Touch Rugby Festival and George Crawford Memorial Match
There will be a Touch Rugby tournament from mid-morning until 2pm followed by a memorial match between a Newark RUFC XV and RAFRU's U23 that will kick off at 4pm. TOUCH TOURNAMENT will be played under England Touch Association rules between teams of six from a squad (maximum of 14) with rolling substitutions. Teams can be single or mixed gender and include children aged 14 years+. They may be any combination of Regulars, Reservists, Veterans and dependents. The event has been authorised by Director of RAF Sport.
MEMORIAL MATCH is played in memory of Corporal George Crawford, RAF Police, who was tragically killed in a coach crash at Langenbruch, Germany on 11 February 1985. Nineteen members of the RAF Germany Band and the driver, Herr Kronke, were also killed when their coach skidded on spilt fuel, crashed and caught fire. A capped RAF player, George was a stalwart of the Newark 1st XV when he was stationed at nearby RAF Newton.
George was an uncompromising tight-head who was capped by the RAF in the Inter-Service game against the Royal Navy at Twickenham on 2 April 1983. The powerful RAF side, that included future England captain John Orwin and a certain Officer Cadet R Underwood, won a tight game by 6pts to 4pts.
At that time George was turning out regularly for the Newark RUFC 1st XV as he was on Instructional Duties at the RAF Police Depot at RAF Newton. He was also a key member of the RAF Police XV who enjoyed several 'interesting' tussles with their RMP counterparts in the Army.
George’s representative career was cut short by a combination of selectorial vagaries and, more significantly, the ultimately fateful posting to Germany and the Langenbruch Crash.
On 11 February 1985 the Band of the Royal Air Force Germany based at Royal Air Force Rheindalen was travelling on a coach to an engagement at the RAF Winter Survival School in Bavaria, when they collided with an aviation tanker on the autobahn about 60kms south of Munich. The coach caught fire and was engulfed by flames almost immediately. Among the 21 people who died was Corporal George Crawford, an RAF Policeman from HQ P&SS (Germany). Because of the growing threat from the PIRA to the RAF in Germany George was accompanying the Band to provide specialist security advice and guidance.
On the 11th of February each year, RAF Music Services hold a ceremony to remember and pay tribute to those who died. To mark the 30th Anniversary, personnel from the Band of the Royal Air Force College constructed a new Memorial close to their band room. Also, a Memorial Window was designed and installed at St Christopher’s Church, RAF Northolt.
Please detail below in the 'Message' box what aspect you would like to attend and whether or not you would like to take part in the touch rugby festival
