As Jimmy Jones walked through the door to a recent Vice Presidents lunch at Thurrock Rugby Club, he was asked, “Got your boots Jimmy? They’re short in the fourths.” “They’re in the boot but I’m having lunch first,” was the reply.

Jimmy was being presented with a tankard and card signed by all the Vice Presidents to celebrate his 90th birthday. The card included a photograph of the team in 1946 in which Jimmy had been caught on camera. Jimmy joined the club as a 16 year old in 1928 and has played at all levels. Thanking the Club President, Brian Godden, Jimmy quipped that when he first started playing rugby such things as flash photography, video cameras and fast film were not even thought of. He was, therefore, never caught on film in action as he was always too quick for the cameras. Jimmy still attends most VP’s lunches and home games at the club in Grays, Essex, and definitely brought luck to the side as they won their second home match in a row against Diss from Norfolk.