Working
first at St. Mary's Paddington and then St. George's Tooting between 2000 and
2005, Tom helped out voluntarily at Saracens in 2002-03, worked part-time at Chelsea
FC in 2003-04, and was then part-time for two years at Harlequins, where he got
to know a certain Chris Cracknell. During this period he also worked with the
Junior British Rowing team. Tom was with the 'Quins' when
they visited Cornwall and beat us 29-8 at Kenwyn in March, 2006, but, in his own
words, he "quite liked the looked of it" - which was a surprise
on a generally wet and miserable spring day, one compounded when the showers never
worked. Hey, perhaps he was swayed by our Colin's (Dumbo's)
inimitably styled ambassadorial welcome, or was it something put in the tea?!
Anyway, in less than three months Tom had joined the Cornish Pirates in a full-time
role, arriving in the county with his wife Ivana and young daughter Ayla to live
firstly at Marazion and then Newlyn. In his first season
with us, Tom worked extremely hard in a conscientious, dedicated and professional
manner, helping players back to fitness and playing a vital role in preparing
our team that performed so well at Twickenham. Tom 'the
cabin boy' is a bright and chirpy character who has already gained considerable
respect for one still so young. His ambition is to get promoted with the Cornish
Pirates into the Premiership, which, as he says, would be "Right on!"
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