At The Ground
Pete, Brian and Mike have devoted hours to putting the ground to bed for the winter. We just hope that we will be spared the level of flooding that so often blights our preparations for the new season and washes away expensive seed and loam.

Club Development Plan
The response to the online survey and the workshop was very encouraging and did exactly what we had hoped for. You, the members have given us your views and your ideas about how the club should approach the next few years.

A number of members have volunteered to join a steering group that will translate the hundreds of observations, opinions and ideas into a realistic set of objectives.

The first Steering Group meeting is on November 11 and there will be a short report at the club AGM on November 27.

As ever, the real test will be whether we have enough resources to do the things people want to see. One part of the club resource is financial. As costs of everything from energy to grass seed and fertilizer soar, we are constantly looking for new and better ways of generating income.

Our other major resource is people and their time, energy and expertise. We were reminded recently that, in terms of participation, we are alongside Bath CC as the biggest cricket club in the county and indeed in the region.

It is testament to all the hard work of previous and present club volunteers that we have achieved so much but it remains to be seen if the current structures and practices are sustainable.

If you are interested in helping the club in any way at all, please let me know. We are particularly interested in hearing from people with skills, interest or experience in the areas of administration and compliance and of developing partnerships with local businesses.

Annual General Meeting
The club will hold its AGM on Wednesday November 27 starting at 7.00pm at the clubhouse.

Please note that date in your diary and make every effort to come along.

There are two other date you may want to note.

November 13 is the deadline for receipt of nominations for the club General Management Committee.

If you want to stand for any one - or more! – of the positions below, you must provide me with the position you wish to fill, your proposer and your seconder. Both proposer and seconder must be current club members – life, playing or social. Those people must also attend the AGM.

Positions on the Committee
President (1) Already filled by Keith Woodman starting his second year of a three-year term
Officers (3) Chair, Treasurer, Secretary
Safeguarding (1)
The Players (3) - Men’s Club Captain, Women’s Club Captain & Youth Coordinator
The Places (3) – Clubhouse, Bar & Grounds

The final date to note is November 17 which is my deadline for publishing the agenda and any arrangements necessary for elections.

All these notices will appear on Pitchero.

I look forward to seeing soon, hopefully at our annual Senior Awards Night at the County Ground on Friday November 15.

I also look forward to hearing from you about how you can contribute not only your ideas but also your expertise and energy to help us make 2025 – our 70th year – a very good experience for the whole Deane family.

You can contact me, Dave Smith, at dcsmithtdcc697@btinternet.com