Saturday 18th May 2019 will be a red letter day in the history of the North Gloucestershire Combination.

That’s because on that day a granite stone will be unveiled on the Memorial Ground in Tuffley Avenue – the home of Old Cryptians and Widden Old Boys – where it will be dedicated to the memory of all the local rugby players who left their families and clubs to serve their country in the two world wars and gave their lives in doing so.

The ceremony of dedication and blessing will be carried out by The Bishop of Tewkesbury, the Rt Revd Robert Springett.

It will take place at noon and on what will clearly be a very special day, it will be followed by two games of rugby.

The first will be between The Cherrypickers and a Combination side which will start at 1pm and that will be followed by a game between Widden Old Boys and Old Cryptians which will kick off at 3pm.

The story of the Memorial Ground and the North Gloucestershire Combination is a remarkable one and is told here by Martin Slatter, who has done so much for club rugby in Gloucester over so many years.

“The junior rugby clubs of the Gloucester area first began to talk to each other on an informal basis during the 1890s,” Slatter wrote.

“Fixtures were arranged and day-to-day business carried out. It soon became apparent, however, that a more formal arrangement was needed so In 1912 the North Gloucestershire Combination was born and it still thrives 107 years later, despite many ups and downs.

“From day one, it was the ambition of the Combination to have a ground of its own in order that local clubs would always have somewhere to play.

“Sadly, the idea remained just that for many years. The clubs were understandably poor as individuals, and any money raised was welcomed for running expenses and kit.

“But the common aim of having a ground of their own stayed with them as the years went by – something that always united local clubs.

“And it took someone with a love of Gloucester RFC and an undeniable sense of duty to them and to junior rugby clubs to get things kick-started.

“Arthur Hudson was not just a rugby man. He sponsored and enjoyed different sports in different ways. He played cricket and was secretary for Gloucester Athletic Club. He took a keen interest in tennis, running 20 courts on land in Estcourt Road. His first love had been football and he played for Gloucester Albion on what is now the car park at Kingsholm.

“Arthur’s debut for Gloucester as a rugby player was in 1902 and he went on to play until 1920, captaining the club five times. During that time he was awarded eight full England caps.

“Following his retirement from playing he took the club secretary’s job and held it for many years. At the onset of the Second World War Arthur saw it as his duty to look after the club in whatever way was needed.

“And so successful was he that during the first meeting of Gloucester RFC after the war, the committee awarded him an honorarium of £150.

“Arthur refused the offer but suggested that the money be used to start a memorial fund to buy a ground that local clubs could use. The club took up the offer and a fund was duly started.

“In 1952, seven acres of land were purchased in Tuffley Avenue which have for many years been home to Widden Old Boys and Old Cryptians.”

And the two clubs are still playing there, side by side, very successfully today.

But Slatter felt more needed to be done.

“Newcomers to the game are often puzzled by the title ‘memorial ground’, but many do not ask what the memorial actually stands for,” he continued.

“It had always been an ambition of mine to right that wrong and put a standing stone monument on the ground that could tell in words how the memorial ground had come into being.

“Using some money earned from the sales of my book on the history of the Combination, some sponsorship from Coors brewers and some money from the Combination itself, it was decided to go ahead with the memorial stone project.

“The news came as a wonderful surprise to me as I was on holiday when the matter was decided. Since then, with the help of many people, I have tried to move the matter forward.

“At this point I must mention two people without whom this monument would never have been built. Andy Payne is the current treasurer of the Gloucester Combination and Dave Booth is a former chairman and they have worked tirelessly and continue to do so in order to make this great day happen.”

Anyone is welcome to attend all or any part of the proceedings on 18th May.