"I don't know how many of you have noticed, but on the pillar towards the back wall there is an honours board which lists the Honorary Life Vice Presidents of the Rugby Club. Life Vice Presidency is the highest honour that the Rugby Club can bestow on a member and as you will see this is done very sparingly, with only 20 people honoured in our 135 year history.

This reflects how high the bar is set. I appreciate that some of the names on there will not mean much to some people but these are the people who have given the club on average 30+ years of outstanding service, who were instrumental in the establishment of the club, the purchase of the ground, the building of the club house, the continuation of the club through 2 World Wars, running up to 6 sides in the days before internet, email, social media, mobile phones, or indeed telephones. Not all were great Rugby players - indeed there are only 4 former 1st XV captains on the list.

However longevity in itself, whilst noteworthy, is not enough to warrant Vice Presidency, it is the impact on the club that marks these people out in terms of their contribution - these can truly be regarded as the giants of the Rugby Club throughout its history, and I am fully aware of what a great honour it was for all of those who received the award. This goes beyond the Clubman of the Year award - it is more akin to the Lifetime Achievement Award, and if you receive it, it also means that you are probably getting old.

There is no quota of Life VPs that has to be maintained, and it is only awarded where the existing Life VPs feel that a contribution should be suitably recognised. Many people offer significant support to the Rugby Club which is fully appreciated, but only a few have such an impact that Life VP is appropriate.

I am delighted to be able to announce that the current Life VPs (Gordon Loffman, Tim Watson, Tony Stafford, Maurice Felton, Gary Street, Alan Haynes, Sam Grundy & Glyn Brazell) some of whom are here today, have decided that a new Life Vice presidency should be awarded.

You will guess very quickly who this is for, but please take time to listen to the reasons, as they are impressive :-

This person has made more appearances for the club than anyone else in our 135 year history - over 1200, with more than 450 of those being 1st XV games (2nd only to Gordon Loffman's ridiculous figure of c650)

He has played in every side from Under 16s to Colts to 6th XV to 1st XV

He has played in every position - from 1 to 15

He earned a 1st XV tie at 18 as a full back, and then converted to the back row where he repeated the feat.

As I said, longevity in itself, whilst praiseworthy is not enough to earn the award of Life VIce Presidency

During every one of those 1200+ games, no matter what position or side, I can guarantee that this player gave exactly the same amount of effort to help the side achieve the best result. Never a glory player, always a team player. If you looked at the team sheet and saw his name on it, you knew you what you were going to get - 100% effort and commitment to the cause. You were always pleased to see this person in your team.

As well as building a strong reputation with team mates, this player was also respected by opposition teams and referees as being a hard but a fair player - something that goes a long way and enhanced the reputation of AOE within the North Midlands.

His contribution to Rugby at large was recognised when he won the National Amateur Player of the year award in 2015.

Off the pitch, he has contributed to both the Association and Rugby Cubs in various committee roles, including his current position of Treasurer across all of the Rugby sections.

However, it is possibly his other contributions which are even more noteworthy and commendable. As well as supporting every initiative, project, social event and tour - he attends virtually every game that Aston play, usually offering his services as touch judge.

For many of the newer players to the club, he will have been one of the very first people to come up and introduce himself, welcome you to the club, ask how you are getting on and have a pint and a chat. He'll also be the one who follows up a week or so later to see that everything is going well.

So for all of these reasons, for the massive contribution he has made to both Aston Old Edwardians and Rugby in general over the last 40 years (and for what else he will no doubt continue to do), we are delighted to announce that Paul Bradley has been awarded Life Vice Presidency of the Rugby Club, and we would like to present him with this plaque to commemorate the occasion"