Memorial match

Sam Yaxley from the consumer team in data services tragically died from a brain tumour just before Christmas last year.

Sam joined Royal Mail as a graduate and worked in Operations before moving into the data services business and was our redirection product manager for several years. He was only 31 when he died and had just married.

His cricket team, Elvaston Cricket Club, held a match on 8 July in his memory and his friends and colleagues in Royal Mail rallied together to donate a new trophy to the club – The Sam Yaxley Memorial Cup.

Penny Wilbourne, head of consumer business development, said: ‘The Sam Yaxley Memorial Cup will be contested every year on the second Sunday in July between Elvaston CC and Sam’s former school, Loughborough grammar school.  

‘The Elvaston memorial match was a great day and raised more than £1,700 for the Brain Tumour Charity. Sam’s wife Christelle and his sister Ellie also raised a significant amount for the charity with Royal Mail matched funding.

‘Sam was a very strong believer in fair play both at work and in sport and the idea behind the award is definitely something he would have approved of. He was a much admired colleague and friend and is greatly missed.’