TWO cups have been presented to the North Tawton Rugby Club and Football Club for their "Most Improved Young Players".

The memorial cups celebrate the life of Nick Morgan who left a tangible legacy to the town as a founding member of the North Tawton Community Games and Culture Group, created to celebrate the Jubilee and Olympic Games in 2012 through a week of events in the town.

Nick Morgan excelled at sport, representing Great Britain in the shot putt at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games of 1958.

His love of all sport never wavered, and he worked to improve and create local facilities, setting up one youth club and organising the funding for a new building for another.

As the West Devon Borough Councillor for North Tawton, a position he held until 2015, he helped with the funding and establishment of the new site for the town’s rugby club, moving from The Butts to its current successful riverside location, and worked to improve the flood defence systems in North Tawton.

It was intended that the awards would be made at the end of this 20/21 season but Covid prevented that and so the clubs will be announcing the award winners at the end of next season – which, fittingly, will coincide with both the 2022 Commonwealth Games being held in Birmingham and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Nick Morgan was a big man both in his achievements and in his size. Born prematurely he grew to be 6’ 4” with size 13 feet and hands to match, he joined the RAF - where it is said that there was no uniform big enough and it took time to source one for him!

He moved to Devon in 1973 with his wife Janet and their three daughters Sarah, Samantha, and Amanda, remaining in the area for 40-odd years, before moving with his wife to be closer to one of his daughters.

His sudden death in November 2020 was a shock to his family and friends; North Tawton is grateful for his energy and enthusiasm and hopes his memorial cups will allow his name and example to live on for many more years.