North Midlands Society Referee Dave Thomas has been recognised for his outstanding contribution to rugby and more than 50 years involvement in refereeing with a VIP trip to Twickenham.
Thomas, better known in rugby circles as DLT, was one of England’s top flight referees in his heyday and also became one of Scotland’s leading officials when work commitments took him north of the border.
He remains an active member of the North Midlands Society of Referees today and he has also given the Society many years of loyal service as an administrator.
His outstanding contribution was recognised by the NMSRFR who nominated DLT under the Mitsubishi Reward the Volunteer Scheme.
The RFU invited DLT to attend the recent England v South Africa Quilter International at Twickenham where he was given a conducted tour of the stadium – which included visiting the changing rooms and the Sky television studio and meeting head groundsman Keith Kent.
DLT then had lunch and had seats in the Royal Box for the match which England won narrowly. At the post-match dinner DLT and three other volunteers were presented with a certificate and a book commemorating 100 years of Twickenham by England head coach Eddie Jones.
“I was introduced by the RFU President as a Welshman but I quickly put him right that I am a Gloucestershire , born and bred and proud of it,” Thomas said.
“A number of people said after that they only knew me as DLT so I took a bit of ‘ribbing’.