CAMDEN CRICKET CLUB
Dear Member,
I hope you have wintered well and are looking forward to the season - hopefully we can build on last year’s success.
The first change for the year is that we have moved nets to The Leys: Tuesday evenings for Colts (beginning April 15th) and Thursday evening for adults (beginning 1st May). With such a wet summer last year, we had fairly ordinary turn outs at adult nets, so we hope the change of venue and day might encourage greater use of this facility this year. We would very much appreciate ANY help you could offer on Tuesday nights at Colts’ practice: even if you could commit yourself to one evening in the summer to help out that would be great. You do not need to have any coaching qualifications: the sessions will be run by others, but extra adult pairs of hands are vital!
As a departure, this year we are organising an overseas player as a club, instead of over-relying on the generosity of certain Camden benefactors. His name is John ‘The Dentist’ Maynard, and he is from the Nevis in the Caribbean. His principle role will be to act as a coach, and look to re-infuse the colts with enthusiasm. However, he will also play at weekends so I hope we will all make him welcome. In addition to taking Colts’ nets, he will also be responsible for adult nets on Thursdays, thereby fulfilling Matt Kay’s role from last year. He will manage one of the Colts’ XI, while Alex Mutu will manage the other side.
Apropos John Maynard, we will look to put him in rented in accommodation in Cambridge. If you know of anyone with a room for rent between May and early September, please contact me.
As ever, we are having logistical problems getting the fixture card out, so I have included the first fixtures in this letter. Please let your captain know when you are available: if you contact them first that will cut down on the huge number of phone calls they always have to make at this time of year.
Socially, 2007 was very successful, the highlight being the Family Fun Day where adult playing members and colts enjoyed a great day of 6 a-side (quickly growing to closer to 15 a side!!). This year, the day will be held on Sunday 13th July at Fitzwilliam College Ground on Oxford Road. Any suggestions for formats will be gratefully received!! Before that, our traditional early season curry is on Saturday 26th April at The Gandhi, Regent’s Street at 9.00 p.m. (meeting in the Prince Regent across the road first). Please give Steve Robinson a ring on (07914005099) to confirm if you can come, before the 19th if possible: partners/friends welcome. Finally, following the success of the 125 Dinner in 2006, a lot of people were saying they would like something similar on an annual basis. This would be a great way to end the season, and I shall be proposing to the committee that we bring forward the AGM to coincide with it, as the Dec/Jan timing of the AGM seems to discourage people from attending. ‘Going to press’, Steve Robinson is searching for places either on Saturday 6th or Saturday 19th September: so keep these dates free for an end-of-season black tie special.
On a sadder note, ex-President John Cook passed away recently, aged 91. John was a very successful President of the Club in the 1970s and a great club man. He was a remarkable man: not only did he serve our club with great energy, he served with The Cambridgeshire Regiment in the Second World War and spent a number of years as a Japanese prisoner of war following the capture of Singapore. His son Oliver, another Camden man, played with distinction for a number of years. Following a private family funeral, there will be a memorial service in a few weeks’ time – details will appear on the website if you would like to attend. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family at this time.
Finally, we realise that our records need updating and that too many members don’t receive letters and/or invitations. To rectify this, I would like to ask you to complete the attached Self Declaration Form: the disclaimers are simply ECB procedure and every member of every club should complete one. It also has the benefit of allowing us to audit all of our current contacts. As the form states, you can return it to Margaret Batley, to me or to your Captain who will pass it on to me or Margaret.
I hope you have a great season and look forward to seeing you.
Kevin O’Grady
(President)
Contacts
Website: www.camdencc.com
Kevin O’Grady, President (tel. 01223 414072 or 07944976213) kogpog@tiscali.co.uk
Richard Hadley, Treasurer (07775906451)
78 Norwich Street
Cambridge CB2 1NE.
Richard.hadley@analysys.com
Everyone did very well in getting their subs in last year, despite all of my moaning! Please send your subs to Richard, with any cheques made payable to Camden Cricket Club. Or, if you prefer, if you contact him, he can tell you how to pay online.
Margaret Batley, Welfare Officer (tel. 01223 529665 or 07990 507707) margaret.batley@ntlworld.com
Nigel Gadsby, 1st XI Captain (07970182529)
Nigel Dixon 2nd XI Captain (TEL 07802466736)
John Sutton 3rd XO Captain & Casuals co-ordinator (01223
Dr D.J. Owen [djo30@cam.ac.uk] Thursday Captain
Ian Hague (07834050172) Secretary