A former rugby-playing Suffolk minister has been honoured for serving his church community for more than three decades. The Rev Mike Vipond, deacon for the parish of Framlingham, spent nine seasons at Saracens Rugby Club in the 1960s, when he played as a number eight or second row, before an injury forced him to stop. After initially moving into teaching, he has since clocked up more than 33 years service in the church – an achievement that has earned him the rare honour of being awarded the East Anglia Diocesan Medal. The father-of-two, who was presented with the accolade by Peter Collins, th…