After the great success of last year's appeal for Great Rollright School, the measurable impact it had and above all the way in which it was appreciated as opposed to the drop in the ocean which raising money for high-cost and professional national charities appears to mark I have decided to this year stay local again.

The proceeds of the 2019 readers' appeal will go towards supporting the various junior teams at my local rugby club in Chipping Norton. We moan that all the children do is to play on their computers and tablets. If I can help to support a club which involves youngsters in getting cold, wet and muddy whilst learning to play a sport I love, why not?

I get up at 5:15 am and write and distribute around 150 columns a year. In exchange I ask for nothing more than a single donation to a charity of my choice. This year Chippy rugby club is my choice.

Thank you