Wednesday Apr 24, 2024
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM BST
Wednesday 24th April
8:00 am- 10:00 am
Alexandra Rd,
Penzance
TR18 4LY
Chamber Members - £29 + VAT
Non-members - £44 + VAT
Pirates’ supporters first cast their eye on Bridgend-born Gavin, who is nowadays a joint Head Coach at the Cornish Pirates, in October 2003. It was when a mightily impressive Orrell team won 48-12 at the Mennaye Field. Ross Reynolds was their Coach, Jim McKay his Assistant, with scrum-half Gavin notching one of their seven tries scored in the match.
At the end of the 2003-04 season, following a brief move to Rotherham we were delighted that Gavin joined us, where he enjoyed three successful seasons, The spell culminated in him captaining the team to victory at Twickenham in April 2007, when we be beat Exeter Chiefs 19-16 to lift the EDF Energy National Trophy. At the end of that season he was also, for a second year running, named in the Rugby Times National One Dream XV, having received more votes than any other individual in their respective positions. It was a just reward for an honest and inspirational figure who had a 100% work ethic.
As we all know, Gavin soon departed for Llanelli, where in two years he made 31 appearances for the Scarlets, including featuring in a Heineken Cup win against Stade Francais. His move had been a hard choice for him to make, so news of a welcome return to Cornwall in 2009 was very well received. Once again given the captain’s armband, the Pirates emerged as first ever winners of the British & Irish Cup in 2010, beating Munster 23-14 in the final. Also, under his leadership, the team impressed many by reaching the twin-legged finals of the RFU Championship in both 2011 and 2012.
Honours for Gavin have included being nominated as an Olympic torchbearer in 2012 and skippering the RFU Championship side that played the Maori All Blacks, besides also playing for the Barbarians in a Remembrance Day fixture played against the Combined Services in 2014. Alan Paver played in the same match.
A Player/Coach at the time, by the end of the 2014-15 season Gavin took his final games tally for the Pirates to 211.
Along with Alan, Gavin was appointed a Co-Coach at the Cornish Pirates in 2016. Neither are Cornish however the county has happily adopted them, greatly appreciating their wholehearted commitment.
Lexie Williams, Apprentice Solicitor of Stephen's Scown
Lexie is Stephens Scown’s first ever solicitor apprentice, having joined the firm in December 2019. Lexie is currently due to qualify as a solicitor in 2026. She is also a trustee of the Stephens Scown Employee Ownership Trust.
She was recently named on Cornwall Chamber of Commerce’s 30 Under 30 list 2023, and was named Cornwall Law Society’s Trainee Lawyer of the Year at the 2023 awards.
Lexie has a background in sports coaching, having first started coaching Karate when she was 14. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she started coaching touch rugby and quickly progressed through the ranks.
She was the assistant coach for the England Touch Rugby Women’s Open team from 2020 to 2022, earning a European Gold at the 2022 Euros during her tenure with them. Her appointment as an England Coach marked her as not only the sole female coach but also the youngest coach in the high performance programme.
Lexie began coaching the England Touch Rugby Women’s 27s team in 2022 as their assistant coach. She recently acted as their head coach due to unexpected circumstances in the 2023 European Championships in which the ladies came away with European Gold. She is currently preparing for the Touch Rugby World Cup which is being held in Nottingham in July 2024.
Lexie is as of yet undefeated as an international touch rugby coach.
Away from International honours, Lexie is the regional lead for the South West Saxons and is the head coach for the Saxons Mixed Open touch rugby team.
She is also keenly involved in coaching rugby union and is assistant head coach for the Truro RFC Tigresses and head coach of the Falmouth Ladies First XV.
Her coaching experience saw her named as UK Coaching’s Young Coach of the Year at the prestigious 2022 UK Coaching Awards.
Kellie Williams - Community Development Lead Officer and Captain of Cornwall Womens Cricket Team