Chairman’s Newsletter July 2023
What a busy and fruitful 2 months. Congratulations to all who have volunteered, too many to mention, and helped on a variety of projects to improve our club facilities. A fantastic amount has been achieved, by over 60 members, of all ages. This has saved us a good amount of money, which can now be spent on urgent projects in future.
A BIG THANKYOU TO YOU ALL!
Last weekend a work party cleared out our 2 containers on the back car park. We are separating the pitch equipment from the age group training equipment to make life easier for all age groups to access this. The red container will store the pitch equipment and is to be moved from where it is at present as that corner is to be established as an electricity sub-station for ours and nearby clubs. Our electricity pole behind the changing rooms will go. Time scale we do not know, it is in the hands of our solicitors, electricity officials and the local council.
The clubroom has had a paint over and looks great! A generous club member has already donated electrics including lights and other electrics to the lounge bar, which will be ready to use by the start of the season, for use as a social and meeting area, and storage, in specially built units for our kit shop; and is in process of upgrading the lighting in the clubroom and bar to give it more ambiance. The sound and TV systems in there will be relocated to tidy up the facility behind the bar. Other members have donated other materials and time and expertise to our various projects.
The changing rooms have had a good lick of paint, locks have been fitted to all changing room doors.
All our outside doors have been replaced with metal insulated doors and look splendid as well as more secure.
The female toilet is being upgraded with a grant from the RFU and will be finished by the end of August. The gents will have some alterations as well.
This weekend the long awaited floodlights will be upgraded will give much better facilities to the extent that we may be able to have a floodlit game from time to time.
A volunteer party levelled some of the top right pitch and although holiday weather has not been good it has greatly helped the growth of new grass.
Small upgrades in the kitchen will improve ventilation.
Training and coaching at all levels has started and new members are being recruited. Know anyone who is keen? Get them down to the club!
Welcome to our new senior coach Grant Keeler who has settled in well to his new role. We can look forward to a good year on and off the field. We have the Rugby World Cup to look forward to in September and early October and it is the 75th Anniversary of the founding of the club in 1948 out of a meeting in the Jolly Sailor St Albans. Events have yet to be finalised.
A BIG THANKYOU AGAIN TO ALL WHO HAVE HELPED IN ANY WAY THROUGH THE SUMMER.
IT SHOWS THAT VOLUNTEERING IS NOT DEAD, AND CAN BE FUN, WHEN THE END RESULTS ARE SO REWARDING!
Regard Ian “Shanks”Graham Chair