Sports Club Reports up to 2008

click The Sports Club for records of cricket, football, and tennis sections, the Club history and leases

click Sports Club Reports for up to date info.

Hallmark 2008. Report by Geoff Gomme. Some of us former players feared at one time that the club would collapse as the older hard-working members faded away. Now I believe our fears were groundless. There is hope.

First, we have the young and delightful Stephanie Dell as club secretary (Pay me later, Steph) who I'm sure will come up with good ideas for fund-raising, etc. she recently coordinated the 60^th anniversary of the ground hand-over aided by the committee and others.

March 2006 Letter to Lacey Green and Loosey Row Sports Club from Joan West

Copies to All Committee members, Trevor Taylor (auditor) and Robert Dell (treasurer of the Cricket Club).

To all it may Concern

Because I propose to stand down as President at the end of this financial year I am taking this opportunity to enclose a summary of the past procedures in running the club. These can be changed at the AGM provided advance notice is given. This summary is derived from personal knowledge, also the minute books and documents which I currently store. Perhaps these should now have a new home. The Constitution is the governing structure which covers legal aspects of the club and stands over all. I intend to be at the meeting on the 16th and any corrections or questions can be dealt with before giving a copy to the Auditor, who has requested much of this information.

I have been told that the Main Committee should "stand up and be counted".

In response I would stress that two most important members of the committee in my view are the section representatives, who have been noticeable by their absence. Without their input neither the Committee nor the Sections know what the Club is doing nor where it is heading. The Section Reports have even slipped off the agenda. I feel somewhat to blame as when reading through the minutes I failed to notice this and the newer committee members, whose presence is most gratifying, could hardly be expected to.

I have also been told again that the sections do not support each others' functions. This is a 'hardy perennial' and more knowledge of what is going on should help. It has even applied when the Main Committee has an 'All Club' fund raising event, Village Day being an example of a great opportunity lost. Criticism unless constructive will get us nowhere. Co-operation must be the key. This is what I have worked for and at a quick glance seem to have signally failed. However having said that, I do see the Club on a better financial base, despite the debts - so I do feel more optimistic regarding that.

The villages must not lose this wonderful facility. I know it is in good hands and I wish you every success in going from strength to strength.

Yours sincerely Joan West.

2004 Letter to the Editor of Hallmark, from Jane Oakford. click Chris & Jane Oakford for more about Jane

Windmills Under Fives / Sports Club Pavilion Redevelopment

As many of you will already know our Village playgroup, Windmills Under Fives, is based at Hampden at present. The aim has always been to get back into the Village with the obvious location being the Sports Club, as it is right next to the school, near the church and has lots of open space.

The Sports Club needs considerable work doing to it, not only to ensure that it is up to the standards required by OFSTED, but also from a practical point of view: storage for the playschool, hygienic showers for the Sports Club, cost-effective heating etc.

We have managed to raise in the region of £16,000 towards this redevelopment and are very grateful to the Parish Council who are helping with the cost of new heating.

The good news is that work has started with old toilets, showers, walls etc. having been taken out. Most of the work, so far, has been done voluntarily by work parties who started after Christmas and have continued most weekends. My thanks go to Bob, Nigel, Chris, Duncan, Colin, James, Kevin and anyone else who has helped us get off to a great start. The more that we can get done voluntarily, the further we can make our money stretch to ensure that we finish within budget!

On that note fundraising is still on- going with an Indoor Car Boot, the Christmas Quiz at The Black Horse which raised £110 (thanks), and with Village Day just round the corner there will be plenty of Draw tickets to sell!

The move of Windmill Under 5’s to the Sports Club will mean that the Sports Club becomes viable and that the club house will be cared for and used so that its existence is saved. There is also the bonus of our Village regaining an important assePaviliont of its playschool, saving the use of cars every day to take our children to and from Hampden. Anyone who has had any connections with either the Sports Club or Windmills whether it be past, present or future and may feel that they could donate either time or money, it will be gratefully received and help reduce my stress levels!

Hallmark May 1999. report by Joan West (President)

Hot off the press! - news from the Sports Club. We are re-vamping our clubhouse with new toughened glass and a transformation inside. This should all be finished in time for our President’s Day which this year is an extra special day to celebrate 50 years since Lady Bateman leased us the ground.

We are planning a family fun afternoon for all the community - please don’t be like the lady who told me she didn’t play sports. I don’t play sports any more, but I'll do all I can to see we don’t lose this wonderful amenity. Do come and join us on the 13th June. Just consider yourself one of us - see you there!

Oh, by the way, it’s my birthday too, so come and have a piece of cake on me, bought with my first-ever cheque from the Inland Revenue. Goodness knows I’ve spent enough time working out VAT, PAYE and accounts for them, over the years, it’s time they paid me something back. Now doesn’t that idea just grab you? - it does me, and I will be delighted to share it with you.

The tennis Summer season is under way and the cricket also, the football club* has three more matches to play at the time of writing, but we have more players this year so things are looking promising.

* Readers will be disturbed to learn that the Hallmark Asst. Editor has been barred from watching future matches of the “Green Machine” this season; reason being, he arrived at half-time one Sunday morning to find our men leading 4 - 1. By full-time we had lost 6-4, and pausing only long enough to identify an urgent need to sign a taller goalkeeper, it was suggested he should keep clear for the time being at least.

Hallmark August 1998. Report by Joan West – President

The Annual General Meeting of the Sports Club was changed from Autumn to Spring, in the hope that more members would attend. This was to some degree successful, and we now have a broad spectrum of experience and new blood on the committee.

As the showers needed urgent repairs it was proposed to hold four car-boot sales over the summer to raise some extra money for this purpose, but so far two dates have had to be cancelled because of heavy rain. It was showers for the cricketers we needed, not an overdose of rain – must have got the wrong message Over somewhere!

The children from St. John’s school have excelled themselves with their cricket, and we can only hope that they are able to keep it up as they progress on their way.

The tennis section goes from strength to strength, but they have a report of their own to send in, so no more here.

The annual President’s Day was blessed with the lovely summer weather of which one dreams. The President’s cricket team gave the club team a good run for their money but lost in the end, which I suppose is how it should be, or we would want to know why!

Grateful thanks to all those who worked so hard with the food, tombola, book-stall and ferret racing, tennis tournament and cricket match. This is our main fund-raising event of the year, so a well supported day makes all the difference. Thanks to all who came along, and to those who helped.

Hallmark May 1998 Lacey Green and Loosley Row Sports Club Project By Jerome Ronianski

On Friday 17th April volunteers from the Ferret Rescue Centre based at Denham arrived at the Village Hall with 20 of their best runners ready for a night which proved very popular with the punters, and has raised over £500.00 for the new Lacey Green and Loosely Row Sports Club project.

The event, hosted by Lacey Green and Loosely Row Sports and Social Club featured 10 ferret races, each racing four ferrets. The aim of the game was to coax at least one of the animals to the finish line in a reasonable time frame. Punters placed bets on each ferret in the hopes that he or she may finish the race. I think the ex-rescue ferrets enjoyed the experience as much as we all did, and took it all in their stride. The tubing used for the race course proved very fascinating for the ferrets, as it did for the children who attended. As one of the staff from the society explained to me “half the fun of the event is not knowing really how the animals are going or not going to perform.” I have to confess that not one of my ferrets actually finished a race, but I think the atmosphere of the whole night made up for that technicality. The highlight for me was the “50/50 auction” at the final race where punters had the chance to buy their own ferret and if it won, to keep 50% of the winnings, the other 50% going to the funds. On this occasion it was runner number four who excelled in the “Villagers Open Chase”, and a lucky consortium collected respectable winnings.

I have to say that I thought the event was a great success and proved to be educational as well as enjoyable. If you didn’t attend and want to meet the ferrets, there will be a chance to do so when they put in an appearance on 21^st June at the Lacey Green and Loosely Row Sports Club after the cricket match, the event will also feature a Pork Carvery. May I also add that thanks go to my mother, Diana Ronianski who organised the food at the ferret race. I’m sure those who attended will second me on that one. (click Jan & Diana Ronianski for more about Diana.)

Hallmark May 1995. Report by Audrey Goodwin

The football season is now drawing to a close. Soon the goal posts will be stowed away and the cricketers will be out repairing the ravages of the winter on the out-field and the wicket. For sometime spanners have been clinking in the tool shed while the grass-cutting and rolling machines are prepared for the onslaught.

The Sports Club is very much hoping to contribute in a positive way to Village Day this year, especially as our own President's Day will not be taking place. So far the suggestions have included a fun run of about five or six miles, or a crockery smashing stall. The former would be more lucrative of course, if only willing organisers can be recruited. Hopefully, there will be more news of this in the June edition of Hallmark.

Hallmark July 1992. Report by Ron Fisher

It is so heartwarming to see the efforts of the handful of our club members who lovingly manicure the grounds. The cricket pitch and its boundaries are looking splendid in the summer sunshine.

I know that one of the reasons the ground looks so lush is that John West helped take the strain out of fertilising the grass by bringing in the right equipment on the back of a tractor.

What was a ravaged football pitch at the end of last season is now a respectable out-field. And what sets off the whole scene are the newly renovated tennis courts at the Slad Lane end.

Hallmark September 1991. Report by Ron Fisher

Well done Ted – Way off target again!n If you bothered to take a stroll down Main Road towards the Club and actually saw for yourself the transformation into a thriving service to the community that it now is – then perhaps you might have thought twice before penning your editorial comments on Village Day.

We are much more interested in presenting the positive image of a village club that is taking on allcomers in the District, in the healthy pursuit of winning at sport, getting a good name for the Club and therefore the Village as a whole.

Hardly had the stumps been removed before the white line merchants were striding out to mark the football pitch.

.The club also welcomes its Saturday guests, Downley FC, who will be playing their home matches (for a fee) at Lacey Green while their own pitch is returfed ready for next season. They made some very complimentary comments about the quality of our ground, which can only enhance our excellent reputation in the area.

Hallmark 1991. Letter to the Editor of Hallmark. on behalf of the children of Lacey Green School.

Dear Mr Janes,

We are writing to you to pass on our thanks to the Lacey Green Sports Club for letting us use their cricket square for our matches and the nets for practising in. Our school appreciates how much effort is put into the wicket and without which we would have to play all our matches away at other schools.

Eveyone who has visited the club has expressed their pleasure at the facilities that have been available, We hope that the partnership will continue next year.

Yours sincerely,

Paul Tester & Aiden Mantelow, St John's Combined School. Editor's Note : In view of what has gone before, this letter is one of the happiest and most encouraging we have ever recieved

Hallmark Hallmark September 1991. Letter to the Editor from Clive Mason. Chairman Lacey Green and Loodley Row Sports Club

Dear Mr Janes,

On behalf of the Sports Club we are writing to say how disappointed we were to read the editorial in the current edition of Hallmark.

The inference in the article is that the sports club does not wish to be associated with the village and this could not be farther from the truth.

You may not agree with the decision of the Mid Bucks committee not to allow us to postpone our league fixture, indeed we were disappointed. However, if they had sanctioned the request all games to be played that day would have had to be postponed. If every village requested the same the league would be in chaos.

As is hopefully apparent, the members of the club have, over the past couple of years, put in a tremendous amount of effort to give Lacey Green a club to be proud of. At the same time we have done everything in our power to help the Village. The local school uses the nets and the cricket square for their home games. We have offered a piece of land to the village for the purpose of building a play area for the children, that offer having been on the table for the past eighteen months. We have written to everyone in the village making them aware of the facilities offered at the club. The tennis and football sections did contribute on Village Day and the cricket section offered to play a match against our French friends in the morning. The parade also finished at the sports club.

I think you will agree that the above actions do not indicate a couldn't care less attitude but exactly the reverse and we hope that by the next edition of the Hallmark we will be able to report that Lacey Green are League Champions!

Like the village day committee, we survive on voluntary help, don't knock us we really do have the village at heart.

I trust you will include this letter in the next edition and we would love to see more villagers down at the club, we are sure they would benefit from it.

Clive G. Mason (Chairman – Lacey Green & Loosley Row Sports Club) – Pink & Lily.

Hallmark August 1988 report by Barrie Edwards

There does as ever seem to be plenty of activity in the Club this summer; however, most of it seems to come from our retreating to the Pavilion from yet another rainstorm! It would appear that summer only lasts two weeks in any one year and even that doesn't necessarily include a weekend.

We are still improving, as fast as finances allow, the Clubhouse and hope to have completed in the next two to three months a small bar extension (size not time), repairs to the showers etc., and the renewal of tables and seating in the main bar area. It is increasingly difficult in any club to find ‘voluntary' labour but we've been particularly lucky - Nigel and Jackie Kelloway have taken over the running of the bar and Nigel also continues to look after the cricket Square and prepares a good wicket even through this 'monsoon' season. Our thanks to them both.

Hallmark January 1988 report by Barrie Edwards

The major event for the Club at this time of the year is the Race Night of Friday 26th February (7.30 pm for 8) at the Village Hall - £3 will pay for the entrance, a race card and a fish and chip supper. The amount you win (or lose) is up to you. Always a lively evening.

The Xmas Dinner went down very well (!) a super evening enjoyed by all in a warm comfortable clubhouse. It was difficult to get guests to leave.

.Hallmark May 1986. Report by John A. Stevens

The Family Sports Day which is to be held on Sunday July 6th looks like being a much longer event than was first intended. When final planning got underway one idea led to’ another and the following events and attractions are planned:

Various sideshows (Name a Note, Find the Ducks, Cover the Coin)

Tennis events (invitations have been sent to various local organisations)

Junior Tennis Tournament

Penalty Competition

Darts Tournament (to be held in the evening)

Junior Motor Cycles

Bouncy Castle

USAF Police Car

RAF Fire Engine

Trampoline

Ice creams and refreshments will be on sale throughout the afternoon and trophies will be awarded for winners. in the Team event, Junior Tennis Tournament and Darts Competition.

The whole event is being sponsored by the Prudential Insurance Company so all we need is your support on the day. This is a genuine effort to let everyone enjoy a family afternoon within the village so please come along to the Sports Field on Sunday 6th July at 2 pm and help make a success of our village's first Family Sports Day. Don't forget the events are purely for fun so you don't have to be super fit or built like an athlete to enjoy yourself.

A very successful evening was held in the Village Hall on May 16th when the Sports Club Committee ran a 60's Disco. ‘The event was well supported by over 90 members and guests and a thoroughly good time was had by all.

Hallmark April 1985. Report by John A. Stevens

Another Race Night was held on Friday 1st March when 145 people came along to enjoy themselves and support one of the Sports Club's main fund-raising events: A fish and chip supper was served to the "punters" during the evening and the bar did brisk business between races, This popular event raised £375 profit which will’ go towards the running costs of the Sports Club. Thanks must go to all the willing: hands" (especially Barry Edwards) who helped to make the evening run so smoothly.

April 1978. Extensions to the pavilion completed.     

August 1965. A clock was unveiled in the Sports Pavilion in memory of Frank Chilton. Elsie Chilton looks on as Mrs Bateman does the honours. click Frank & Elsie Chilton for more about Frank.

In the photo above the numbers refer to 1 Mrs Bateman, 2 Elsie Chilton, 3 George May, 4 Archie Rixon's mum, 5 Dr Bateman, 6 Tony Adams, 7 Lucy Tilbury (Mick's mum), 8 Valerie Rixon (Stan's daughter), 9 ? , 10 Les Rixon, 11 Charlie Hearn ? , 12 ? , 13 Mick Perrin, 14 Jeanette Perrin (nee Hickman), 15 Anne Kelloway (Ivan & Joan's daughter), 16 Joan Kelloway, 17 ? , 18 Brian Kirby, 19 Mick Tilbury, 20 Doug Cartwright, 21 Arch Rixon, 22 Dennis Bedford, 23 Dennis Claydon, 24 ? , 25 Trevor Stevens, 26 ? 

AGM 1999.  Annual General Meeting...May 1999

Agenda

Members Present

Committee: Steph D, Tom O, Sam O, Chris O, Milly P, David P, Cath S, Brian K, Shaggy, Jonty, Darren M, Mark Eaton

Members Jane Oakford, Sajid Khan, Seferaz Iqbal, Mohammed Sajhir, Norman Rashid

other. lan Leech, Phil Dell, Sam Watson, Tony Freeman, David Sanders

Apologies Josh P, Caleigh P, Tim P, Nicola, Rob

Previous Minutes. Copies available

Matters Arising. Nothing arising.