Page 139 - RAPTC Mind, Body & Spirit

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Having been a member of the Apostles for a number of seasons now both as a player and more recently in the ERI/Pitch side role, I feel it is one of the most rewarding clubs in the RAPTC to be part of. It is well documented that being part of a team is the biggest attribute in forces life and is something that people miss most on leaving the service. I can state from experience, in my opinion there is no greater team to be part of than the RAPTC RFC; we call ourselves the Apostles and think of our collective group as less of a club and more a brotherhood. For proof of this you only have to attend any of our team socials or training sessions, but further than this the Apostles stretch well beyond the rugby pitch and certainly through my own injury experiences I could never have asked for more from my brothers, from the chairman to the new guys, everyone is in it for each other, for the team, for the bond!
The 2017/18 Season has been one of adjustment both on and off the pitch, by taking on a more prominent role on pitch side and stepping up so the delightful SSgt (SSI) Saskia Fisher can concentrate on more important tasks. There has been a lot of upheaval in the team which has seen some huge characters move on to pastures new, thankfully new blood is coming through and this has been the bulk of our work on pitch side while they learn the game; the clashes of heads and twisting of joints due to poor positioning has tested the old ERI brain on a number of occasions; thankfully no injuries were too serious and all were dusted off and chalked up to experience bar Sgt (SI) Chris Mayhew who cried about his ankle for well over 3 months; even now over a pint it still rears its ugly head in conversation.
The Slade-Jones (of which there are many) sum up our brotherhood exceptionally well especially in playing terms, we are the biggest team of misfits that has ever existed, but we have the biggest hearts, the highest work rate and most of all we never give up, nothing is left on the park! That is what it is to be an Apostle!
Notable Representation
Army Masters
Maj (MAA) D Boocock
WO2 (QMSI) G Slade – Jones WO2 (QMSI) R McKenzie SSgt (SSI) R Slade-Jones SSgt (SSI) D Bradley
Army Rugby League
SSgt (SSI) J Kerman
Awards
Players Player – Sgt (SI) D Best Most Improved – Sgt (SI) C Mayhew
Key Farewells
SSgt (SSI) R Slade-Jones – Head Coach / Player Capt (MAA) C Oakes – Gold Cap, Lifetime
WO2 (QMSI) S Burrell
Apostle Numbers
Since the Infamous Canada Tour of 2016, every apostle has been assigned a number. This number belongs to the individual. No one else will ever be that number, it is yours for life. Once you have earned your Apostle number, you are issued with a business card and pin badge to be worn on the dashing Apostle blazer, reinforcing that brother hood, family and team mentality which the club is built upon. Apostles wear this number with pride.
1 Lt Col (MAA) Appleby, Shef
Apostle
Rank
Name
Apostle Rank Name
26 SSgt (SSI) Smith, Samuel
27 Sgt (SI) Doe, Lawrence
28 Sgt (SI) Gray, Jonathon
29 Sgt (SI) Mayhew, Christopher
30 Sgt (SI) Hanson, Matt
31 Sgt (SI) Chennell, Tom
32 Sgt (SI) Blake, Rhys
33 Sgt (SI) Boyd, Kieron
34 Sgt (SI) Brand, Chris
35 SSgt (SSI) Fisher, Saskia
36 Sgt (SI) Jim, Atherton
37 Sgt (SI) Mike, Qasim
38 Sgt (SI) David Best
39 Sgt (SI) Grenier, Daniel
XII WO1(SMI) Halliwell, Gary
XII WO2(QMSI) Carl, Amery
XII SSgt (SSI) Freeman, Mark
XII SSgt (SSI) Hughes, Seiriol
XII Sgt (SI) Clarkson, Darren
XII Sgt (SI) Davies, Robert
XII Sgt (SI) Coatzer, Adrian
XII SSgt (SSI) Perkins, Ross
XII Sgt (SI) Mark, Rogers
XII Sgt (SI) Ben Gilmore
XII Sgt (SI) Scaife, Mark
XII SSgt (SSI) Mclellan, Jamie
2
Capt (MAA)
Boocock, Dave
3
Maj (MAA)
Deed, Chris
4
Capt (MAA)
Oakes, Chris
5
Capt (MAA)
Williams, David
6
WO2(QMSI)
Bell, Rod
7
WO2(QMSI)
Paul, Newton
8
WO2(QMSI)
Osborne, Gareth
9
WO2(QMSI)
Slade-Jones, Gareth
10
WO2 (QMSI)
Slade-Jones, Daryl
11
WO2(QMSI)
Burrell, Scott
12
XII – Awarded to all past players Jul 16 (Canada Tour)
13
WO2(QMSI)
Mugglestone, Ian
14
SSgt (SSI)
Stephenson, Andy
15
SSgt (SSI)
Slade-Jones, Rhydian
16
SSgt (SSI)
Bradley, Dean
17
SSgt (SSI)
Brightey, Martin
18
SSgt (SSI)
Brimble, Luke
19
SSgt (SSI)
Walsh, Chris
20
SSgt (SSI)
Bambury, James
21
Sgt (SI)
Cilliers, Emile
22
SSgt (SSI)
Miller, James
23
SSgt (SSI)
Kerman, Jordan
24
Sgt (SI)
Hailwood, Richard
25
SSgt (SSI)
Stevenson, Ricky