club’s youth playing members into voluntary and paid work throughout the club.

Esher Rugby have been developing a strong core of adult volunteers across the club, and Wendy’s work in bringing in the young club members to work and support ensures that there is now a growing group of motivated young people who play an active and essential role within the club.