Sporting move from Sailing to Rugby

The Royal Southampton Yacht Club is to have a new General Manager and Club Secretary following the move by present General Manager and Secretary, Gary Stocks to take up a new position in rugby football as venue operations manager at Twickenham.
Mr Stocks, centre in our photo, has been at the Club for just over six years and has also been involved with the Rugby Football Union for nearly 24 years. During the London Olympics in 2012 he held the role of event safety officer for the Games' hockey tournament.
His successor at the Royal Southampton is Donna Redford, right of the picture, who joins the Club having held similar positions with the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club at Cowes, and more recently with the RAF Yacht Club at Hamble.
She was formally welcomed and introduced by the Commodore, Brian Hinde, left of the photo,  at the Royal Southampton’s annual general meeting at Ocean Village on Saturday.
He told members that Gary was taking up an exciting opportunity within his favourite sport of rugby.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank Gary for his exceptional contribution and service to the Club during his tenure.”
He has long held a passion for rugby football and has been associated with the Rugby Football Union since 1993.
Gary joined the Royal Southampton in 2010 after a military career over 33 years and had spent much of his time before leaving the army with the rank of Major, concerned with the movement of military equipment by sea, and based at the military port at Marchwood. Earlier in his military career though he was an army chef and held posts in military basis worldwide.
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Donna takes up her appointment on Thursday, November 17 for a short handover period.