On a Sunday after some very good rugby the members were standing in the clubhouse having a few drinks, and at the time there was a smell of burning as if someone had a bone fire near by. After some time Simon Shaw went to go home and saw smoke and flames coming from the roof. He returned to the clubhouse to tell everyone to get out and call the fire brigade, but no-one believed him and continued to drink. He then started shouting out, everyone took notice of him and got out.
We were without the club house for 6 months and had to use porta-cabins as a bar and kitchen, set up just inside the gate on Priestfields. The insurance company was very good and within a week the builders were on site starting work. The total cost of repairs was £130,000. That is without Mick Burford's time - he was at the club almost every day during the building works.
Gallery of pictures taken as the roof was being put on