Whatever the ups and downs on the playing field, Holt Rugby Club can claim to be top of their league in terms of community spirit and support. A key player in that respect is their long-standing Chaplain, Nick Bell.
Nick retired to Sheringham with his wife Hilary after 20 years of service as the Vicar of Luton Parish Church. In his words “a demanding, multi-ethnic city parish with lots of enthusiasm but many challenges”. He was well equipped for such a role having spent his early days as a minister working for the legendary David Sheppard, who became Bishop of Liverpool – and was a former England opening batsman. Nick was always a Rugby enthusiast, participating at school, University and at Theological College. He always played on the wing “out of the way and out of trouble”.
The high point of a modest but always committed playing career was his selection for Saracens schoolboys. The involvement with Saracens runs deep. His daughter Hannah read for a degree at Durham in Sport and the Community and became the Community Manager for the Saracens Club. In Nick’s view it is important to take professional sport out of its narrow confines and make it available to the less privileged in the community. It was through Saracens that Nick met Penny Chapman the former coach of the Holt First XV and she encouraged him to come to the club.
Nick greatly enjoys the inclusivity of Holt and the warmth of the welcome. At Penny’s suggestion, when came to Norfolk, he booked in for a pre-match lunch. The then Holt Chairman, Richard Seaman, met him at the bar, put him on top table, and asked him to say grace. Not long afterwards Nick was invited to become Club Chaplain.
Nick firmly believes that all organisations need a chaplain who is available for everyone of all faiths and none. In his activities he must respect the confidentiality that is integral to the role, but he says that he is often required to minister to people who are encountering difficult situations: “accidents, life changing illnesses and when they have just received bad news; they need people to listen without judging them”. Currently Nick is actively involved in the efforts to make Holt a dementia-friendly club: a formal audit of the signage at the clubhouse has just been completed. Holt RFC Chairman Ben Jones says: “Nick is so much more than a figurehead, he is always willing to volunteer and has become a much valued member of the club”.
Anyone who has stood next to Nick on the touchline will know that he combines a love of the game with this spiritual presence. Recently Holt nominated him to receive hospitality at Twickenham as part of the Mitsubishi Motors Volunteer Recognition Programme. Fittingly he will take as his guest his son Ben who is a Church of England Curate in East London.

This article first appeared, in a slightly different version, in the Holt Chronicle 19 April 2018. Text Martyn Sloman. Picture Roger Percival