Fund-raising and social activities

Tony Andrews celebrates 50 years with the club
Over 100 friends, family and players past and present gathered at Bransford for a surprise celebration of Tony Andrews contribution to the club, and to cricket across Worcestershire last Sunday.  With heavy skies above, it looked like the event was going to be a soggy affair, but the sun broke through as Tony was brought to the ground without any idea of what was going on.  On the pretext of a quick drink at The Bear, Joyce brought a stunned Tony into the ground, where he proved as speechless as we've ever known him!  Guests came from as far as Liverpool, North Wales and South Wales, and just up the road.  Some of those present hadn't seen Tony in some time, and he relished the opportunity to talk about his years at the club as player, skipper, groundsman, Ground Chairman, committee member, builder and goodness knows what else.  Club President, John Prickett made a speech and presented Tony with an engraved decanter as a memento of his years, and Secretary Dave Pearson thanked everyone for turning up to make his day.  The Barbie was in full swing with Nic and his helpers, and Leachy and James Massey on the bar were there for some considerable time!!

For pictures of the afternoon's festivities, please click here

Lottery Bonus Ball
The big fund-raiser we have been running for some time is due to finish its current run at the end of May, so we'll be busy looking for current lottery members to renew, and for new lottery members to join in.  Simple principle - £1 per week for 26 weeks, and you are allocated a bonus ball number between 1 and 49.  If your number pops out on the National Lottery draw on a Saturday evening, then you win a cheque to the value of £25.  A great way for the club to raise some hugely needed funds, whilst at the same time giving people the opportunity to win something back.  If you wish to renew from the last run, or to add your name to the list of participants, then please just let me know by email - dspearson@talktalk.net - and pop a cheque to the value of £26, payable to WNCC, in the post to me at 10 Broadfield Gardens, Great Meadow, Worcester WR4 0DP.
The last six months was so successful that we ran two blocks of numbers, with nearly 82 members, and prize money of £50 each weekend.  There are some winners cheques in the post at the moment, and one or two more to sort out with our Treasurer this week.  No doubt I will be on the phone again to browbeat you all into joining over the next few days!!

Youth Presentation Evening
This Friday evening, the 16th, sees the annual youth presentation evening at Bransford.  Combined with the official photo night for the various teams and age groups, this is one of our major fund-raisers of the year.  With a variety of side attractions, including a tombola (please come with your bottles and goodies to donate), there will of course be the bar, refreshments and a great opportunity to meet members, players, parents, and so on, and to chew the fat over a pint or two.  The evening is likely to be under way with the first photo sessions around 5.30pm, so please make every effort to be there early.  Please note there is an admission charge to the event.
Full details are available from Simon Welchman on 01905 423719

Club membership subscriptions due
As ever the club's income stream dries up somewhat over the winter months.  This winter has seen a number of urgent projects needing attention, and you won't be surprised to know that these have been somewhat costly.  Examples of projects needing work include the driveway; the new hot water cylinder; drainage, and the inevitable servicing of the machinery.  Unfortunately this has left the clubs finances somewhat depleted, and the Exec is seeking to restore the working reserves to a more acceptable level.
YOU can help enormously in this, by paying your season's subscription now.  Cheques should be made payable to WNCC, and passed to either Chris Marsh (10 Florence Avenue, Droitwich) or to your team captain.  Subscriptions for this season are £60 for seniors, and £30 for students and the unwaged.  Members are reminded that the club does have the facility to pay your subscription by direct debit, and full details can be obtained from Chris.

Cricket Force
Thanks are offered on behalf of the club to all those who gave of their time and effort in the recent Cricket Force activities.  Without wishing to name names, there was significant input from a number of people, and not always the expected few.  The Ryan Birt Pavilion has been re-stained; the driveway has benefitted from 4tonnes of gravel, the interior of the shower and changing areas have been repainted, the pavilion cleaned and tidied, and some work on the drainage undertaken.  The latter is proving problematic, and work is continually ongoing.  It is absolutely vital to resolve this, as the net area is affected, and there are health and safety issues.  Please do not wait to be asked about how you can contribute to helping with this work - make it your responsibility to ask what needs to be done and how you can help.

Old carpets and underlay needed!!
We've been asked by Barrie to appeal to you all for any old carpet or underlay, which the guys can use to soak up any groundwater from the square to make sure that matches aren't going to be under threat from our hugely inclement weather.  This is an ongoing appeal, not just for the current situation.  If you can help, please let Barrie know on 01905 20470, or put it somewhere safe out at the ground.