An England and British Lions rugby legend is set to headline a lunch event celebrating four decades of a charity which funds life-changing projects across the UK for children.
Martin Bayfield will be speaking at the Wooden Spoon Warwickshire Christmas Lunch, which is being held in recognition of 40 years of the Wooden Spoon Charity.
A former England forward, Bayfield won 31 caps for England and won two Five/Six Nations Grand Slams in the 1990s.
Since retiring he has built a career as a renowned broadcaster, featuring in live rugby coverage for ITV and BT Sport.
Bayfield has also been a body and stunt double for Hagrid in the Harry Potter films and is an honorary president of the Wooden Spoon Society.
The celebration event will be held at Coventry Building Society Arena on Friday, December 1 2023 – with Bob ‘The Cat’ Bevan also lined up to speak.
Adger Brown will be the master of ceremonies for the event, which is expecting to attract more than 450 guests and is hoping to raise £10,000 for Wooden Spoon.
The event will feature lunch, a bottle raffle, heads and tails game and a charity auction.
Wooden Spoon is the children’s charity of rugby and provides grants to projects across the UK and Ireland, supporting disadvantaged children and young people.
Wooden Spoon Warwickshire has funded a wide range of projects from sensory rooms to counselling areas to outdoor classrooms
It is the 12th time that the event has been hosted at Coventry Building Society Arena and will be held this year in the Premier Lounge at the venue.
Wooden Spoon Warwickshire has funded a wide range of projects from sensory rooms to counselling areas to outdoor classrooms
Ian Holroyd, Chairman of Wooden Spoon Warwickshire, said: “Last year we had 450 guests and we'd love to see just as many, if not more this year!
“This is one of our major fundraising events of the year and we are excited to be joined by Martin Bayfield, Bob ‘The Cat’ Bevan and Adger Brown for this year’s event.
“It is set to be be a splendid event to start the festive period, and we are all looking forward to hearing from our speakers, and enjoying the entertainment and wonderful food.”
Jenni Ford, Director of Sales and Marketing at Coventry Building Society Arena, said the Arena is proud to support a great cause.
“Wooden Spoon Warwickshire does important work in communities across the county and this great event raises money to support these crucial projects,” Jenni said.
“The charity helps to change children’s lives and we are proud to be hosting this event in December.”
For more information about the Wooden Spoon Warwickshire Christmas Lunch visit buytickets.at/woodenspoonsociety/943049 or email warwickshire@woodenspoon.org.uk