Blewbury licensed to thrill
Members should be able to toast their wins — or drown their sorrows — with strong drink from next season now that the committee has proposed we should apply for a licence to sell alcohol.
A vote will be taken on the move at the annual general meeting on November 25th.
The plan to sell alcohol from the clubhouse to members and their guests is purely and simply seen as a much-needed extra revenue stream.
If the move is given the go-ahead by the membership then an application for the licence will be formally submitted to the Vale of White Horse District Council. But first the AGM must agree to a number of minor amendments to the club constitution.
Our application to the local authority is being handled by webmaster Steve Fisher, who has taken on a huge volume of admin to make sure we comply with the Licensing Act 2003.
Some of the red tape Steve has had to plough through is quite laughable. For example, what activities do we plan on the premises… plays, films, boxing or wrestling, live music, dance…?
Fortunately if we do want to stage any Greco-Roman wrestling in the clubhouse we wouldn’t need a special licence so long as there are fewer than 1000 people in attendance.
Oh, and are all our committee members at least 18 years of age? I’m not making it up; there’s 23 pages of this stuff!
Steve has now battled through all of it, so hopefully we will be able to raise a glass to him.
Get well soon, everybody!
I’m sure all members will join me in sending the very best wishes for a speedy recovery to our colleague Simon Bryant as well as others who have recently been absent for health and fitness reasons.
Simon, the club GC champion from last season, picked up a couple of nasty knee injuries while on holiday in China and is unlikely to play again this season.
He said: “Basically my left knee is ****ed. These injuries require 4-6 months rest with minimal weight bearing.”
On a happier note, this week saw the return to our sport — for the first time this year — of Maggie Freund.
Maggie (pictured right) is still far from being in the rudest of rude health but it was great to see her back on our courts.
At the same GC roll-up there was also a return to the courts after two months out for my wife, Jill, albeit still wearing a protective boot following her ankle op.
On the subject of injuries, apologies are due from yours truly for the absence of a June newsletter. In my defence I would say that it wasn’t easy to write from the operating theatre at the John Radcliffe.
Money’s too tight to mention
Some members may have misinterpreted the most recent committee minutes as a gloom-and-doom scenario.
Admittedly the line “our finances have taken a battering recently” doesn’t promote a very positive nuance.
But fear not, ye of little faith! Our business is all in very safe hands with treasurer Edmund Shirley and his committee colleagues.
They are simply trying to point out that we need more cash… regularly. They are actively addressing the issues and working on ideas to improve the position.
Secretary David Long said: “Fund-raising ideas may help, but we probably also need a recruitment campaign and to do more of our own maintenance instead of using Avonmore. Or to find a cheaper contractor. Or to accept a deterioration in our lawn standard. Other ideas welcomed.”
Moving forward, there’s already two bits of good news. Firstly, lawn management guru Tim Leverton has accepted a new role as a lead on club fund-raising. Anyone else willing to take on a similar role would be warmly welcomed.
Secondly, the club has received an extremely kind donation of £2,000 from two members who wish to remain anonymous.
Minty’s memorabilia
A plaque in memory of the late Minty Clinch is to be erected on the gazebo nearest to the irrigation tanks.
Rather than buy a trophy in her name, Minty’s family have agreed to make a contribution towards our “hedge fund” – to cover the cost of the photinias masking the tanks.
Meanwhile Minty’s memorabilia, from her long involvement in croquet, will also be available soon. Her close friends might like to have some of this for a contribution to club funds. Look out for it in the clubhouse.
Anyone keen to acquire some of Minty’s equipment, documents etc should contact Sandy Millikin at sandramillikin@gmail.com