England rugby stars to attend 19240 dinner

England and Exeter Chiefs rugby stars Jack Nowell and Henry Slade will be joining the 19240 Somme Centenary Dinner at Sandy Park on 16th April.

Jack, along with his England teammates, recently wore the poppy on their rugby shirts in their victorious Grand Slam 6 Nations match against France to commemorate 100 years since the Battle of the Somme.

The 19240 Shrouds of the Somme project in Exeter will remember the 19,240 Allied servicemen who died on the first day of that battle on 1st July. Exactly 100 years to the minute after the whistle was blown to ‘go over the top’, at 7:30am on July 1st 2016, the gates of Exeter’s

Northernhay Gardens will be opened to reveal 19,240 shrouded figures commemorating all 19,240 allied soldiers who fell on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

April’s Centenary Dinner at Sandy Park will raise money for the charity project. It will include a Beating the Retreat from the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines and a super auction hosted by BBC Flog It’s Paul Martin.

Prizes include Jack’s 6 Nations shirt and a pair of Henry’s boots along with Shrouded Figure number 00001.

The local Woodbury Park Hotel have also recently announced that they will donate an annual membership to their golf club and leisure centre worth five thousand pounds.

All profits from the 19240 Shrouds of the Somme project are being donated to the Exeter Foundation and SSAFA – the Armed Forces charity.

Tables are still available – email enquiries@exeterfoundation.org.uk for details. The website is www.thesomme19240.co.uk

Other auction prizes include: An exclusive Rob Heard Bough House Castle. A sweat and cold survival weekend. A signed and framed Chris Gayle Shirt. Two Chiefs VIP tickets. Jack Nowell signed and framed 6 Nations Shirt. Dick Twinny framed print 'The Boys'. Woodbury Park exclusive membership. Half day Land Rover experience for two people.