NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2025

Welcome to my first Newsletter as the club’s newly appointed Hon Secretary. Thank you to Wendy Bidder for her years of hard work; I hope I can fill those shoes.

With Christmas fast approaching, we hope you are ready for our fun party next Saturday 29th at 12.30 for 1pm. You should all now know what food/drink to bring along with a fun wrapped £2 secret Santa. The dress code is Christmas jumpers - the louder the better! Thank you to Mandy Pavlou, Karen Melhuish and Jenny Lloyd for organising all of this. A great away to kick off the festive season.

We welcomed 3 new committee members at the AGM with Andy Burchett as Green Manager, Robert Manktelow as Vice Captain and Mandy Pavlou on the Social Committee. A big thank you and goodbye to Jenny Lloyd, Jenny Egan and Barbara Scholten for their contributions over many years. There has been a bit of a shuffle of other positions as well as those already mentioned, with Lester Young as Captain and Geoff Wickenden as Competitions Secretary. Wendy Bidder, no longer Hon Secretary, remains on the committee.

The November game at the Royals took place on the 15th with, believe it or not, an improved score losing just 104-46. It was good to see some new members play. Our next match is on Saturday 17th January.

It was decided that our points competition will be changing slightly next season with the unpopular ‘Jack up Last’ being replaced with ‘Roving Jack’ where the jack is rolled up and, as long as it is legally placed, will not be moved or centred, even if it is in the ditch! It is proposed that this competition will run for 4 weeks at the beginning and 4 weeks at the end of the season. The 4th week will be a combination of ‘Turn around Triples’, ‘Yard from the Jack’ and ‘Roving Jack’.

The new building project, giving us separate changing rooms and so larger social and kitchen areas in the clubhouse, is slowly moving forward. It has been confirmed that we do need planning permission, hopefully not taking too long. The wood has already been delivered to ensure a prompt start when it is granted.

A big thank you to our outgoing Green manager, Tony Partridge and his merry band of volunteers for all their sterling work maintaining our green, keeping it one to be proud of.

There has been a suggestion for a Saturday Social Bar from 2-4pm during the closed season so please get your responses back to Tony following his email asap.

We look forward to seeing you all the Christmas party and wish you all a very Happy Christmas.

Sue Jones

Hon Secretary