Cemex Cement Tanker Driver and Trainer, Darrell Collins, is a regular visitor to local schools around Rugby. Passionate about educating primary school children about road safety, Darrell, along with his truck and a small team, recently visited local St Oswald’s Primary School in Rugby to share his road safety programme.

During the visit the head teacher mentioned that they were looking for funding for a new trim trail for their school playground. Just by chance, around the same time Darrell was asked to take ex-Cemex employee, John Brooks, who is now a Transport Consultant, out in the tanker, to enable John to refresh his knowledge while chatting, Darrell discovered John was a Trustee of the Rugby Group Benevolent fund.

Darrell mentioned the St Oswald’s School trim trail to John and after connecting the two organisations the Benevolent Fund was delighted to support the school with a £10,000 donation towards the new equipment.

Speaking on behalf of the Fund John Brooks said: “You can’t help but be inspired by passionate people with a mission. Darrell is such and so is Head of School, Jayne Geran. I felt that the trustees needed to know about this opportunity and there was not a moment’s hesitation – the grant was approved. I am sure I would be considered too old to have a go on the trim trail, but I look forward to seeing the project when it is complete.”

The Rugby Group Benevolent Fund was originally created to support the welfare of employees, former employees, and their dependants of Rugby Cement. Over the years, it has expanded its mission to include charitable causes in communities around former and existing cement plants and quarries. While supported by Cemex UK, the Fund remains independently managed by a board of trustees made up of former employees.