Volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes will be honoured at the Eastern Counties Rugby Union annual dinner, where the guest speaker will be former England international Rob Andrew, current director of rugby at the RFU.

Clubs within the Eastern Counties were invited to put forward nominations for EC President’s Awards, with 20 individuals being chosen.

Volunteer of the Year: Dee Besant, Mistley RFC

Exceptional Volunteer: Neil Ireland, Bury St Edmunds; Philip Baddely, Cambridge; John Leming, Woodbridge; John Lingwood, Fakenham; Peter Blinkhorn, Crusaders; Colin Dunbar, Norwich; Adrian Hendrick, Norwich Medics; Marcus Gallagher, Hadleigh; Gerry Ellis, West Norfolk; Andy Thomson, Wymondham; Ed Hegarty, Diss.

Services to Rugby: Charlotte McLaughlin, Shelford; Matt Course, Mistley; Andrew Hook, Stowmarket; Pete Somers, Sudbury; Jim Hayter, Harwich and Dovercourt; Kevin Stannard, Thorpeness; Sally and Richard Owen, Thorpeness.

The dinner will also celebrate the success of a dozen teams in the EC area winning their respective divisions, each being presented with a shield.

London National League 3, Bury St Edmunds; London 1 North, Colchester; London 3NE, Sudbury; Eastern Counties 1, Southwold; EC 2N, Diss 2; EC 2S, Colchester 2; EC 2W, Cantabrigian 2; EC3N, Beccles 2; EC 3S, Colchester 3; EC 3W, Ely; EC 4N, Swaffham; EC 4S, Colchester 4.

The 57th annual meeting and dinner is being held at The Atheneum, Bury St Edmunds on Friday, June 5.