Readers of The Local Answer will have seen the recent story on Nigel Gillingham, who is set to become president of the Rugby Football Union on 1st August 2021.

Gillingham, who lives in Stroud and is a social member at Stroud Rugby Club, is currently the RFU’s junior vice-president and is also a hardworking member of the Gloucestershire RFU.

Russell Hillier knows Gillingham well – it was Hillier who encouraged the one-time Leicester second row to get involved with the Gloucestershire RFU some 10 years ago – and after reading the story in The Local Answer’s December issue he got in touch.

“Nigel Gillingham is a good man and it’s great for Gloucestershire and for Stroud that he is set to become president of the Rugby Football Union,” said Hillier, himself a former Stroud player and the club’s president.

“We’re also very proud because our club has also got the oldest living ex-president of the RFU – JV Smith. He’s 93 now but he’s a life member at the club and still comes down occasionally.”

Smith – his first name is John – played four times on the wing for England in the 1950 Five Nations Championship, scoring tries against Wales, France and Scotland (two).

“He was a very good player,” said Hillier of Smith, who served as RFU president in 1982/83.

Another very good former Stroud player was Peter Woodruff, who sadly died at the beginning of last month at the age of 99.

“He was the oldest surviving England international,” said Hillier.

Like JV Smith he was a wing and like Smith he also played for Stroud.

“He joined us in 1959 from Cheltenham when he moved to Woodchester,” continued Hillier. “His son Peter also played for us.”

Woodruff also played for Harlequins and won four caps for England in the 1951 Five Nations Championship.