Hampshire Cricket Members’ Committee

AGM - 29th March 2010

Acting Chairman’s Address Members’ AGM 2010, made by Roger Treherne

Good evening everyone. I need to explain that I’m here delivering this address as our Chairman, David Robinson, is not quite well enough to do it himself, as he suffered a stroke last year. However, the good news is that he’s making steady progress and against the odds is here with us tonight. I’m certain we all want to send him our very best wishes for his continued recovery. I thought, having retired from 4 years as your Chairman, I’d been excused delivering this address but sorry you’ve got to put up with me just one more time!
David has stood again for the Committee this year but he has said that he won’t stand for Chairman, so at our next Committee meeting on May 24th a new Chairman will be elected.

I’d like to welcome our President Nick Pocock here tonight and to particularly thank him for his support to the Committee and the Club over the last year. He has attended many matches and events and hopefully we’ll see much of him again this year.

Last year the Forum was on a separate day from the AGM and Players’ Reception and I’m glad this year we have all 3 events occurring tonight. Whilst the Forum will follow the AGM in this room, those that have booked and paid for the Players’ Reception, this will be downstairs. If you haven’t already booked for the Reception and would like to come, please see me afterwards with £13 and I’ll fix it.

Hopefully you all enjoyed your day out at Lord’s last year and how satisfying it was that we brought home The Friends Provident Trophy which we have proudly on display – I’m actually wearing the Winners’ Tie which I think is one of the better ones – price £15 if you buy it here. The season otherwise had mixed success but Hampshire are always entertaining and what’s particularly gratifying is to see so many of the academy staff coming through at a senior level and performing well. Ben Thompson the Development Manager will be updating us shortly on the progress we’re making.

Exciting, is the word I would use to describe the developments here at The Rose Bowl but I think Glenn would describe them as challenging or maybe he’d use some other word. We’ll hear from him shortly. We do all owe a big debt of gratitude to Rod, Glenn and their team for their perseverance in moving The Rose Bowl to a World Class facility despite various “obstacles” along the way.

Clearly this year, as spectators, we’re going to suffer disruption in our cricket viewing. I know that the Rose Bowl team will be trying to keep this to a minimum but, as things have panned out, construction will be continuing throughout the year and we shall need to bear with it. Remember, the outcome will be making our time at The Rose Bowl, so much more enjoyable in future years.

Probably it’s a time to remind ourselves that our cricket viewing choice at The Rose Bowl is one of the widest in the country, embracing the full gambit from all the domestic cricket competitions to very shortly International Test Matches, ODIs, 20/20s and, this year, the finals’ day for the 20/20 competition. Whatever your fancy, there’s a style of cricket to suit your taste. Not every ground can boast that and the viewing experience is further improved this year with the 2 new massive stands either side of the pavilion.

It’s personally heartening to see the Executive Club membership doing so well, as I was involved in starting this concept originally in The Philip Mead stand at the old ground. The offering is quite extensive with the viewing and dining here in the R S Suite with additional reserved seating on the top level. Numbers have already well exceeded last years. Executive Club members also support fund raising events and last year raised considerable funds for The Honeypot Appeal, The Hampshire Autistic Society and Wave Cash for Kids.

Another piece of positive news is the new Debenture Scheme way exceeding expectations in terms of income and it’s very encouraging to see this sign of confidence in Hampshire’s future.

Our period of change and pioneering continues with the tie up with The Rajastan Royals and we’ll all be very interested to hear from Stuart later how this will work in practice. No doubt there’ll be questions from the floor when we come to the Forum.

The signings this winter, and the more recent ones, will add to this season’s interest but it’s always sad when you lose the services of such stalwarts as Chris Tremlett, John Crawley and Billy Taylor. Billy has been granted a fund raising event later this year following Members’ approaches to the club, suggesting that he be recognised in this way. Remember, we always want your suggestions for future grants of Testimonials or Benefits for us to put to the Rose Bowl Board.

Just to remind you, the Committee will continue to have a table in the Atrium, where we encourage you to raise any questions you want answered. If we can’t answer them, then there’s a system of recording the question and for it to be passed to the appropriate Rose Bowl management team for attention. Please do use this facility. The table is manned on the first day of each Championship match and every One Day and t20 Hampshire fixture for an hour before play.
Beside the table is the Members’ Noticeboard which is always worth a glance, as there’s up to date information, which I know you will find of interest. Many of you have commented how useful this is.

The Committee liaison with The Rose Bowl management takes many forms. Apart from ad hoc meetings, 2 members of your Committee meet with Rod and his Directors after their quarterly Rose Bowl Board Meetings and as well, we always have up to 3 Rose Bowl Directors attending the quarterly Members’ Committee meetings. In this way we can keep each other appraised of matters of mutual interest.

I’ve been asked to remind you of the procedure for those wanting to join The Members’ Committee. An application form, available from Tim Tremlett, needs to be submitted, which is proposed and seconded by a club member, by January 1st to be safe to meet the date deadline. Candidates need to have been a member for at least 2 years.

A great success has been the Committee’s organising of the Coaches to suitable away matches but more importantly the various Lord’s finals we’ve played in. Last year provided another challenge, as 700 of you needed transporting to Lord’s. Thanks go to Glynis Osborne and Terry Crump for their tireless efforts. Glynis and Terry are investigating possible travel arrangements for this year and details of any coach trips will be publicised on the notice board, if they are considered viable.

The location of The Committee area is changing this year, as the box we occupied has been dismantled. We shall be occupying The Hambledon Suite in the front of The Pavilion. Please do come and see us there.

The Heritage group spend a lot of time making our Pavilion so interesting with displays of memorabilia and pictures. Dave Allen, who is co-opted onto the Members’ Committee, and his team deserve our thanks for making our Pavilion one to be proud of. Dave is going to tell us this evening of his latest plans and projects.

Our 4 local Supporters’ Associations continue their excellent fund raising activities and last year raised nearly £10,000 between them. A good example of how the money is spent comes from The North & Borders’ Association, who have awarded 3 two year scholarships to provide 20 hours of 1 to 1 coaching with a level 3 coach. A marvellous initiative. Please do support your Local Associations’ events as they are not only enjoyable but at the same time raise much needed funds.

There were 12 editions of the The Rose Bowl RoundUp produced during the 2009 season, with two electronic Winter web editions during the close season.  Terry Crump will continue to edit this welcome publication and thanks go to Terry for his time and his commitment. A new issue of The RoundUp will be available on the first day of every Championship game, with additional special editions as well.  Issues of the RoundUp are also available via the Members’ section of the Hampshire Cricket website and as the website is undergoing a re-structuring, far more up-to-the-minute information should be readily available for members, who are able to access the internet. With construction affecting the ground this summer, the RoundUp will be an important means of updating you with developments affecting Members as they are about to happen.

So, the exciting new season is upon us, bringing changes in the team and particularly in our viewing experience, so let’s wish the players every success and the Supporters an enjoyable season of watching Hampshire Cricket.

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