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Letter from the President - Ian Bayley

2021-06-02T15:04:00+01:00

Swyncombe Cricket Club

Well not a lot has changed with this topsy turvy world since my last year’s letter, but at least there is hope on the horizon that the jewel in Boris’ crown will vaccinate us out of trouble before that pesky little virus works out how to become resistant.

But, let’s not go there – instead let’s congratulate ourselves on actually completing a season of cricket and being on the threshold of another one. No pesky virus is going to keep our team from playing the game we all love and which continues – courtesy of Clive’s tireless efforts - to grace Swyncombe’s cricket pitch on a Sunday.

Okay, okay, so last season was not notable for carrying all before us, but nothing can dim the glory and brilliance of regaining the Ron Vine’s Cup. After a really hard fought game with no quarter asked or given the team’s victory was particularly sweet. The only cloud on the horizon was that in the absence of our end of season dinner I could not stand up and crow from the roof tops!

So to this season. It might have started with mixed success on the field but a particularly bright aspect is the large number of players from around us who are expressing interest in playing for the club. This speaks to the regard in which the club is held and augers well for our future.

Which brings me to my usual annual thank you for all your support over the years that in no small measure has contributed to our ongoing vigorous health.

I shall write again shortly to send you one of our brochures, which is currently at the printers, and with the news of my project for this year – The President’s Cup. But in hopes of once again being able to count on your generous support.

With best wishes

IAN BAYLEY FRCS
CLUB PRESIDENT

Letter from the President - Ian Bayley

2020-05-09T09:12:40+01:00

Dear SCC VP's

Seldom can the phrase “we live in interesting times” have rung so true. If at our end of season dinner anyone had been asked to put a bet on the world of 2020 being so topsy turvy, I guarantee there’d have been no takers. And now we learn that the magnetic north pole has finally moved from Canada to Siberia and is heading east at tens of kilometres a year. The world itself is being turned upside down: anyone want to bet on pole reversal happening in our lifetime?

Fortunately, your cricket club is made of less shifting sands and we are all clamping at the kit to be let out to play. Anyone doubting the cricket junky culture of our players would certainly have been disabused by our Swyncombe WhatsApp feed. I’ve posted one of Jaylan’s clips to Peter’s phone as an example and asked him to forward to our VIP’s WhatsApp feeds. It will lighten your day.

Click the Video Link to see Jaylan in Action

VIDEO-2020-05-06-20-56-19

Inevitably of course the outgoings for the club’s basic running costs have not fallen off any cliff and are still very much extant. I am hoping therefore that, notwithstanding the state of the economy, we might over again count on your amazing and constant generosity to support us through 2020. I have taken the liberty of appending the Club’s banking details below and, as always, if you prefer, you may wish to send a cheque to Peter drawn in favour of Swyncombe Cricket Club.

Last year I wrote about our ambition to generate a “flyer/mini brochure” about the Club in order to try to grow a more widely flung fund raising endeavour. Mark and I presented an exemplar of this at the October Club dinner – which, incidentally, I thought was one of the best yet. The “flyer/mini brochure” is just awaiting final sign-off which we will do when this infernal lockdown lifts. We can then get on with the project that hopefully will raise oodles and oodles of finds to grow the club going forwards over time.

Any suggestions you might have as to possible target audiences – corporate or individual – would be really welcome.

Just to top and tail “matters arising”: the arrangements for the spring cricket tour to the West Country were well advanced when lockdown kaiboshed them. But we will resurrect this next year and will keep you informed in the event that you may want to join us as a travelling supporter: you’d be really welcome. The same goes for my President’s Shield competition, which I mentioned at the dinner. The season has become too squashed up to introduce it this year but it will be on the fixture list for 2021.

I hope all this is of interest. It just remains for me to thank you once again for your outstanding support and to say we look forward to seeing you of a Sunday as and when the season can actually begins.

With best wishes

Ian Bayley FRCS
SCC Club President

Letter from the President - Ian Bayley

2019-04-09T16:51:48+01:00

Dear Vice Presidents

Spring is here, the grass is ……………. and now is the season of our glorious ascent ……..: to mix Bard and ballad. In other words, it’s that time of year when Clive and colleagues are putting the final touches to the ground, Swyncombe Cricket Club members are rousing from their hibernations and girding their loins for the battles to come, and my President’s letter is now dropping onto your mat in the hope that we can again, this year, count on your invaluable support that keeps this quintessential English Cricket Club flourishing in the heart of Oxfordshire.

And flourish we do, not only in terms of preserving one of the most popular clubs in the vicinity attracting ever increasing numbers of players of all ages -you will know why I speak with feeling to that – but which, by being so welcoming to all makes, Swyncombe more than just a place to play cricket. I think you will agree that the unusually high frequency of home games, brought about by the quality of our ground adds interest colour and a vibrancy to many of Summers’ Sundays. Last season fulfilled its early promise and turned out to be one of our most successful in recent years: it’s a high bench mark but one we are determined to match this year.

As always, the ground stands centre stage. You will be aware of Jake’s fencing efforts which will save aggravation all round combined with Clive’s untiring toils to keep the ground up to the highest standards and worthy of its place as part of the warp and waft of Swyncombe.

You will recall from last year’s letter, our ambition to continue improving the ground and the club’s facilities so as to advance our twin goals of maintaining the ground patently as the attractive living entity that it is and at the same time to further develop the club’s facilities so that we will continue to attract the players younger, and older, that make Swyncombe the quintessence of village cricket. To that end, I alluded to my ambition to develop a 5 year rolling plan of improvements. We are quietly moving this forward, having agreed a shopping list and have set in train preparation of a flyer in which we will try to capture the essence of the club and Swyncombe.

I am acutely aware that it is your annual generosity that covers our ongoing revenue and capital needs and we continue to depend on that. But don’t worry, the aim of the flyer will be to pull funds in from far and wide for some bigger ticket items such as ground maintenance equipment for Clive as his current stuff expires etc. etc. I’ll write again when we have the flyer completed, together with the shopping list so that you will be kept well informed. If you have any suggestions as to outside bodies we might approach it’d be great to hear of them.
In the meantime, our first game will be at home on 5th May against Oxford United Hospitals. Do please pop over, we’d love to see you to chat and thank you for your support.

With all best wishes

Ian Bayley

Letter from the President - Ian Bayley

2018-05-17T09:53:11+01:00

Dear Vice Presidents

I fear this Presidential letter is later than is customary, particularly as Swyncombe have already played their first match of the season. Despite being occupied at a conference in Madrid, and cringing at Arsenal’s demise in the Europa Cup, my thoughts were very much back in the wonderful setting of the archetypal English Village Cricket Club that is forever Swyncombe.

First though, I know I speak for everyone in wishing to thank our outgoing Club President. Ian Lewis’ support during his presidency from 2012 to 2017 went far beyond the call of duty and cannot be adequately recognised. Suffice to say all Communities need their Ian Lewis’s of this world. Legendary was his 2013 rendition of “got to take a wicket or two”.

So it was not with a little trepidation, but also a great deal of pleasure and sense of responsibility, that I accepted the invitation to be Swyncombe’s next President. To be honest, since the day of my youth playing for White Waltham C.C. as a medical student my soul has been in England’s Village Cricket. It is unique in the world and the essence of and heart of what cricket is.

So, this letter is about saying “hullo”; it’s about saying I’ll work my butt off to the best of my ability for our club.

I’ll write again about this and that – not least about the amazing efforts of Clive in creating playable pitches against the odds of the elements: can anyone at Lord’s rival this man – as we go through a season in which we have been refreshed and reinvigorated by the injection of brilliant talent such as that of Ty, rightly voted player of the season by the players. How can we possibly not thrash Nettlebed.

So much has been achieved, ranging from the introduction a couple of years ago of the bowling machine and more recently and mundanely – but no less importantly – “Clive’s new shed”. I shall certainly be hoping for your continued support but I intend to formulate a proper “Five year plan”. So if I ask you to keep your hands in your pockets for the moment please don’t be fooled; I shall be asking you to withdraw them, dripping with dubloons soon enough.

The point is, Swyncombe is a fantastic club that attracts young talent for all sorts of tangible and intangible reasons. As your president I shall do my best to build on Ian Lewis’ legacy. In the meantime hold the front page.

Best wishes

Ian Bayley

Letter from the President - Ian Lewis

2017-04-29T15:12:40+01:00

Dear Vice Presidents

I hope all is well with you and your family and that you are looking forward to what I am sure will be a fabulous summer.

Having spent a while away in Asia and travelling a little elsewhere, I can assure you that our Parish just can not be beaten as a place to live. Seriously. We are all very lucky to live here and Alison and I are so glad to be back home. The spring blossom this year held its head up with the “Sakura” and the bluebells in the woods…well… there is no worldly comparison.

There is so much tension and change in the world at the moment. It seems we all need to rely on those familiar and recurring ways of life to help keep us going through these turbulent times. “Thank goodness for the Swyncombe Cricket Club!” I hear you exclaim, “and that annual letter from its President to ask for continued support and a donation to the Club!”

It is fair to say that last season’s results were a little mixed but in other ways the Club made great strides. We introduced two new fixtures against Turville and Stonor. The season finished with a win over Stonor – a fine team – so this was enjoyed by all. Importantly, we attracted two new players last season which is a good healthy signal for the Club’s future success.

The Vice Presidents’ dinner was held in The Fat Fox last year and I believe everybody present had a cracking time. Thank you to all those who attended that evening and helped make it such a memorable event.

We are seeking planning permission for the new shed. This will help Clive, our dedicated groundsman, to more efficiently use his time. The current shed is clogged and means Clive must carry out the equivalent of a ‘numbered slide puzzle’ with the equipment every time he wants to tender the wicket or ground. I am delighted to say that the ‘mechanical wizard’ Clive has managed to revive the sit-on-roller and this is now running (rolling). This needs a home in the new shed.

Many associated with the Club spent 22nd April tidying and fixing the Clubhouse. This community building is now 15 years old and was in need of some attention. The roof felt was dressed, rotten roof wood replaced and gutters cleared and cleaned. The shed has been stained and painted. This is a little love for the Clubhouse that has served the whole community well over these years.

This seasons starts on 7th May at home to Oxford United Hospitals. A full fixture list is available at www.swyncombecc.co.uk, the Club website. We are keen to recruit more players. If you know of anybody with who may be interested, please let us know.

I have taken the liberty of enclosing a reply envelope for any 2017 donation you may feel able to make to the Cricket Club. Please contact Peter Regent or me if you would like to talk about the Club at all.

I hope to catch up with you over the summer. In the meantime, I wish you well.

Best wishes.

Ian Lewis - President

Letter from the President - Ian Lewis

2016-05-04T09:10:32+01:00

Dear Vice Presidents

I hope this letter finds you well and just about to enjoy some warmer Spring weather. I confess that I am writing to you a little later this year. I put this down to my increasing years and slowing brain, or maybe the jet-lag that seems to have become a constant in my life for now. Anyway, the first ball of the new season has already been delivered and thwacked through the covers and into the new hedge.

I am writing to ask you to continue to support the Club as a Vice President for this season by making a donation to its upkeep. The Club survives only by receiving generous donations from local residents like you as well as the dedicated voluntary work of a number of people. We will as always use your donation wisely.

Last season was more challenging for the team with less wins than in previous seasons – a ‘mid-table’ position. Never happy with that kind of outcome, our dedicated Clive Goodall has spent his Winter studying Leicester City FC’s march towards Premier League success. He has also re-read Claudio Ranieri’s 2004 blockbuster book ‘Proud Man Walking’ for inspiration to motivate the team to greater things during this season.

Vice Presidents and cricketers too gave a wonderful innings of ‘500 hedging plants, not out’ to create the new hedge along Church Road. Splendid. I understand that special thanks go to Nigel ‘Docker’ Payne for being the person who actually knew what he was doing and for facilitating stumping and mulching.

If you look closely of an evening and if you are lucky, you may see Clive G with his spanner in hand somewhere around the side of the shed; oily rag at the ready. He will (of course) be tinkering with the sit-down roller that was purchased last year to enable him to sit-and-roll rather than be dragged unceremoniously around the pitch on foot. An additional smaller storage shed is high on our wish list this year to help Clive overcome the ‘sliding tile puzzle’ challenge he encounters every time he wants to gain access to or put away an item of equipment (just like your own undersized garden shed).

A full fixture list is available at www.swyncombecc.co.uk , the club website. We are always keen to recruit new players so if you fancy rubbing down and oiling up your bat (Clive can help with this) or if you know somebody else who wants to play, please let us know. We would love to see you as spectators at our matches too; a cool beer in hand as part of a warm summer’s early evening walk.

I have taken the liberty of enclosing a reply envelope for any 2016 donation you may be able to provide to the Cricket Club. Please contact Peter Regent if you would like to talk about the Club at all.

Finally, I would like to thank Clive and all associated in the running of the Club for their hard work. Good luck this season!

Thank you for your continued support. I look forward to seeing you over the Summer.

Best wishes.
Ian Lewis, President.

Letter from the President - Ian Lewis

2015-04-25T10:26:49+01:00

Dear Vice Presidents

I hope all is well with you and your family, and that you are looking forward to a glorious English summer which may be a welcome escape from all that election malarkey.

I am writing to give you a brief update on last season and to ask you to continue to support us as a Vice President of the Club for the coming season by making a donation to its upkeep. The Club survives only by receiving generous donations from local residents like you as well as the dedicated voluntary work of a number of people. We would as always use your Vice President donation wisely.

Last season was largely successful. Our team triumphed in the match of the season, regaining the ‘Ron Vines’ Cup’ against Nettlebed Cricket Club. Nothing trumps beating your local rivals. There was yet another grand turnout at the ‘End of Season’ Dinner. We were treated to an extremely entertaining wine-tasting session by Tim Bayley, one of our all-rounders. One wonders who will be performing this year…

Your kind donations allowed us to enlarge the patio and fence by the pavilion which looks great and will benefit not just the cricket team, but the wider community. We also got hold of a sit-on roller to help Clive, our dedicated groundsman, to maintain the fabulous wicket.

Plans for this year include the erection of a new shed alongside the existing to store and allow easy access to the tractor and gang mower which is currently challenging. We will also look to extend the patio to the front of the pavilion which will allow Vice Presidents to enjoy the cricket with a glass of wine or beer in more comfort.

This seasons starts on May 3rd 2015. A full fixture list is available at www.swyncombecc.co.uk the Club website. In addition to our regular schedule and for those that prefer a racier cricketing experience, we hope to hold a few 20/20 games on Friday evenings in June. Not for the faint-hearted.

We are keen to recruit more players. Your President has gone to great lengths to scout and attract overseas talent, particularly from South East Asia. But if you know of anybody with a slightly shorter travel-to-match time who may be interested, please let us know.
I have taken the liberty of enclosing a reply envelope for any 2015 donation you may feel able to provide to the Cricket Club. Please contact Peter Regent if you would like to talk about the Club at all.

I am sure I will catch up with most of you over the summer. In the meantime, I wish you well.

Best wishes.

Ian Lewis - President

Letter from the President - Ian Lewis

2014-04-25T13:18:27+01:00

Dear Vice Presidents

I hope all is well with you and your family and that you had a relaxing Easter break.

My writing to you as President of Swyncombe Cricket Club is one of those events that seems to whizz around ever quicker each year. This letter does at least herald the chance of hot summer days in the Parish. I hope they come; we need to dry out, don’t we?

I am writing to give you a brief update on last season and to ask you to continue to support us as a Vice President of the Club for the coming season by making a donation to its upkeep. The Club survives only by receiving generous donations from local residents like you as well as the dedicated voluntary work of a number of people. We would use your Vice President donation wisely.

Last season was again successful although results were mixed. The season culminated in a very well attended and most enjoyable End of Season Dinner. It was good to see so many Vice Presidents there.

You may have recently seen Clive Goodall and his volunteer crew up at the ground, preparing the square and the outfield for the new season. We attained a new wicket mower for cutting and scarifying to help with this. Moles and moss again present our Groundsman with a challenge and he is busy combatting them both.

Our frugal Treasurer, Peter Regent, saved enough of your donations over a number of years to achieve one of our long-held goals. Last season, the Club purchased a practice net and bowling machine. This kit is incredibly useful to the team. It brings us a little more in-line with other clubs, should help our performances going forward and also makes the Club more attractive to new players. The team had their first nets practice two weeks ago and, weather permitting, will be practicing hard over the coming weeks.

This seasons starts on 4th May. A full fixture list is available at www.swyncombecc.co.uk, the Club website. Please take a quick look at the website. Peter Regent has done a grand job with the photography and content. It is a great advert for the Parish.

I have taken the liberty of enclosing a reply envelope for any 2014 donation you may feel able to provide to the Cricket Club. Please contact Peter or me if you would like to talk about the Club at all. We are keen to recruit more players. If you know of anybody who may be interested, please let us know.

I hope you have a fantastic summer.

Best wishes

Ian Lewis
SCCPresident

Letter from the President - Peter Green

2011-04-01T12:00:00+01:00

Dear Vice President

Thank you very much indeed for the wonderful support and donation you gave to Swyncombe Cricket Club last season. We had a wonderful season of cricket and the Club reached a new level of confidence and team spirit as a direct result of the new Gang Mower which you so kindly contributed towards. I hope the enclosed 2011 Fixture Card will allow you to plan a trip to one of our home games and join us for a cup of tea and a slice of homemade cake.

Our Vice Presidents put us into a position where Clive Goodall our Club Captain could continue to look after the grounds with the new Gang Mower to the same high and exacting standards that he has always applied to our beautiful cricket pitch.

During the Year we launched our new web site which has proved invaluable in terms of communicating to our Vice Presidents, members and the general public. To have a quick look at our web site please visit www.swyncombecricketclub.co.uk .

As we enter the new season I have taken the liberty of enclosing a reply paid envelope for any 2011 donation you may feel able to provide to the Cricket Club, along with a Gift Aid slip below. If you are unable to make a donation this year could you please complete the Gift Aid slip, so that we might recover the tax from your Gift Aid donations last year.

Thank you very much for all of your support without which we would not have been able to continue as a Club and maintain our beautiful facility.

Kind regards

Peter Green President SCC

Letter from the President - Peter Green

2010-04-01T12:00:00+01:00

Please accept my apologies for this unsolicited letter but I am writing to ask you (in my capacity as Club President) if you would kindly consider becoming a Vice President of Swyncombe Cricket Club?

Unfortunately our faithful Gang Mower has now broken down completely!

As I am sure you are aware Clive Goodall our Captain works incredibly hard keeping everything in ship shape order and I am delighted to report that Swyncombe Cricket Club have managed to purchase a second hand set of Gang Mowers from a supplier in Amersham at a cost of £1700. We have taken out a temporary loan to secure the Gang Mower and it will be delivered this week.

However we do need to raise the money to repay the loan as quickly as possible. Current pledges from Vice Presidents range from £50 to £100, so a donation in this range would be fantastic.

If you are able to help could you please make cheques payable to "Swyncombe Cricket Club." Please send or deliver to our Treasurer:- Peter Regent Treasurer SCC 10 Coates Lane Cookley Green Oxon RG9 6EE
Please do not hesitate to contact me (details above) if you would like to discuss this further.

Many thanks for any help you are able to give.

Kind regards

Peter Green President SCC

Letter from the President - Ian Lewis

2012-04-01T12:00:00+01:00

Dear Vice Presidents

I am delighted to be writing to you as the new President of Swyncombe Cricket Club. Peter Green has stepped down having led the Club through its recovery over the last two years. The Club is most grateful to Peter.

Alison and I moved into Stockings Lane late last year and look forward to being part of this lovely community. This is one of the most beautiful areas in all of England and the Club makes Swyncombe even more desirable. I look forward to being involved in such an important Parish asset.

Your kind donation last year allowed us to do a number of critical things. Emergency repairs were made to the wicket and we bought a “harrower” as the first step in our fight back against the unremitting moss invasion of the outfield. We were able to properly insure the Club.

If you who came along to the End of Season celebration, you will already know about the outstanding achievements of the team on the field. You are currently a Vice President of the only unbeaten Club in the whole of South Oxfordshire last year. We also won the “Ron Vines” Cup for the first time. This is a great performance which sets a terribly high hurdle for this year!

The Club would be delighted if you could continue your generous support and to make a donation for the forthcoming season. This will allow us to maintain and improve the quality of the wicket and outfield for the years to come. We are all aware of the current water situation and we urgently need to make provision for the upcoming hosepipe ban. Please give your Vice President donation to Peter Regent or me.

Pop over to say hello at our home games and keep in touch with our progress on our website www.swyncombecricketclub.co.uk and through the reports in The Henley Standard. Please contact me or Peter if you want to discuss any aspect of the Club.

I would like to wish you a Happy Easter. Let’s hope that summer brings plenty of sunshine but a good amount of rain too for farms, gardens and cricket squares; but preferably not always on Sunday afternoons, please.

Yours sincerely,

Ian Lewis

Letter from the President - Ian Lewis

2013-04-01T12:00:00+01:00

Dear Vice Presidents

The daffodils are about to bloom, the ‘Six Nations’ has reached a climax and the President of Swyncombe Cricket Club is writing to you. This must mean that Spring and joyfully bright weather are on their way now.

The purpose of my letter is to give you a brief update on last season and to ask you to continue to support us as a Vice President of the Club for the coming season by making a donation to its upkeep. The Club survives only by receiving generous donations from local residents and the dedicated voluntary work of a number of people.

We would spend your Vice President donation wisely. Last year, donations allowed us to continue the battle to keep the square and the outfield in reasonable condition. You may have noticed that the cold weather has now brought moles to the surface of the outfield and so we will have to deal with this before the season gets underway.

Our 2012 season was interesting. Despite serious concerns this time last year over how we were going to water the wicket in the drought conditions, we were very much looking forward to tackling much stronger opponents in new fixtures. Expectations were high and we were steeled for the challenge. Then it started to rain.

The weather had an enormous impact on our season with half of all fixtures cancelled. It was a struggle to gain momentum and to put out a consistent team. Match fee takings were down as a result of the cancellations. I am however proud to tell you that your cricket team played well in those matches that did take place; winning half of them against that stronger competition. We also retained the Ron Vines Cup in a victory over our local rivals Nettlebed. So we look forward to the 2013 season with great anticipation.

We continue to find ways to attract players to the club and we have purchased practice nets and a bowling machine so that players can practice for matchdays. I will be monitoring the expected uptick in batting averages this season. On the subject of players, if you know someone of any standard who would like even an occasional ‘knock’, please put them in touch with us.

You are always welcome to pop across to the pavilion for a cup of tea or something a little stronger. We would very much like to see you. Also, call me or Peter Regent if you would like to talk about the Club; we’d like to hear your views.

Happy Easter.

Yours sincerely,

Ian Lewis