Wolves’ favourites John Richards and Matt Murray gave up their time to support a local charity for which the late Baroness Rachael Heyhoe Flint played a key part in their fundraising.
John, the Club’s goalscoring hero of the 1970s who went on to be Managing Director of the Club in the late 90s, and Matt , former Wolves goalkeeper and now coach and Sky Sports pundit, took to the stage at Molineux in conversation with former Wolves club secretary Richard Skirrow and answer fans’ questions.
The event was put on to raise money for the Birch Thompson Memorial Fund, one of the many charities supported by former Wolves Vice-President, Baroness Heyhoe Flint.
In January, 2017, everyone connected with Wolverhampton and indeed much further afield were shocked by the death of Rachael after a short illness.
Among the many tributes paid far and wide, Wolves decided to honour Rachael by making an annual award that would acknowledge her contribution to the local community through her charitable and outreach activities.
The first recipient was kept a much-guarded secret and, last April, Matt Murray and a camera team arrived at the home of Keith Berry in order to collect information about POWER PLEAS, and the Birch Thompson Memorial Fund.
POWER PLEAS, a Wolverhampton charity that for over 30 years has provided wheelchairs and Trikes to getting on for 200 local disabled youngsters. The Birch Thompson Memorial Fund through its centre Gelliwig in Porthmadog has provided thousands of local youngsters with the opportunity to experience outdoor activities and opportunities that are new to them. Some have seen the sea for the first time or walked on a mountain or visited an ancient castle.
Rachael , through her work at the Wolves and the Lady Taverners had been a supporter of both these charities since the 1980’s.
Rachael was also always a strong supporter of the Wolves’ Former Players’ Association, and, in her memory, the Association made a donation of £500 to the Birch Thompson Memorial Fund, which was presented to Keith on the night.
