Earlier this week the Club received the terrible news that Jill Hynd had died after a long battle against cancer. All our thoughts are with Matthew and their two young boys and the wider families. R.I.P.
The Board continue to meet each Friday via Zoom where the discussions take place around four themes – the house/ground, finance, cricket and any other business e.g. what is the point of Joelinton and does anyone know when Joe the Barbers reopen? (April 12)
The major issue surrounding the House is how we take the Roof refurbishment forward. Negotiations are ongoing and I expect to have further information soon. The monies raised via Crowd Funding (for which we are eternally grateful) have been ring fenced to ensure they are utilised appropriately. The temporary Evans led repairs have stood up reasonably well through the winter but we clearly want to effect proper repairs as soon as possible. Please bear with us – anyone who has dealt with repairs to buildings will know nothing is straightforward.
Arrangements are moving ahead to reopen the Club on April 12 with all the requisite Covid safeguards in place. My thanks to Phil Haves for leading us through this – it will be wonderful to enjoy seeing BHCC in full glory even if it means doing so whilst well wrapped up. Further information on this will also follow in due course.
Finally on the House/Ground front I had a long chat with the ex Chairman Stewart Allen yesterday when he was extremely complementary about how well the field looked. Take a bow Geoff and John Chambers and Ian Munro.
Our finances remain stable largely due to the support from the Government and to the generosity of all our Members who continue to pay their fees even in these difficult times. Currently it is the turn of the cricket playing members to fork out as the season hoves into view. Larry Dawson is now a master of finding his way through the Government websites which is no easy matter. The Club owes Larry a huge debt for his unstinting efforts to steer us financially through the pandemic.
NEPL League Cricket gets underway on April 17 and an interesting season stretches before us. With a fair wind I see no reason why every single one of our teams Senior and Junior should not be serious contenders in all competitions. Availability, effort and luck come into the equation but we have many talented players throughout the Club and a serious leadership team of committed individuals with Kyle Coetzer at the forefront in his role as Director of Cricket. I wish everyone well.
Our AGM takes place via Zoom on April 6th and hopefully we will be soon able to convene as we did in the past. Until that glorious day arises if anyone has anything they wish to raise please contact me 07791-683827 or email me on simon.lunn@live.co.uk
Simon Lunn
BHCC Chairman
