Peter Scott, Life President of the Wooden Spoon Society, which he started with friends in 1983, received an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List for his services to charity.

A wooden spoon presented to a group of English fans following the team’s defeat in Dublin in 1983 prompted a game of golf to compete for it. A Wooden Spoon tie was especially commissioned, depicting the four nations and everyone who bought one became associate members of the society. They raised over £8,500 and bought a minibus for Park School, Aylesbury, a school for disabled children. A really positive impact on lives of disadvantaged children and young people has been provided by the charity over the years The Spoon has additionally donated over £600,000 into the game of rugby since the first wheelchair terrace in 1988. The main thrust of Spoon activity is still, however, to help children and young people. Over 60 projects throughout the UK have received funding. The fight against teenage cancer received support with funding towards two units in Manchester and Birmingham, further support has gone to a cystic fibrosis unit in Liverpool and a family health centre in Lambeth. Projects from toy libraries and media training to sensory rooms and hydrotherapy pools have benefited from Spoon help. Spoon supporters are presently striving to raise funds for the Scottish Centre for Autism. Peter joins all 7,000 members of Spoon in being justifiably proud of all that has been achieved in 19 years.