Two teams, Fred’s Barbarians and JohnBoii’s Globetrotters, played in the annual Johnny Reynolds Memorial match on Saturday, 31 May.

Fred’s Barbarians was made up of players from Oundle Town Rugby Club, Oundle School and Laxton Junior School, Newcastle friends and Oakham’s own, Fred Reynolds (’19), Ben Lewin (’19), Ben Richardson (’19) and James Fear (’18).

JohnBoii’s Globetrotters was made up of Old Oakhamians, friends from Stamford School, cousins, and some from Oakham School’s very own Sports Department, Andy Rice, Glenn Gelderbloom, and Iain Simpson.  

The day is about raising money for the Johnny Reynolds Foundation, which aims to help and facilitate deserving young children and adults to reach their potential in Sport. While also remembering Johnny Reynolds (’23), who passed away in December 2023. After a ‘friendly’ game of rugby, JohnBoii’s Globetrotters came out on top.

Since the foundation achieved charitable status in October 2024, it has been fundraising, with OOs, friends, and family completing challenges to raise money for this great cause.

Fundraising this year has included:

• 75 friends and family running the Kettering 5K or half marathon in March. Fred ran a sub-30-minute 5k.
• Three runners ran the London marathon
• Johnny’s grandfather's younger cousin hang-glided.
• Three runners ran in the Hackney half marathon
• Two runners ran in the Brighton marathon
• Stamford School friends climbed the 3 Peaks in 24 Hours.
• Will Houston (’22) and Finn Cummins (’22) ran the Edinburgh marathon the week before the rugby match at the end of May

The list goes on with huge generosity from people.

With all of this incredible support, the foundation has been able to make two grants, one to a U16 rugby player from Huntingdon Rugby club who had a spinal stroke and is now in a wheelchair. Tristan has taken up wheelchair rugby and is on a pathway with the 2028 LA Olympics in his sights. A remarkable young man. At this level, the athletes need to have their own bespoke chair for £8000. Everyone at Huntingdon Rugby Club had raised over £7000, and just before Christmas 2024, the Johnny Reynolds Foundation ensured that the target was reached with some room to spare. This is a prime example of how sport always supports those who need it within the sporting community. Very powerful.

The other grant is to a young lady with bone cancer who is an above-the-knee amputee at the age of 13. Before this, she played football in the Peterborough FC Academy as well as showjumping to a very high standard. The Foundation has been able to make a grant towards a sports prosthetic leg.

We have been working with other local organisations, such as the Mintridge Foundation, that support a similar cause. We already have some events planned later this year. We are also working with Oakham School, Oundle School, Stamford School, and Uppingham School to come together as a community to make sport more accessible for all young people. We hope this will spread awareness and lead to individuals applying for grants.

Success for us would be a young child who has participated in a community session to continue their passion and participation in their chosen sport, no matter what; that would be absolute magic. Fred is already doing some coaching with the Colts and Oundle. I know that Johnny would have been equally keen to be involved.

The rugby match at the end of May had some firsts: the first time that Glenn and Jed Gelderbloom (’21) had played together, and the first time many of the victorious First XI from Oakham School that won the 2023 Schools Cup played together since winning at Twickenham.

The next Johnny Reynolds Memorial Rugby Match will be on the 30th May 2026, with many fundraising challenges planned for 2026.

If you would like to get involved or support the Johnny Reynolds Foundation, then please get in touch via hello@johnnyreynoldsfoundation.org