Message from The Spencer Club Chair

Spencer Cricket Club is part of the wider Spencer Club, now comprising six sporting sections. Our thanks to its chair, Mark Hyde, for the following note:

With summer now fast approaching I thought it was a good time to reach out to all the Club’s 3500+ members across the six sports which make up the constituent sections of the Club to provide members with a general update on Central Club activities.

I am pleased to be able to report that after the travails of lockdown the Club is now on a sound financial footing aided in part by the Club having been able to take advantage of Government grants and the benefits of the furlough scheme, but largely as a result of the efforts of the Management Committee (who give up a lot of their time )ably led by our Treasurer, John Turner, who has overseen a process under which the Club’s financial discipline has greatly improved. Whilst the Central Club finances are underpinned by contributions made by each of the sections under a formula carefully devised by John and approved by each of the sections through their appropriate representatives, all additional revenue generated by the Club not only enables investment to be made but should also ensure that section contributions are kept as low as practically possible.

As I am sure most of you already know, the Club now has two full time managers; James Martin, Finance & Operations (manager@spencerclub.org) and Zak Tunda, Food & Beverage (barmanager@spencerclub.org) and whose collective focus is very much on improving all aspects of the experience for members who use the Club and its facilities. Members will therefore have noted that the Clubhouse (both externally and internally) has been significantly spruced up with new tables and chairs inside and new furniture, a large TV and giant umbrellas outside. Less obvious are the plumbing works which have been undertaken to ensure that the changing rooms have properly functioning showers and their redecoration together with the installation of new flooring. Food and beverage offerings have been greatly enhanced, BBQ food will be available on a regular basis this summer and within the next few weeks we expect to have a mobile bar facility which will make service of drinks that much easier at busier times.

Members may also have noticed that events are being organised to help boost the coffers; for example, a monthly comedy club night on the last Friday of each month and which I can warmly recommend having attended the inaugural event last month (tickets available through https://instant-laughs.com/) and an inter-sectional quiz night is also now in the offing. Zak is also now taking private bookings having already already organised successful events ranging from birthday parties to wakes! So, if you are planning a party do have a think as to whether the Club facilities might be suitable and contact Zak but at the same time bear in mind that the use of facilities for members come first such that private bookings are not feasible on Saturday nights.

Having referenced James and Zak, it would be remiss of me not to also make mention of the other key Club employees who help provide the Club’s high quality services & facilities, namely our groundsmen, father and son Steve and Louis Irons, membership secretary Sally Horder, facilities manager Ian Brown and last, but not least, Jenny Brown. I would also like to thank Sean Molony (Tennis) and Chris Graham (Netball) for having served as Club Secretary and acting Secretary respectively and to welcome Noreen Newbold (Tennis) as the new Club Secretary. It is worth everyone remembering that just as the individual sections could not function without volunteers, the same is true of the Central Club.

I have two last things to mention. First, later in the summer we will be holding an AGM at which as well as addressing the usual matters of approving the Club Accounts and the appointment/reappointment of Club Officers, hopefully proposals will be put to the meeting to improve the governance structure of the Club which will include converting the Club to a charitable incorporated entity and properly enfranchising our many junior members. Secondly, members should be aware that with effect from 25th April, Fieldview and the surrounding roads will become subject to new parking controls under which only permit holders will be able to park between 10 am and 11 am Monday to Friday. However as these controls are being introduced primarily to prevent commuter all day parking, I believe that they will in fact benefit the Club and its members.

I hope that members will find this communication useful and if anyone wants to get in touch about any aspect of the Central Club then please do email myself (chair@spencerclub.org), Zak or James as appropriate.

Mark Hyde

Chair

The Spencer Club