April has turned into a month of real contrasts from snow and flooding to a mini heat wave which has had a dramatic impact on the Club. It was only two weeks ago that the clubhouse was flooded and the cricket field looked like it would never be fit to play cricket on for months.

How amazing it was last night to see the clubhouse’s new layout and design nearly completed and the field ready to stage cricket with the outfield cut and wickets in the process of being prepared. We are at this stage now because of the fantastic efforts of so many people, too numerous to name, who have given so much time to building a new bar area and kitchen, painting the new and existing walls and cleaning, sorting and tidying up the whole ground. Thank you so much for your hard work. In addition plans are in place to improve the cricketing facilities with a net cage to be built so that we can practice on the grass and a new sightscreen at “the factory end”.

The season starts for us tomorrow with a 48 over practice match starting at 1.00pm involving Ben Raven-Hill’s 12 against Richard Wagstaff’s 12. I expect this to be a very competitive game with both 1st and 2nd XI places up for grabs. Everyone involved will bat for 8 overs with a partner and bowlers will have a maximum of 6 overs. Normal rules of cricket will apply however if a batsman is out 5 runs will be taken off his score and his team’s score. My thanks in advance to Rodney Mee and Ken Malcom for umpiring, to Rachel and Andy for organising teas and to Aimee, Harry and Oliver for scoring.

Spectators are most welcome and hopefully the sun will shine and the cricket will be entertaining. Look forward to seeing you there.

Tony Robery