Honorary Secretary’s Report, 2018. My annual report usually begins with a round-up with the changes to the Club’s General Committee made at the previous year’s AGM. Whist there were some new faces, the most important thing I wish to highlight is the incredibly poor attendance at the AGM last November. Only 19 members turned-out. That is from a membership approaching 100 people and of those 19, only 6 were active players! A ridiculously low number. Whilst a quorum was reached to enable many items to be voted-on and some Committee members elected, the Club Rules state that certain positions may be voted on only by playing members. Simply, because fewer than one-fifth of the total paid-up players were in attendance, Captains, their deputies and Playing Sub-Committee members could not be “elected”. As far as I know this was unprecedented and in order to resolve the situation the decision was taken to keep the status quo by the existing role holders to remain in post then for the General Committee to co-opt people to fill any vacant roles later. The upshot was those who did not wish to be re-elected to the General Committee were Marcus Baker and William Heslam. Brought-in were Sam Summers, Paul Garrott, Michael Robertson and Rob Lankester. Sean Tidey took over as the Under 25’s Representative. A new role on the Committee was created when Bill Mansfield became the first Facility Manager. Later, MJE Baker stood down from the 3rd XI captaincy to be replaced by Paul Garrott. I thank all those past and present members who have served on the General Committee. Despite some ups-and-downs, our Club remains solvent and runs smoothly thanks to the hours of work and commitment these [...]

Honorary Secretary’s Report, 2017. I have routinely begun this Report by detailing the changes of personnel on the Club’s General Committee; this year, that is secondary. The most significant change to our Club came with the death in September of our twice-Past President, Howard Marshall, at the age of 82. He had been in declining health for some months. I am sure you will have your own memories and anecdotes of and about Howard and I don’t intend to reproduce them here. All I shall state is that without Howard’s massive influence, commitment, hard-work and leadership for almost half-a-century, Reed Cricket Club and its players would not be where they are today. Thank you Howard. We look forward to next season when in a ceremony at which we hope members of his family will be present, we shall be naming the Clubhouse, the Howard Marshall Pavilion in his honour. Last autumn, it was a shock to me to receive an indication from John Heslam that he would not be seeking re-election as Club Chairman nor as Committee Member at the 2016 AGM. More on that later. Others of the 2015/6 Committee who also stood down for various reasons were Marcus Martin, Ian Osborne, Mike Robertson, Graham Smith, Jack Tidey, Paul Watts and Rob Willoughby. I thank them all for their parts in managing the Club and all the tasks they have collectively carried-out over the years. Putting themselves forward to Committee positions at the AGM were Phil Frenay, (2nd XI Captain), and Peter Tidey (without portfolio). Matt Bowles ceased being Social Secretary and took over as Playing Sub-Committee Chairman, Cilla Robertson added Colts Liaison to her roles as Welfare Officer and Membership Secretary. Although already [...]