THE GENT

 

Christmas 2005

No. 104

 

Tales from the corridor of uncertainty

 

They want me to...

 

 

Alright, then

 

INSIDE…

 

• Gents upgrade to four games at Old Tenisonians
  
• Hemin’s amazing sponsorship deal
   
• 2006 festival of cricket awaits on pukka strips – and Snarler’s back
  
• Awards glory for Nabil, Scibo and Ken
  
• A.G.M. minutes (and the hidden agenda)
  
• 1997 nostalgia
  
• Pensions – Ashton lashes out

 

“England yet to take the field at the moment, and they are nought for nought”

A BBC Radio 5 presenter desperately tries to pad out the show. Just like The Gent.

A.G.M. passes peacefully

Awards glory for Nabil, Ken and Scibo, SP re-elected

 

The same Committee will take The Gents into 2006, thereby delivering re-elected Skipper Sanjay Patel’s plea for stability though veteran Secretary AJ Burman will move to the backbenches at the end of next season, where it is hoped he will not emulate the curmudgeonly Edward Heath. Sanjay’s captaincy has seen the results divide neatly into the same number of wins as defeats, a convincing winning season in 2004 being straddled by the less successful (in playing if not social terms) 2003 and 2005 campaigns. He has won the PALs League twice, once outright and once tied, and presided over the rebuilding of a side that has haemorrhaged members at an alarming rate in the last few years. Though our favourite scruffbox needs to lose the blue coat when he bats in the cold (the black trainers can stay though, he plays well in them) he has made the job his own, his leadership complementing his reassuring presence in the middle-order of the batting. Like Snarler and Ashton before him, he provides frank, honest pastoral support. In passing, congratulations to him in coming ninth in BBC’s ‘Sports Personality of the Year’ though whether this is connected to a recent pile of Radio Times magazines found in pal Dhruv Patel’s shop with the competition’s entry forms cut out is impossible to say. The Gent has been running agents for years now, and our North West London man, code name Chavkiller, informs us that SP has a number of ‘plans’ for 2006, confided over a recent curry in Kingsbury. ‘Plans’ are good things, the only problem with them being ‘events,’ 38-6 against Maxie’s outfit, that sort of thing. Good luck to him. 

 

There was a credible challenge to SP’s captaincy by Mark Sciberras, who garnered a number of votes, but is believed to have lost out according to an exit poll 9-5. Scibo was quite open about his intention to stand, even sharing it with the Skipper. Hooray for such transparency. His action, it can be revealed, dovetailed very well with SP’s dream that every Committee position should be being contested every year. It is healthy to have competition for Committee places, otherwise the leadership can become out of touch and complacent.

 

Congratulations to the 2005 award winners. Nabil Husain won three, his first for the club. He won Batsman unanimously, All Rounder after a tussle with Sanjay and Most Improved, after a year in which few were obvious challengers in that category, though Hemin Patel’s all round talent and enthusiasm were reflected in the voting. Nabil could not attend but friend and neighbour Dhruv ensured that the shields were delivered. The Most Improved award remains a poisoned chalice. Eddie Fitch held the award he won in 2002 in such regard he resigned a year later, while the runs aggregate of the 2004 winner, dear Justin Norcott, declined by 73% last season. Still, everyone is entitled to a poor season and he will be stronger for the experience. Mr. Gilkes, in 2004, remains the only recent Gent not to succumb to the virus and one fears what demons the membership have now unleashed on the gentle Nabby, who wrote:

 

 

The Husain runfest resulted in some alarming statistics. He scored 41% of Gent runs off the bat in the games he played, and 26% overall. His lowest score was 18, so he never quite incurred the odd failures that a style based on Shahid Afridi would usually attract. Once set, he hit the ball so hard that fifties (five of them plus a ton) became almost routine. He and SP scored a combined 889 runs out of 2,268, that’s a cool 39%: and they missed ten games between them, though only once (against St. Anne’s) were both excused boots. The rule of thumb was that if neither pressed on to a major score, the total was unlikely to clock three figures and it is clearly unsatisfactory to have such reliance on just two chaps. Time for somebody else apart from HP and Scibo to step up to the mark.

 

The other two playing awards were close. Mark Sciberras took most wickets and won Bowler from the slightly more economical Sanjay. This writer well remembers Scibo’s match-turning dismissals of Weasels Perry and Bishop and the trouble he caused the masterful Mahmood of Pak. Buck remembers too and perhaps others. Though he took fewer catches than his rivals, a thrilled Ken Toft just saw off fierce challenges from Justin Norcott and Hemin Patel to win Fielder. Perhaps voters were mindful of Ken’s sharp reaction catch at backward point off Bhav Vyas at Gunnersbury Park and his consistent, brave fielding performances, which obliterated the collective memory of the Lancastrian’s comedy hoopla at Berrylands, when the ball, to universal merriment, finally landed, after executing an elegant slow parabola, ten feet behind him instead of in HP’s gloves.

Grounds for optimism?

2006 provisional fixtures released

 

Sat 22 April	-	-	Sat 8 July	NB Weasels (PALs)	Home (venue TBA)
Sun 23 April	Jay Bharat	Rickmansworth CC	Sun 9 July	-	-
Sat 29 April	-	-	Sat 15 July	-
Sun 30 April	St. Anne’s Allstars	Barnes Common	Sun 16 July	West XI (BAMC)	Old Tenisonians CC
Sat 6 May	-	-	Sat 22 July	-	-
Sun 7 May	Hale	Farnham, Surrey	Sun 23 July	Jay Bharat	Home (venue TBA)
Sat 13 May	-	-	Sat 29 July	-
Sun 14 May	12 Angry Men	Old Tenisonians CC	Sun 30 July	Village XI	Hampton
Sat 20 May	-	-	Sat 5 Aug	-	-
Sun 21 May	Pak (PALs)	Home (venue TBA)	Sun 6 Aug	TBA	-
Sat 27 May	-	-	Sat 12 Aug	-	-
Sun 28 May	West XI (BAMC)	BoE (TBC)	Sun 13 Aug	London Saints	Home (venue TBA)
Sat 3 June	-		Sat 19 Aug	-	-
Sun 4 June	London Saints	Old Haberdashers CC	Sun 20 Aug	TBA	-
Sat 10 June	NB Weasels (PALs)	Berrylands	Sat 26 Aug	-	-
Sun 11 June	-	-	Sun 27 Aug	TBA (home)	Old Tenisonians CC
Sat 17 June	-	-	Sat 2 Sept	-	-
Sun 18 June	Pak (PALs)	Away (venue TBA)	Sun 3 Sept	TBA	-
Sat 24 June	-	-	Sat 9 Sept	-	-
Sun 25 June	London Rams	Old Tenisonians CC	Sun 10 Sept	West XI (BAMC)	Berkhamsted CC
Sat 1 July	-	-	Sat 16 Sept	-	-
Sun 2 July	Brondesbury Casuals	Brondesbury CC	Sun 17 Sept	Salix	GSK Greenford

 

“The Schleswig-Holstein question is so complicated,” wrote Lord Palmerston, “only three men in Europe have ever understood it. One was Prince Albert, who is dead. The second was a German professor who became mad. I am the third and I have forgotten all about it.” Were his Lordship alive today, he might find the Surbiton question currently befuddling The Gents equally taxing and the club no nearer to a solution to the great conundrum of this age than the great 19th. century European powers were to theirs.

 

Chairman Gilkes therefore rightly allowed much discussion time at the A.G.M. to the where’s as well as the who’s of the 2006 campaign, but it was clear that even by the standard of reptilian politics that characterises these occasions, the question of the home ground disunites people like no other. If anything, there was a hint of a swing back to VRG, Mr. Buck becoming eloquent on the subject of the desolation that would be wreaked on this lovely old ground were The Gents, its only customer now the Lord Mayor’s game has been moved to swish Chessington CC, to abandon it. In passing may we note how good to it is see local bigwigs supporting their own public sector infrastructure. One day a real rain will come. Some believe that while the VRG wickets may not be all that, the ground’s facilities, access to trains and buses and the proximity of a half-decent watering hole more than compensate. SP disagrees with this argument, however, and said so: “F*** the pub, f*** Surbiton, we’re here to play cricket,” he squawked with majestic eloquence. Indeed we are.

 

There was also the merest hint of an Old Tenisonians backlash (had to happen), one vigorous critic of Surbiton a year before describing the plush venue elect as “that place where you don’t play if there’s a drop of rain on the Thursday.” The ground that dare not speak its name. Others cite the stressful spectre of dear Dhruv returning home a hundred yards away every ten minutes to manage the domestic crisis of the hour.

 

So the fixture card, still a work-in-progress, sees a compromise on venues. There are four games at Old Tenisonians (the only gaps they had), including West XI game two, our other home games to be based on LB Kingston pitches, some VRG, some not. West XI are trying to get the Bank of England ground in Barnes for their home game for, as Mr. Hill says, “A great tournament deserves a great venue.” Jay Bharat are increased to two games, one at Rickmansworth CC on the opening day, there is an awayday to rural Surrey to play Hale, who were rained off at Old Tenisonians in 2005. Village XI are a new, medium/strong side from Hampton. The tour will be in August, date to be confirmed. St. Anne’s Allstars have bumped The Gents down to one game, which will be at pretty Barnes Common. When the August tour date is confirmed, 12 Angry Men (return), Enterprise and London Owls will be added (and London Saints possibly rescheduled). So note as we said above this is NOT the final list.

 

It is interesting to look back ten years to the grounds we played on. Boston Manor, Town Park, Wimbledon Park and the Lilliputian Battersea Park strip were fun – we wouldn’t have missed those days for the world – but it is time to grow, and this can only be done at better venues.

Beggar wordsmith caught in the act

 

Not since his controversial television performance on ITV’s short-lived 1960 youth programme ‘Are you with it, daddy-o?’ has Beggar eminence grise Stephen Bignell suffered such a shabby month. That classic of live broadcasting saw teen guest Steve, during a discussion about the week’s pop releases, chaired by Pete Murray, clash with star guests Johnny Kidd and the Pirates, whose latest single ‘Shakin’ All Over’ he accused angrily of being ‘flipping derivative’ and ‘a waste of bloody vinyl.’ The ITV switchboard was jammed with complaints and a Mr. Allerton of Leeds was reported in the Daily Mirror to have kicked in his TV screen in protest at the bad language, saying “I didn’t conscientiously object in two World Wars to be sworn at in me own front parlour.” It was truly the Sex Pistols/Bill Grundy episode of its day. There was also a rumpus in the musical presses, Disc and Music Echo carrying an editorial on the subject while Kidd’s fanclub issued death threats to the bequiffed fifth former, whose ‘O’ Level grades suffered as a result. It is with heavy hearts that we must now inform you that Steve has once again overstepped the mark.

 

“As they have to miss church when playing cricket on Sundays, the more devout West XI players, notably S. Rennie, P. Walton and C. Wright, have taken to a period of happy clappy prayer, hymn singing and Bible study after the games. These Christian Society meetings are convened in Mr. Rennie’s van.”

Gent 96 (September 2004)

 

“The rest of the team were reportedly ‘somewhere outside’ holding an impromptu ‘prayer meeting’”

Yes..No..Sorry! (November 2005)

 

Plagiarise “1. Take and use (the thoughts, writings, inventions, etc. of another person) as one’s own (Etym. Gr. Plagion, kidnap)                                                                                                                      Concise Oxford Dictionary (1980)

 

This is not the first time that the retired taxman has nicked our ideas and it is time he either acknowledged them or paid for them. The Gent didn’t get where it is today by stealing other people’s comedy material. The difficulty with copyright, however, is that once you place something in the public domain, the copyright one has is so limited as to be unenforceable. Furthermore, it would be pointless to bring an action as there is not quantifiable damage. We are on his case though.

 

And another thing. Mr. Bignell has accused The Gent of upgrading HP’s and Nabil’s personal batting milestones last year ‘posthumously.” RIP those two, or perhaps old Burman has crossed the Jordan and is typing this from a celestial media centre. Accuse of us of paranoia if you must, but if the Beggars target you, you must be doing something right. The Gent stands by its Government GCSE-style ‘positive marking’ approach, one endorsed by the ECB’s Dubious Milestones Committee, which as we write is reviewing the status of West XI’s airbrushed defeat to Plums, starring Justin Norcott, in 2005.

 

Steve is otherwise enjoying his retirement having seen, excluding West XI games, about 250 days’ cricket in 2005, including England, Middlesex and Winchmore Hill IIs. It is lucky he is close friends with CBI pensions spokesperson MWH Ashton, who is not in total sympathy with public sector final salary schemes. Indeed, as recently as Saturday 21 November at 10.16pm, Masher was heard to rant, apropos John Burke Townley, career Civil Servant and ex-Gent: “If that c*** retires before me I’m gonna go round ’is ’ouse and kick ’is f***ing ’ead in.” Fine carryings on.

 

Many happy returns

 

West XI will be 20 years old in 2006 and are planning a year of large, including a celebratory book, tours to Minorca and the West Country, a Past v. Present fixture and lots more. They have had their fallow as well as fertile years and are now surfing a wave of good results and innovative, energetic leadership. Life certainly takes one unawares. As recently as 2001, they were actively talking of folding the club, but pitched up half-knackered in Kingston to play The Gents, who fatally underestimated them, the Beggars going on to a 2-1 series win after chasing down nigh on 200 at Berkhamsted. Roll on more such fixtures: with a different result we hope, but high-scoring games played on pukka wickets where batsmen get full value for their shots and have the confidence to play them. We also greatly look forward to seeing the much-trumpeted new Beggar shirts, sourced via the internet, our lads having kept their powder impressively dry on the horrors perpetrated by Bhav’s rag trade contacts in 2005. Let style wars commence.
 

A superb Gents performance

Yes, it was 1997 but take ’em while you can

 

We are indebted to Mr. Bignell for his history lessons on the long-running Gents/Beggars series. Enjoy the nostalgia for pretty soon the 1998 matches will have to be reviewed. The Gents had quite a Top 7 out that hot July Sunday in 1997 and Nos. 8, 9, 10 and Jack were pretty handy too. One remembers Buck and Naish pitching up to support, and being miffed when a 40-over game stretched out well into pub time. Great days.

 

The Gents have gone through a fair amount of change in recent years, so it is perhaps surprising that four still play regularly, six if you include Buck and Burman. Gent retirees are Chris ‘Chainsaw’ Mitchell, one hard chap (and a Middlesbrough fan) who legendarily “felt nowt” when he accidentally nutted the Boston Manor boundary concrete path, stalwart Nick Boddington, big Scotchman Mike Hughes, Mark Burville, who marched to a different drummer to most normalists, plus Victor Richmond (23% less eccentric in those days), Dan Todd and of course Ashton himself. For the Beggars, five still play regularly and Folley occasionally. Some of you may not remember the others: Martin Drake, a proud Yorkshireman and true sportsman, patrician Charles Arthur, Welchman John Williams, built like a prop forward from Subbuteo rugby and later to find fame as a novelist, Cavalier West Indian Clyde Seale and Scotchman Ian ‘Scotty McJock’ Dallas, a gruff Presbyterian whose craggy features, straight from the Manse, seldom betrayed a smile.

WEST XI v GENTS - a potted history

Match No.28 West XI Match No.233
Date: 20 July 1997
Venue: Boston Manor Park

The Gents wrapped up the trophy for the fifth year running in perfect conditions, thereby confirming their total dominance over their lacklustre rivals, hampered yet again by late arrivals and early departures. The Gent middle order filled their boots against some ordinary bowling to achieve their first 200-plus total against West XI, for whom Hillbilly’s patient innings ended with him breaking down once again. Though most Beggars made a few runs, no one could stay long enough to influence the outcome.

Gentlemen of West London
Mitchell 10, Boddington 1, S. Patel 40, Wright 42, Ashton 56, D. Patel 36, Hughes 6, Richmond 1*, Burville 0*, Snelling, Todd, Extras 17
Total 209-7 (40 overs)

FoW: 11,11,85,156,174,207,208

Bowling: Taylor 2-32, Folley 1-26, Hill 1-35, Williams 1-32, Bignell 0-40, Arthur 1-36

West XI
Hill 34, Drake 11, C Arthur 16, Williams 4, Folley 14, Seale 16, Bignell 7, Taylor 4, Dallas 5*, Robinson 6, Allerton 1, Extras 21
Total 139 all out (35.1 overs)

FoW: 16,70,77,77,103,113,118,124,133,139

Bowling: Snelling 1-22, S Patel 1-27, Todd 1-18, Boddington 4-28, D Patel 2-29, Wright 1-5

A great Gents win then, but what did 1998 bring? It was a rotten year for The Gents in terms of results while the BAMC campaign was one of unremitting misery. Ashton’s injury at Surbiton, his catastrophic run out of Dhruv at Boston Manor, Vine’s superlative performance with bat and ball in that match, oh woe! Though the mighty Gents would be back with a 3-0 BAMC win in 1999, ’98 showed just how quickly the fortunes of a cricket team can go into reverse. However, Dhruv did a manful job as stand-in captain in Ashton’s absence, involving everyone every match and even opening the bowling with old Burman in one game, to some effect it has to be said. Perhaps it is not only the results that matter.

The Hemin Initiative

2006 sponsorship lined up

 

Dramatic breaking news is that Project Surrey is launched with immediate effect, triggered by a communiqué from Hemin Patel:

 

 

Well done Hemin for such an expert piece of schmoozing. Chivers Easton Brown seems to belong to a different age (if indeed it ever happened) and it is refreshing that a member has gone out and done something about sponsorship. Cricket clubs need doers and finishers not theorists.

 

Before the Oval presentation, however, certain steps must be taken. The date must be kept secret for a start, to forestall disruption by Beggar crusties peddling their anti-globalisation message on a violent demo. The link to West XI’s web-page Der e-Stürmer, with its rabid anti-Surrey CCC agenda, must also be disabled.

 

Regrettably, several Gents will also have to be hidden away come the big day, in case they go off message and damage the bid by plotting, being rude, banging on about the inadequacies of Carpet Man (you had to be at Old Tenisonians to witness that one), turning up half cut wittering on about Political Correctness in a singsong West Midlands accent before dozing off, or suggesting a ghostwatch in the Brit Oval pavilion. A full-on multimedia presentation is being prepared to be delivered by Hemin. Having introduced himself to Mark Butcher at a Whyteleafe v. Windsor and Eton football match just before the last Indian tour, AJ Burman counts himself as a close personal friend of the Surrey southpaw and will be able to pull a few strings if things get sticky.

 

The Gents remain well ahead of the competition then, with not only the best potential sponsorship deal ever and the best website, but also an innovative outsourced inventory management deal with Berkhamsted CC, who will store the club’s valuable collection of old bats, West XI abdominal protectors and left-handed Plums gloves free of charge until April, whereupon club weapons expert Graham Butt will become the club’s first kit manager. The new fixtures give us a good chance to hoover up some extra oppo equipment for the travelling exhibition of cricketana that is our kitbag, so get weaving boys.

 

 

Minutes of the 2005 GWLCC A.G.M.

Held at the Waggon and Horses PH,

Surbiton, Surrey

Saturday, 11 November 2005

 

1 Those present

 

1.1 Committee Tony Buck (Vice-Captain), Andrew Burman (Secretary), Richard Gilkes (Chairman), Patricia Langley (Treasurer) and Sanjay Patel (Captain).

1.2 Members Peter Denton, Justin Norcott, Dhruv Patel, Hemin Patel, Mark Sciberras, Ken Toft, Paul Turpin and Jim Wright.

1.3 Guests Tanchanok Deamsantia, Phil Hill, Dave Laing and Catherine McAloon.

 

2 Apologies for Absence

 

These were received from Graham Butt, Bill Flack, Nabil Husain, Ian Richmond and Stuart Snelling. James Lewis did not attend and failed to offer apologies.

 

3 Minutes of the 2004 A.G.M.

 

These were issued in January 2005 and were agreed as an accurate record.

 

4 Treasurer's Report on the 2005 season

 

The club made an overall profit during the 2005 season, which is detailed in the accounts (see Section 15). Subscriptions were received from almost all members during the season, and those who have yet to pay are listed at the end of the report. The greatest income stream came from match fees. This outstripped subscription income by 63.5%. Pre-season net practice also yielded a profit.

 

The largest expense this year was for pitch rents. This increased from last year due to playing at a new ground, Archbishop Tenison’s in Surrey. The second largest expense, and one which made a loss through the year, was the cost of providing teas. Provision of teas will continue and the quality will not be compromised.

 

5 Secretary’s Report on the 2005 season

 

Home venue

Victoria RG, Surbiton was again used for home games with three games scheduled at Old Tenisonians in Motspur Park, although due to rain only one took place. The subject of Victoria RG divides the club like no other. Suffice it to say, however, that its harshest critics would admit to an improved pavilion, good transport links and nearby supermarkets and pubs, while its fondest admirers would admit that the wickets are capricious and sometimes dangerous.

 

2005 fixtures

A season of 19 games was played. There was no tour in 2005, but a hard-fought series against West XI, further success in the PALs League and the usual friendlies, of which Brondesbury was particularly enjoyable. Seven games were won and twelve lost. The Captain will as ever deal with the playing side. Pak CC were new to The Gents and proved strong but more importantly gracious opposition.

 

Membership

For differing reasons, several of the 2004 membership played fewer games but we were delighted to welcome new players.

 

Start times

The start time for home games was kept at 1pm (rapidly becoming the norm across the circuit) and this worked fairly well, though the club received a bombastic complaint from Kingston Council after the first game for tardiness.

 

Sponsorship

There was no sponsorship in 2005.

 

Organisation

Full teams were fielded in all fixtures bar Sunderland where players were loaned to ensure a game could be played.

 

The future

We will tour the West Midlands in August 2006. I will not have a date until February. Salix are confirmed and Strongroom wish to play us. Usually, the fixture list is more advanced by early November but until we decide where we are going to play it I cannot arrange many games.

 

I have doubts about the Sunderland SC fixture as I shall explain in full at the meeting but unless instructed otherwise by the membership do not envisage many other changes. The list seems to be well balanced and competitive, which is as it should be. Please advise if you disagree.

 

Like it or not, we will have to be mindful of the 2006 football World Cup when planning fixtures but this was not a problem in 2002 when we played a Gents game on an ‘England Day.’

 

I have written to the head groundsman at Old Tenisonians requesting a credit for the second game cancelled there and expressing our interest in securing some more 2006 games. I presume we will have to wait until their Sunday XI’s fixtures are finalised before we hear back. I have written also written to Bob and Carol Warren at Berkhamsted CC asking them to help track down our kit.

 

I expect the question of where we play to occupy much of the meeting. Broadly speaking the choices are:

 

1. Continue with the 2005 policy of the core of the games at Victoria RG with three fixtures on private grounds.
2. Go for a 50/50 split Victoria RG/private grounds, say six each.
3. As 1. or 2. but based at a different, readily-bookable public ground, e.g. King Edward’s RG, Chessington (378 runs for 11 wickets v. Pak), King George’s Fields, Tolworth, etc.
4. A complete overhaul basing ourselves at a private ground but please note this will not happen by magic.

 

I am giving 12 months’ notice of resignation from the position of Secretary. I have been doing this enjoyable job for many years and it is time for some new blood on the Committee, someone with his own ideas on where the club should be heading and who is willing to make his ideas become reality. The 12 months will be necessary for a thorough and professional handover. Regarding week to week organisation of teams, as distinct from the core duties of the Fixture Secretary of organising fixtures and pitches (whilst always acting in an ambassadorial way), I would be happy to continue should the heir assumptive not want these pressures.

 

Finally, I apologise for omitting Mr. Snelling’s 4-13 in the season’s summary in Gent 103 – I must have been in a curmudgeonly mood – and look forward to working with you all again in 2006.

 

6 Captain’s Report on the 2004 season

 

Sanjay Patel then reviewed the season game by game. He felt that the batting had let the team down too often and included himself in this criticism. He noted that the batting had often collapsed, which put into perspective the observations one or two players had about slow starts. He reiterated that if the team batted its full allocation of overs, it would win more often than not. He asked everybody to be patient, and all would come right. He already felt good about 2006. “Stick with us” was his final word.

 

7 Proposal for full membership

 

Graham Butt, Hemin Patel, Ketan Patel, Paul Turpin were proposed, seconded and elected nem. con.

 

8 Proposal for associate or student membership

 

None was received.

 

9 Questions to the committee

 

9.1 Mr. Turpin asked for clarification on the donations, which was provided. He said that such patronage should be recognised.

 

10 The 2006 season

 

10.1 Home venue

The Gents will move the majority of its home games from Victoria RG as the wickets have become too unreliable. A sub-Committee comprising the Secretary, Mr. D. Patel and Mr. Wright will investigate alternatives and co-ordinate closely with the Secretary. No more than four home games should be played at Victoria RG in 2006. The Secretary will speak to Mr. Privett at RB Kingston about other pitches in the borough.

 

10.2 Subscriptions and match fees

The annual membership fee and match fee will be unchanged. Should the venue for home games not played at Victoria RG be more expensive and a cash injection be required, then the annual subscription will be increased form £40 to £50.

 

10.3 Opponents

Sunderland SC to be dropped, Jay Bharat to be played away at Ricksmanworth CC, Strongroom to be played away at Highgate Woods. The Gents will tour in August.

 

10.4 Kit

Expenditure on kit in 2006 was minimal. Mr. Butt will assume responsibility for the kit in 2006. The kit will be reviewed at nets.

 

10.5 Nets

These will take place at Teddington SC as in previous years.

 

10.6 Tour

The tour will be self-funding.

 

10.6 Secretary

There will be a vacancy in a year’s time and anyone interested should talk to the Chairman or current Secretary.

 

11 Any other business

 

11.1 The Gents owe West XI £40 from Berkhamsted as West XI undercharged. Mr. Gilkes will contact West XI’s Treasurer Mr. Bignell.

 

11.2 Mr. Sciberras answered questions on the website.

 

11.3 Mr. Turpin asked the Captain and Vice Captain to manage people’s expectations about what was expected of them. This was not a compliant about batting orders, etc. but a request that each player should know within a certain latitude where he was going to bat and if he was going to bowl. Mr. Buck said he was very aware of the need for this and tried to talk to each player on match day to let him know what was expected. The Captain acknowledged the point made but explained the need for flexibility when all did not go to plan (“when we’re 31 for five you might have to change things around a bit”).

 

11.4 Mr. Gilkes will discuss the kit with Mr. Butt.

 

11.5 Mr. H. Patel committed to investigate sponsorship, as he had lots of dealings with companies in his work as a recruitment consultant.

 

12 Election of Committee

 

The following Officers were re-elected nem. con. Chairman Richard Gilkes, Vice-Captain Tony Buck, Secretary Andrew Burman and Treasurer Patricia Langley. After a ballot for Captain between Sanjay Patel and Mark Sciberras, Sanjay Patel was re-elected.

 

13 The 2005 awards

 

The 2005 awards were voted for as follows:

 

All Rounder 1. Nabil Husain 2=. Peter Denton and Sanjay Patel

Batsman 1. Nabil Husain (unanimous)

Bowler 1. Mark Sciberras 2. Sanjay Patel

Fielder 1. Ken Toft 2. Justin Norcott

Most Improved 1. Nabil Husain 2. Hemin Patel

Special Award 1. Andrew Burman 2=. Five members

 

14 Close of meeting

 

The meeting closed at 10.45pm.

 

15 Financial statement

 

GWLCC Income and Expenditure Statement 2004/5
Income (£)		Expenditure (£)
Subscriptions	587.00	Pitches		-843.00
Match fees	959.00	Victoria RG -558.00
Sales of pitches	250.00	Old Tenisonians -285.00
LB Kingston 60.00		Share of pitches and teas		-131.00
Old Tenisonians 95.00		Teas		-473.70
Jay Bharat 55.00		Nets		-75.00
London Owls 40.00		Kit/balls/First Aid		-86.94
Teas	212.00	D Patel -10.00
Nets	139.00	P Denton -5.00
Donations	141.00	A Burman -71.94
A Burman 56.00		Transport		-152.73
P Langley 85.00		Taxi fares -8.00
Interest received	7.20	Berkhamsted car hire
		-70.40
		Old Tenisonians car hire
		-68.33
		Petrol -6.00
		Engraving		-13.00
		Tax on interest paid		-1.40
		Charitable donation		-40.00
Total	2,295.20	Total		-1.816.77

 

GWLCC Working Capital September 2005
Income (£)	2,295.20		Expenditure (£)	(1,816.77)
Profit/(loss)				478.43

 

Notes:

1. The report and accounts were prepared by Patricia Langley B.A. (Hons), AICM (Cert).
2. Donations comprised Patricia Langley – cost of car hire for 21 August 2005 donated to the club, Andrew Burman – cost of car hire for 11 September 2005 donated to the club, Patricia Langley – private donation of £50.
3. Cash at 20 September 2005 £616.26.

 

The only indebted GWLCC member at the end of 2005 season was Ian Richmond.

 

Contact this magazine via e-mail andrewburman_840@hotmail.com or mobile 07802-788424

 

Read about The Gents on www.gowlcc.org.uk

 

 

 

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