Cirencester Rugby Club's recent AGM unanimously voted for the award of life membership to be conferred on current club president, John Lawrence.

Lawrence has been associated with the Whiteway club for many years and has served on the executive committee in nearly every non-playing capacity during that time.

He becomes only the sixth individual to have been awarded the honour since the club's inception in 1949.

The meeting also witnessed the retirement of club secretary Henry Church after five years in the position.

Church, an active member of the 1sts, will continue to serve on the executive as planning and development officer.

The AGM covered a review of the season, the club finances and election of officers.

It had been a difficult time on the senior playing front with only four league victories in Gloucester Premier, but following favourable results in other leagues, the club was due to avoid relegation that has overshadowed the 1st XV since Christmas.

Playing numbers had been relatively steady in the other teams and next season will see the merging of the Veterans side into the 3rds. This team will combine older players with youngsters moving up from the youth section.

The youth section had continued to flourish and remained one of the largest and most successful in the West of England.

They won the county cup at three age-levels and had a playing membership of nearly 300 boys spread across 12 different age-groups.

Most of the executive committee, under chairman Simon Collyer-Bristow, remain in place. Brian Johnson remains as club coach.