From Your President

Dear Members.....as this truncated and bizarre season draws to a close I’d like to say thank you to everyone who has worked so hard to keep the Club going during the current crisis. It’s been an amazing effort all round,  from your Chairman and Committee, Club and Team Captains, Club Manager, Groundsman, players and coaches who have managed a busy programme of games, nets and even social activity.   Congratulations everyone.

We will now be moving forward into one of the most important periods in this Club’s 140 year history as we look to safeguard both the future of the game and the viability of CDCC by replacing our pavilion. Hopefully you are all now well aware that we have planning permission to build a new, much needed modern facility. Last month the current roof leaked again, and mice ate their way through the electricity cables, so the situation is getting critical.

The building costs alone are around £600,000 - in line with ECB expectations for a club of our size. Through prudent housekeeping and mammoth efforts with dinners, quiz nights, comedy nights , cricket related activities and camps we have a good start with £100k plus in the bank. We need to get to the magic £300k half way mark in order to trigger grant applications, which we hope will take us over the line. CDCC NEEDS YOUR HELP NOW. We need to hear from you, our current members, and any past members you can think to contact - what you are able to pledge to help get the new building up as soon as possible. Already a number of people have indicated they are willing to give £1500 and some a great deal more - which is fantastic. We need to have these first contributions in the bank by the end of the year to start preparing our grant applications and every donation will be very welcome.

Please email me on jim.rosenthal@btinternet.com with your pledges as soon as you can and you will be sent details of payment options. These emails will be in the strictest of confidence.  If you prefer, phone me on 07836609906. A scheme for public recognition for those who want it will be created later.

This is the really critical time for this project. We need to be optimistic and plan ahead. We have a fantastic group of boys and girls coming through and we must keep faith with them and provide the best facilities we can. It will need a real community effort to get this job done - and I hope you feel able to respond at whatever level is comfortable for you. I look forward to receiving your calls and emails....

Thanks

Jim