The following is the speech that Adam gave at Mr Horrobin's memorial day at Chis & Sid on 28th March 2007. Mr H had sadly passed away a few months earlier, in November 2006. All of us in the audience that day were very moved by Adam's presentation, given with great dignity and respect for his rugby master: Adam’s Speech for Noel Horrobin’s Memorial Day – 28th March 2007 Firstly, I would like to say what a privilege it is to be asked to make this speech on behalf of my 1st XV of last season. Although we didn’t know it at the time, very sadly it would be Mr Horrobin’s last full season. I’m sure every Chis & Sid 1st XV captain from the last 30 years would feel equally honoured to be standing up here on this special and historic day. I would like to take a little time to share a few moments about the big man and myself: Like the majority of my 1st XV last year, I had never played rugby before I arrived at Chis & Sid in Year 7. I had barely watched a match, coming from a footballing junior school, and knew virtually nothing about the game. Our year 7 rugby coach was a certain Mr Horrobin, of whom scary rumours flew around amongst the new intake of him being an absolute giant. But for some reason he never did come across that way to me, he was more the BFG. Mr Horrobin taught us absolutely everything about the sport from Day 1, literally from the most basic rules of how to catch the ball, to technique, training, ethics, sportsmanship, respect for the opposition and the referee, commitment, loyalty and - most of all - love and passion for the game. It was in Year 10 that I first remember being appointed captain. However it tended to be on a match on /match off basis, due to me being sent out of his Monday morning PE lessons for lets call it unsuitable behaviour. In Year 11 I was lucky enough to make Kent and South East England at U16 level. Without his support and encouragement I would not have had the opportunity or the confidence to get to this level of play and I am forever grateful for everything he did to help me. Wherever and whenever the trials were held, there was Mr Horrobin. It didn’t occur to me at the time, but thinking back now, he could hardly have had any free time for himself or his family, if at all. Another thing I remember is the first time he called me “Adam” instead of my surname “Hunt”. To be called by your first name by Mr H is a huge accolade at Chis n Sid!And it is a memory that will always stick! Onto the tours: Our tours to Bideford and Limerick in 2004 & 2005 were some of the best times of our lives, they were truly team bonding and we all have so many cherished memories! Mr Horrobin was a lover of the wally system whereby he chose who his runabout for the day was. I was wallied on many occasions, and did nearly manage wally of the week in Bideford! During the Bideford Tour, probably the proudest moment of my school years was being called in by Mr Horrobin and Mr Ubee to accept the captaincy of the 1st XV for the 2005 – 2006 season. I was hugely honoured to accept, but also hugely worried about the responsibility. The 1st XV of the previous season under Captain Matt Walters had been the most successful Chis & Sid 1st XV for 16 years, and were a very hard act to follow. However we rose to the challenge and had an exceptional season, winning 19 out of 20 matches played. As a team we were so closely bonded, so fit and so well practised. I know that the success we had achieved by the end of that last season made Mr Horrobin very proud, not only of the rugby we had played but the way we had developed, from those frightened little first years to the young men we had now become. Like my team, I feel immense pride that the time and effort he put into us over those seven years reaped the results that he and all the coaching staff so richly deserved in terms of achievement for Chis & Sid . His legacy to us is to continue the passion and pride that is rugby at the school. So on behalf of my team, I would just like to say “Thank you, Sir. You were an inspirational teacher and a great man, and we all miss you very much.” Thank you. Adam Hunt 28 March 2007