WORCESTER Warriors have set up a Cecil Duckworth Warriors Memorial Committee to develop plans to commemorate the life of Cecil Duckworth CBE, who passed away last week at the age of 83.

The move comes after a significant push by supporters for there to be a permanent memorial to mark Cecil’s life and immense contribution to the club.

The committee will consist of Owners Jason Whittingham and Colin Goldring, Managing Director Peter Kelly, Director of Rugby Alan Solomons, Forwards Coach Jonathan Thomas, Club Captain Ted Hill, full-back Chris Pennell, Warriors Community Foundation Chief Executive Carol Hart, Warriors Rugby Supporters Club Chairman Bob Low, past players Nick Baxter and Alex Grove and Ian Smith, the Chairman of Bishop Fleming chartered accountants and a close friend of Cecil Duckworth.

Fans have taken to social media to provide their suggestions for how best to honour Duckworth at the stadium, including statues, naming a stand after him and holding annual events in his name.

As owner, Chairman and, more recently, President, Cecil helped to turn Warriors from a small provincial rugby club into one of the top 12 in England rugby and Sixways into one of the best grounds in the Gallagher Premiership.

Warriors have now set up a 12-strong committee to collate, consider and develop those ideas and decide, in conjunction with Beatrice Duckworth and the Duckworth family.

“There are so many ways in which we could celebrate Cecil's life and commitment to the club,” said Warriors Co-Owner Jason Whittingham, who is a member of the Cecil Duckworth Memorial Committee.

“Cecil touched the lives of so many people, not just through Warriors, but through his philanthropic work with other organisations and charities in Worcester and Worcestershire.

“In the past week there have been lots of excellent ideas from supporters about how we might commemorate Cecil. We thought that it was important that we captured them, considered them and discussed them, along with initiatives of our own, before deciding the most appropriate way to recognise Cecil’s massive contribution to Warriors and Sixways Stadium.

“The committee met for the first time on Friday and we will continue to collate ideas and consider our plans which we will share once we have had the opportunity to discuss them with Beatrice.

“There are so many things already in progress and being considered such as stand naming, a permanent marker on the playing kit, an annual Duckworth Day, Statue and even a Duckworth beer.

“If anyone of our supporters or the wider community have ideas that they would like to share and have them considered then please email them to us at media@warriors.co.uk."