The New Beacon Welcomes Former Pupils Back for 125th Anniversary Alumni Celebration

As part of its ongoing 125th Anniversary celebrations, The New Beacon welcomed back former pupils for a special alumni event on Saturday, 7th June.

“Old Beaconians” returned to the school to reconnect with old friends, share stories, and reflect on their time at The New Beacon. Everyone enjoyed browsing through archives of old photographs and memorabilia, offering a glimpse into the school’s long and rich history.

Guests who attended The New Beacon from the 1950’s right up to the 2020’s, were given tours by staff and Year 8 New Beacon boys, exploring the updated facilities — what a change for them to see! This glimpse into The New Beacon’s ongoing evolution highlights how the school continues to inspire today’s pupils.

Head Sarah Brownsdon commented, “This milestone year is about celebrating the spirit of The New Beacon – its heritage, its community and its ongoing commitment to excellence in education. Welcoming back so many Old Beaconians was a true highlight.”

The New Beacon continues to mark its 125th anniversary throughout 2025 with a programme of events and initiatives, honouring the school’s rich history and looking ahead to its future.

🚨 Sevenoaks RFC Academy are Recruiting!🚨

Looking to take your rugby to the next level? Join a club with real pathway success!  

At Sevenoaks RFC, the connection between our academy and senior teams are stronger than ever. Many of our 1XV and 2XV players and coaches are actively involved within the academy, ensuring seamless transitions to National League rugby.  

•  13 out of 20 in our 1XV matchday squad have come through the academy programme on average

•  14 academy debutants in the 1XV level since 21/22

•  3 academy players played senior rugby at 1XV & 2XV level in 24/25

This is your chance to make your mark and join a thriving, supportive rugby community!  

If you are interested in joining the Sevenoaks RFC Academy Programme please contact Mark Reay, our new Head of Academy Boys Rugby, on srfc.academyrugby@gmail.com.

To view the full academy highlight video, please click here: Academy Boys Rugby - Recruitment Season 2025/26 

Sevenoaks RFC Adults Touch Rugby 🏉💪

Join us for some touch rugby in the Otford sunshine this summer at SRFC’s Adult Touch Rugby. All skill levels are welcome.

Exercise - Sunshine - Beers

Where - Otford Recreation Ground
When - Wednesday evenings, 8pm
Who can take part - over 18s only, men and women both welcome
Who to contact - James Mitchell 07973 618407

We look forward to you joining us for a summer of touch rugby!

Please note these adult touch rugby sessions will run alongside the women’s and girls touch rugby sessions on Tuesdays.

SRFC Centenary Golf Day - A Swinging Success! ⛳️🏌️‍♂️

Yesterday, we continued the celebrations for our centenary year in style, with the clubs first ever Golf Day held at Sweetwoods Golf Club.

The event started with players fuelling up on bacon rolls and tea and coffee, before heading out to the fairways to tee off. Everyone played 18 holes and participated in various fun-filled competitions including Nearest to the Pin and Furthest Drive.

Upon collecting in the scorecards to work out the winners, it was discovered that we had a draw! After deliberations with SRFC’s resident golfers, Ben Adams and Simon Tree, we decided the only way to settle who would take home the trophy was a putt off!

After an exhilarating putt off, we were thrilled to announce the winners, following a delicious buffet and a quick game of heads and tails! Please see below for who we crowned champions of the SRFC Centenary Golf Day:

Overall Winning Team of the SRFC Centenary Golf Day 2025: Michael Wooldridge, Roger McKerlie, Trevor Nicholson, Phil Hamilton

Nearest to the Pin Winner 2025: Adam Suttill

Furthest Drive Winner 2025: Josh Baldock

The overall winning team were awarded the Lee Adamson Trophy, which was first introduced at the Oaks Golf Society in 2020 to represent togetherness created through difficult times, the rugby club that brings us together, and most importantly a tribute to Lee Adamson - forever a mighty oak.

Reflecting on the day’s success, Adam Bowman - Director of Rugby, shared the following words:

“We were delighted to welcome so many to our first ever golf day at Sweetwoods Golf Club. It has been a great day and a fantastic way to continue the celebrations for our centenary year. Thank you to everyone who attended, and we can’t wait to hopefully see you all when we do it again next year!”

We look forward to continuing our celebrations for our centenary year at the Centenary Ball, which will be held on Saturday 6th September at The Paddock. Tickets are selling well across all sections of the club, so don’t miss out and book your tickets HERE!

Team Photos:

Update From Sponsors: The New Beacon School

The New Beacon School, are excited to share some details about their upcoming Nursery Stay & Play Open Morning.

When: Saturday 21st June

Time: 09:30-10:30

Book your space: www.newbeacon.org.uk

This is a fantastic opportunity to explore their welcoming and dynamic learning environment and to get a first-hand look at the exceptional early years education they offer.

!! Attention to all The New Beacon School Alumni !!

The New Beacon School is proud to announce a landmark event in its history—an alumni reunion to mark 125 years of education, community and tradition in Sevenoaks.

Taking place on Saturday, 7 June from 10.30am to 12.00pm, the event will bring together former pupils and staff for a morning of celebration, reflection and reconnection. The reunion is a key part of the school’s 125th anniversary year and offers a chance to honour The New Beacon’s enduring legacy while looking ahead to the future.

The gathering will provide alumni with the opportunity to revisit the school, reconnect with old friends, share memories and celebrate the part The New Beacon has played in so many lives over the past 125 years.

All former pupils are warmly invited to attend this special occasion. To confirm attendance, guests are kindly asked to contact The New Beacon School before attending.

The New Beacon looks forward to welcoming its alumni community back to school and to celebrating this important milestone together.

Kent County Annual Awards Dinner 2025🏆

Last night, we had the pleasure of attending the Kent County Annual Awards Dinner. It was great to see teams across the whole county come together to honour the achievements of clubs and players across Kent.

We are especially proud of the achievements of the SRFC Women's 1XV and the SRFC Men's 3XV, who were both recognised and celebrated for their outstanding accomplishments this season.

The Women's 1XV were presented with their award for winning the NC3 South East league and securing promotion into NC2 South East. Equally, our 3XV Senior Men's team were celebrated for their well-earned promotion into Counties 4 Kent. Their hard work, determination, and team spirit have truly paid off and it was fantastic to see their consistent effort recognised in front of the wider rugby community!

A huge thank you to everyone at the Kent County Rugby Football Union for hosting such a wonderful event.

Here's to another year of hard work, dedication, and hopefully even more reasons to celebrate in the upcoming season!

Community Outreach Programme Update: Making a Difference in Local Schools

We are excited to share some fantastic news about the ongoing success of our Community Outreach Programme. In partnership with Spartan Sport Development, we have been able to introduce the sport of rugby to students within our local community, who otherwise would not have had the opportunity to engage in the sport we all know and love. We also support teachers to enable them to deliver rugby sessions through our CPD and training.

Through this programme, we aim to deliver over 200 hours of high-quality coaching to more than 1,000 students in and around Sevenoaks. We are already working with a number of local primary schools, including St Laurence Primary School, Otford Primary School, Crockham Hill Primary School, as well as many others. It has been an incredibly rewarding experience for all involved, and we cannot wait to see even more students benefit from this initiative.

As part of the programme, we offer a range of activities to help give students access to professional rugby coaching:

- After school clubs

- PE lessons

- Rugby themed days (perfect to celebrate the upcoming British and Irish Lions Tour!)

- Healthy living days  

If you are a local school and would like to find out how we can support your students and staff with our outreach programme, please do not hesitate to get in contact. We would love to discuss how we can work together to create more opportunities for young people in our community.

For all enquiries, contact: srfccommunityrugby@googlegroups.com

Become a Sponsor of Sevenoaks Rugby Club Today!

Be Part of Our Team!

Sevenoaks Rugby Club invites you to be a part of our thriving community by becoming a valued Sponsor & Partner for Season 2025/26. Align your brand with the values of the club and take advantage of the opportunities to enhance your brand visibility and connect with passionate members, supporters, and other local businesses.

Our sponsorship packages offer a range of exciting opportunities to showcase your business and engage with over 2000+ members, wider supporters, and local & national businesses!

Sponsorship Packages Include:

• Match Day Advertising: Display your brand to a captive audience during our exciting national league matches.

• Match Day Sponsorships & Lunches: Engage with the community while enjoying a national league game and a delicious 3 course meal.

• Men's & Women's 1XV Match Kit Sponsorship: Display your logo on our Match Day Kit.

• Men's & Women's 1XV Match Highlights Sponsorship: Title rights to our Match Highlight videos which includes your branding across our internal and external channels.

• Mighty Oaks Holiday Camp Sponsorship: Title rights to our hugely successful children's multi sport holiday camps.

• Community Outreach Programme Promotion: Sponsor our outreach programme benefitting the wider Sevenoaks Community through targeted coaching and support to primary and secondary schools.

• Clubhouse Advertising: Feature your brand in our bustling clubhouse, a hub for players, coaches, parents, supporters!

• Newsletter Promotion: Reach our dedicated members with tailored promotions in our weekly newsletters, which achieve a 50% open rate.

• Social Media Promotion: Amplify your reach through our active social media platforms. Over 4500 followers on Instagram!

• Business Breakfasts: Network with local businesses at exclusive events throughout the season.

• Sponsor & Partners dinner: Network and build relationships with all SRFC partners over a delicious 3 course dinner.

• Event Hosting Opportunities: Run your own branded events at our club to engage directly with the SRFC community.

• Clubhouse Hire: Take advantage of our brilliant venue (with parking), catering & bar services, for your own business events - Summer/Xmas parties, Sports Day, Quarterly Business events etc!

Why Partner with Sevenoaks Rugby Club?

• Boost Your Brand Visibility and awareness: Our community of rugby enthusiasts will see your brand regularly.

• Engage with the Community: Show your support for local sports and community initiatives.

• Network with Local Businesses: Build valuable connections with other sponsors, partners, and club members.

• Promote Corporate Social Responsibility: Demonstrate your commitment to supporting community and sports development.

Are you interested?

To discover more about our sponsorship packages and to start your partnership with Sevenoaks Rugby Club, contact us today!

Adam Bowman - Director of Rugby

Contact Us

Email: coachajbowman@gmail.com

Website | Sponsorship Packages: https://sevenoaksrugby.com/sponsors-partners

Soft Play Second Hand Sale

Sadly, we have made the decision to close the soft play at Sevenoaks RFC. We have had the best time over the last 8 years and are so thankful to all who have supported us.

We will be selling off all the equipment and toys in a second hand sale this Thursday 22nd May.

Please do drop by if you may be interested in purchasing any items. We have soft play mats, rugs, toys, highchairs, and lots more.

For any questions or enquiries, please do contact Donna Swallow.

Where: Sevenoaks RFC Clubhouse

When: Thursday 22nd May

Time: 10:00 - 14:00

Annual Sponsors and Partners Dinner

Last Thursday, we had the pleasure of welcoming our valued sponsors and partners to the club for the Annual Sponsors and Partners Dinner. It was a wonderful evening spent in great company, which was dedicated to celebrating and thanking the incredible individuals and organisations who support us throughout the year.

The evening was filled with good food and great conversation. Events like these are a reminder of how fortunate we are to have such dedicated and generous sponsors. Your continued backing plays a crucial role in everything we do, and we cannot thank you enough.

On behalf of the club, thank you once again to all our Sponsors and Partners for your unwavering support. We look forward to many more successful seasons together. Roll on our Centenary season!

Treating Knee Arthritis – Could Arthrosamid® Be Right For You?

Please see below a message from our sponsors and medical partner Sevenoaks Medical Centre, part of KIMS Hospital.

If you would be interested in attending this free event, please do sign up using the link at the bottom of this message.

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Free Event – Treating knee arthritis – could Arthrosamid® be right for you

Say goodbye to chronic knee pain without surgery.

Arthrosamid® is redefining how we treat knee osteoarthritis; with a single, injectable hydrogel proven to deliver long-lasting relief, even 4 years post-treatment.

For the millions affected by OA, this breakthrough offers a real alternative to joint replacement and the cycle of short-term fixes. Trusted by leading clinicians, Arthrosamid® helps restore mobility, reduce pain, and get people moving again; whether on the pitch, court, or just day-to-day life.

Date: Saturday 7th June 2025
Time: 10am – 12pm
Location: Sevenoaks Medical Centre

What you will learn:

• What Arthrosamid® is and how it works

• Who it’s suitable for and how it’s administered

• Surgical alternatives at KIMS Hospital

• Live Q&A with orthopaedic experts

Speakers include:

• Mr. Kasetti Ravikumar – Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

• Jonathan Thompson – Contura Orthopaedics

Benefits:

• Pain relief and improved mobility

• May delay surgery like total knee replacement

• Supports rehab and return to sport

• Already in use in pro sports settings

This is a great chance to learn more about its impact across sport and wider health.

Register your FREE place today by clicking on the link below:
https://kims.org.uk/events/?effe=9185&effe-id=1311872378599

🏆2024/25 End of Season Awards🏆

On Friday, we rounded off a great season with our Annual End of Season Dinner Awards. Thank you to our guest speaker Nick Easter for attending and sharing insights into the game. It was great to reflect upon what a fantastic year it has been for every section of the club.

In their debut competitive season in NC3 South East, Sevenoaks RFC’s Women’s 1XV achieved remarkable success. A highlight of the season was their 9 game winning streak, and of course - their promotion into NC2 South East! The Women’s section of the club continues to grow, and we can’t wait to keep this momentum going into next season.

It was another great season for our Senior Men’s team too which saw our 3XV be promoted to Counties 4 Kent, and our 2XV finish third in their new league, and the 1XV finish in our highest National League position yet!

Our U18 girls won the triple! It was great to see them win the league, the Kent cup, and county 7’s for the third year in a row. The U16 girls were also successful in winning the Kent Plate at the Paddock in March. The boy’s academy played some outstanding rugby. Although there were some struggles with consistency, the boys knocked last season's winner out of the National Cup and finished 3rd in the Kent League.

The mini and youth sections also had another brilliant season. The U14s and U15s both enjoyed cracking Tours to Belgium and France, meeting up themselves at Beernem, and the U12s and U13s enjoyed the fantastic Great Yarmouth festival. Week in, week out, the players have shown up, committed to each other, and have represented this club with pride, grit, and heart. This season wasn’t just about the wins or losses - it was about player and team development. There has been a massive growth, not just in skills and ability, but also in character, teamwork, and resilience. All wrapped up with a lot of fun, on and off the pitch. Well done and congratulations to all players, parents, coaches, support staff and volunteers that have been involved.

Now - time to announce the winners of the 2024/25 senior awards. Congratulations to all involved!

Knole Paddock Tankard (Service to the Club over the past ten years)

John Henley

Knole Paddock Bowl (Service to the Club during the season)

Donna Swallow

Ribblesdale Trophy (Men’s Highest Try Scorer)

Jonny Barber & Scott Sedgwick

Scandling Cup (Women’s Highest Try Scorer)

Maddy Major

Williams/Steven Trophy (Supporter of the Year)

Martin Carmichael

Most Improved Player Award

Kenny Lee & Becca Barone

Players’ Player of the Season

Ethan Jones & Libby Alexander-Sullivan

Guy Churchill Memorial Trophy (Men’s Player of the Season)

Olly Green

Women’s Player of the Season

Fran Geris

Senior Team of the Season

Women’s Team

Honours Ties

Kelly Downey, Jack Rogers, Dom Saunders, Finn Smith, George Strainge

Vice Presidents

Nick Thompson, Justine McDonnell, Harry Holder, Greg Gorrill, Peter Johnson, Charlie Naismith, Charlotte Naismith, Derek Arnold

We would like to say a special thank you to the following:

• Paul Dawson (who steps down from leading the academy for the past 6 years)

• Derek Arnold and team (for setting up the 1XV pitch before the men’s home games)

• The Monday Morning Club (for their commitment to maintaining our clubhouse)

• Dom Saunders (who leaves us this season for a new role at Harrow School)

• Rosie Henley (for running the club shop)

• Every single volunteer that helps this club function. Without you we would not be the amazing club we are.

We would like to wish everyone a restful and relaxing off season and we look forward to doing it all again in September where we kick off our centenary year!

Don’t forget these upcoming dates for your diary:

• Wednesday 4th June 2025 - Centenary Golf Day

• Saturday 6th September 2025 - Centenary Ball

🏉 Join SRFC's Women & Girls Touch Rugby 🏉

Looking for a fun, fast-paced way to get fit and make new friends? Our non-contact Touch Rugby is perfect for all skill levels - no experienced needed!🙌

🗓️When: Tuesday Evenings

⏰Time: 7pm-8pm

📍Where: Otford Recreation Ground

✅No Tackles, just team work

✅All fitness levels welcome

✅Just bring a smile, and maybe some boots!

Come along and have some fun!💛💙

For all enquiries, please contact Emma Bowman on: emmabowman17@gmail.com

Who Should I See? Understanding the Differences Between Chiropractors, Physios, Osteopaths, and More - An Evening Talk at Sevenoaks RFC

Are you confused about who to turn to for that lingering back pain or sports injury? Should you see a chiropractor, a physiotherapist, an osteopath, or someone else entirely? If you've ever found yourself unsure about which type of healthcare professional is best suited to help with your pain or injury, you're not alone! 

We are excited to invite you to a special evening talk, hosted by Chris Chippendale, where we will explore this very topic and provide information to clear up any confusion surrounding which practitioner you should see for different injuries/ pain. Chris regularly works and consults with a wide range of different professionals, so brings unique insights into the unique strengths of each.

Location: Sevenoaks RFC Clubhouse 

Date: Tuesday 20th May 

Time: 18:30 onwards

This talk is free to attend but we kindly ask that you sign up via the Google form below to confirm your attendance. Alternatively, please contact srfc.operations@gmail.com.

Book your space at the talk here: 

https://forms.gle/9vRHLDZxbejsF8n3A

We have lost a mighty oak….

It’s with a heavy heart that we have to announce that Roy Smith, another Mighty Oak, has fallen.

Roy was at the club only last weekend, cheering on the boys against Havant and it’s fitting that we ended the season on a high for him at the very least. He was with not only his son Mark, but was watching his grandson, Finn help bring home the win!

Today we raise a glass to Roy as he joins the rest of our Mighty Oaks as they look out for us all in everything we do!

More details to follow.

AUTUMN INTERNATIONALS 2025 - TICKET BALLOT NOW OPEN!

We are pleased to confirm we have received our full allocation of tickets for this year's Autumn Internationals. The ballot is now open for all members to enter.

Tickets can only be purchased in pairs, and we kindly ask that members apply for just one pair of tickets per game to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity. In the same spirit, if applying for more than one game, please note that if you are successful in the ballot for one match, you will only go into the ballot for other games if those games are undersubscribed.

To avoid being disappointed, please ensure that your ticket applications are completed by Friday 30 May at the latest. 

The ballot will be conducted during June and successful applicants advised as soon as possible afterwards.

Please CLICK HERE to enter the ballot!

Support Our Members!

James Smith to rally from London to Lisbon:

James Smith, U16 girls head coach, is currently on a fundraising rally from London to Lisbon. This a 5 day event which they are completing in a £600 Ford Ka to raise money for Care of Police Survivors (COPS) who support families of Police Officers who have died.

James will be completing the drive with Nick Archer and the pair will be travelling through France, Spain and Portugal before getting a 36-hour ferry back to Portsmouth!

“We are doing this to raise money for COPS the Care of Police Survivors charity who do incredible things for the families of fallen officers. As serving Met Officers of several years each, we both have a list of colleagues and friends we have lost along the way and each and everyone of them will be forefront in our minds when we embark on this trip.” - Nick Archer

They are looking to secure £15,000 in donations to support bereaved families . If you would like to contribute, please visit the link below.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/london2lisbon2025

Abi Leete to run the Edinburgh Half Marathon:

On May 25th, club physio, Abi Leete will be running the Edinburgh Half Marathon in support of Refuge.

Please see below for her story:

“I’m doing this for the two strongest women I know, my mum and Tils, and to prove to myself I am stronger. I can’t wait to take on this challenge for a cause so close to our hearts.

I’m aiming to raise at least £500 for this incredible charity, and any donations or support would mean the world. Thank you!

One in four women will experience domestic abuse at some point in their lifetime and on average one woman is killed every 5 days in England and Wales by a current or former partner.

Refuge is the largest single provider of specialist services to survivors of domestic, sexual and gender-based abuse and runs the freephone, 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline that provides the first step to women escaping abuse. 

By kindly sponsoring me today you are helping to save and change the lives of thousands of women and their children. Thank you”

If you would like to donate to this great cause, please do so using the link below:

Abi Leete is fundraising for Refuge

Emily Jackson House Care Home Residents Visit The Paddock!

On Saturday we welcomed two residents, and their family members, from Emily Jackson House Care Home to The Paddock for our final game of the season against Havant.

The residents that joined us for the game are keen rugby fans, having played the sport in their youth, including one who proudly represented Gloucester at a professional level! The day was made even more memorable as we celebrated one of the resident’s 95th birthday.

It was a fantastic afternoon - made even better by sunny weather, a great win for the Mighty Oaks and plenty of cake to go around!

Sevenoaks player Alex Griffiths pictured with residents of the Emily Jackson House Care Home enjoying a sunny afternoon of rugby and birthday celebrations!

Sevenoaks Rugby Club Hosts Annual Tag Rugby Festival

On Friday 25th April, Sevenoaks Rugby Club proudly hosted the annual Local Primary School Tag Rugby Festival. The event brought together enthusiastic primary school students from across the Sevenoaks area for an afternoon of exciting, friendly and fun rugby matches. 

The festival exhibited excellent sportsmanship, teamwork and respect. Congratulations to all involved. 

Adam Bowman, Director of Rugby, has commented "We were honoured to host the annual Sevenoaks Primary Schools Tag Rugby festival last week. It was great to see so many of the pupils enjoying playing the sport we all love. Thank you to Clare Strange for organising an incredible day and a special mention to the outstanding volunteers, coaches, and teachers, without you it would not have been possible to put on such an incredible event."

Introducing Our New Head of Academy Boys' Rugby and Academy Boys' Head Coach

We are excited to announce Mark Reay as the new Head of Academy Boys’ Rugby and Howard Packman as the new Academy Boys’ Head Coach. Mark and Howard will work together closely to continue driving the success and growth of our academy, both on and off the pitch. We are confident this new partnership will ensure our players are not only given the best possible training and development opportunities but also the support they need to thrive as individuals. 

Mark Reay: Head of Academy Boys’ Rugby

Mark Reay, who steps into the role of Head of Academy Boys’ Rugby, is a long-time member of Sevenoaks RFC and will bring a strong understanding of our club's values and culture. Mark will be responsible for driving and shaping the future direction of the boys' academy section, working closely with Howard to ensure continued success across the U16-U18 age groups.

Howard Packman: Academy Boys’ Head Coach

Howard Packman joins us from Tonbridge Juddians, where he has been playing for the past 3 seasons. Prior to this he has played at Northampton Saints, Bedford Blues and Doncaster Knights. He also has a wealth of coaching experience from Judd School and Queen Mary University. We look forward to Howard utilising the wealth of experience he has gained so far to develop the technical and tactical abilities of our academy players as they progress towards senior rugby.

Thank you to Paul Dawson

Once again, we would like to thank Paul Dawson who has led the Academy Boys’ programme at SRFC for the past six years. Paul's dedication, leadership and hard work have left the academy in a great place for Howard and Mark to build upon. His commitment to the academy will always be appreciated. 

A message from Director of Rugby, Adam Bowman

"We are delighted to welcome Howard and Mark to the Academy Boys’ team at Sevenoaks RFC. Their combined experience, passion, and commitment to developing young players will be invaluable as we look to continue assisting players through to senior rugby. We are excited about the energy and vision they will bring and we are confident that under their leadership the Academy Boys’ will continue to flourish. I would also like to take a moment to express our gratitude to Paul Dawson for his exceptional work over the years. Paul's dedication has been instrumental in shaping the academy into what it is today and we look forward to continue building on this with Howard and Mark"

Further news about the wider Academy Boys’ coaching team will be announced in due course.

Upcoming Academy Boys’ 25/26 Season dates:

• Wednesday 9th July: Season 25/26 Kick Off Meeting (U16s & U18s)

• Wednesday 23rd July: U16 Pre Season 25/26 starts

• Wednesday 30th July: U18 Pre Season 25/26 starts