Minutes of meeting of Hethersett and Meltons Sports Association held at Park Farm Hotel, Hethersett, January 13th, 2014
Apologies
Apologies were received from Toni Horsfield (TH), Maria Alborough (MA), Colin McDermott (CM), Harold Kerslake (HK), Bobby Dowling (BD), Claire Burke (CB), Alison Utting (AU), Helen Lawn (HL) and Mark Heazle (MH).
Round Table Introductions There were 14 members present – Gary Wyatt (GW), Mel Perkins (MP), Fiona Whiting (FW), Matt Selby (MS), Ron Butcher (RB), David Bunn (DBu), Leslie Dale (LD), David Bills (DBi), Bart Anderton (BA), Maurice Durrant (MD), Shane Hull (SH), Peter Hoult (PH), Peter Steward (PS) and Anne Barrett (AB)
Minutes of Previous Meeting
These had been circulated and were taken as read.
Treasurer’s Report
SH produced the latest accounts with a grant of £300 being received from Lloyds Bank under their community fund. This brought the present balance for the association to £1,242.35p. In addition the association still has £700 lodged with South Norfolk Council for marketing and promotion.
Membership forms were passed round – membership being £5 a year for clubs and free for individuals.
New Clubs/Equipment Reports
BA gave a report on the success of Hethersett Velo Club which has between 170 and 180 members. The club’s aim is to attract more people to cycling to improve their fitness. The club is affiliated to British Cycling and, as well as regular weekly club rides, also organises social events and has an age range of 13 to 74.
BA reported that this year’s 30-60-90 event will take place on April 20th starting from Hethersett Social Club. Over 200 riders have already signed up and it is anticipated that between 750 and 800 will take part.
PH reported on the success of the Memorial Playing Field Croquet Club, the setting up of which has been supported by the association. The club is currently on a winter break but will start up again in April with the possibility of a second lawn being introduced.
MH gave his apologies for the evening but sent in a report on the community gym which will initially be continuing until April when a decision will be made on whether it should become a permanent part of fitness in Hethersett. It is hoped to develop a volunteer committee to run the initiative. This could possibly come from the ranks of HaMSA. It was agreed that additional flyers should be distributed in the village.
MH also promoted a Sport Relief Mile event which will take place in Wymondham at Ketts Park on March 23rd. He will be forwarding full details in the near future.
SH updated the meeting on the possibility of all weather sports facilities in Hethersett. A piece of land has been identified at Hethersett Junior School and a meeting to discuss this is being held at the school at 6 p.m on February 6th to which everyone is welcome. There is the possibility of setting up a Trust to drive this initiative forward. Liaison with the Norwich Diocese, who own the land, is currently taking place. The plan is for 3g facilities that can feature football, rugby, hockey and other sports, possibly with floodlighting. The project would cost up to £500,000. This would be raised through fund-raising and grants.
PH reported on the new petanque terrain which is now ready for use and has been provided through funding from HaMSA. PS agreed to contact Richard Headicar from Woodcote Sheltered Housing to discuss the future use of the area on the Memorial Playing Field.
PS reported that the running group will be reconstituted on Thursday evenings once the nights are light enough. The group is currently without a qualified coach and is likely to consist of people wanting to run together in a group. Interest has already been shown in developing this idea. PS will also organise come and try events for tennis and rounders in the Spring.
PH and DBu spoke about the success of the Queen’s Road Badminton Club and its expansion with a number of new youth members in the eight to 16 year bracket. The club applied for funding from the association to help it to continue to expand and use courts at Hethersett Old Hall School. On a proposal from DB, seconded by MP, the club was granted £250 to help with equipment and expansion.
RB and AB reported on the improvements to the bowls club on the Memorial Playing Field with expansion work now well under way. The plans had been “kick started” by the grant from HaMSA. Additional funding has been gained from the Geoffrey Watling Trust and Active Norfolk. RB passed around photographs of the work in progress. The club will have an official opening of the improvements at the end of April and are hoping the work will help to attract additional members and also some publicity.
MD updated members on equipment purchased by Crusaders Rugby Club through money received via the Lloyds Bank grant. The money has allowed the club to attract more children with up to 100 training every Sunday.
The Success Story So Far and Coming and Past Events
SH reported on plans for the fifth Hethersett Open Weekend which will take place from July 4th and 6th with sport on the park on the 5th. The next meeting of the Hethersett Olympic Legacy Committee will be on January 21st at 7 p.m when the full programme will be discussed. The committee will also consider any new ideas. LD suggested that a society’s day could be added to the Open Weekend activities and this met with support from around the table.
MP updated the association on plans to improve the pavilion on the Memorial Field with the next stage being obtaining quotes from builders ahead of applying for grants.
PS stated that this year’s South Norfolk Village Games will take place at Long Stratton on June 8th with the county finals on July 13th. He will advise HaMSA of what sports will be included this year once he receives the list. Hethersett have won the area games for the past three years and come runners-up in the county finals for three years in a row.
FW explained her current role within the cluster group of schools which includes Hethersett, Mulbarton and Cringleford. The cluster has received an Olympic legacy grant to promote the legacy values. This includes both sporting and other artistic endeavours. An Aspirations Week will take place in the week beginning February 10th. FW will ask the new Hethersett Academy for a presence at coming HaMSA meetings.
MS reported that Fitness Express has about 1,000 members and the ladies changing rooms will shortly be refurbished. There is also the possibility of new equipment for the gym.
MP reported on moves by Hethersett Athletic Football Club to work in conjunction with other groups to instigate a village fireworks display in 2014. Crusaders Rugby Club expressed an interest in helping and the matter will be discussed at the next football club meeting.
DB has spoken with Hethersett Hall which is keen to have its facilities used by HaMSA. This matter will be kept on the agenda.
PH reported that the table tennis club based at the Methodist Church has been taking a winter break but is ready to resume providing people come forward to run it. PH will get in touch with players with a view to the Friday evening sessions being split into one for juniors and one for seniors.
MP introduced his ideas for a villages’ sports challenge for teams of up to eight people from either Hethersett or the Meltons. Events would take place between April and October. Members agreed that this was an excellent idea and trophies could be funded by HaMSA. MP asked for expressions of interest from member clubs in staging events for the challenge.
PH explained his ideas for a cryptic clue treasure hunt style competition (possibly called Quest). This would involve four to five mile walks looking for clues with special prizes for children taking part. PH will release more information on this as soon as it is available.
Northern River Valleys Board
DB reported on proposed changes to the Northern River Valleys Board set-up with more promotion in local areas and the chairman having more responsibility and freedom to make decisions. Julie Ringer has replaced Nigel Bailey who has left the council. It was agreed that Julie should be invited to the next HaMSA meeting and added to the association’s mailing list.
DB also reported the latest position with the regard to the purchase of a race clock. This would become the property of HaMSA for use by village organisations and also organisations outside Hethersett for a small fee.
Campaigns Update
It was felt that considerable steps have already been taken towards achieving many of the 2013 aims of the association with the aims being taken forward into 2014.
These include the continuing support for sport and recreational facilities, encouraging more people to walk or cycle, encouraging more participation in sport by girls and women, and lobbying for improved footpaths in the area. PS will contact organisations to put together a dossier of facts on these successes.
PS reported that the levels of vandalism and nuisance on the Memorial Field have been drastically cut due to the efforts of the police and the Memorial Playing Field Trustees. This could also be due to the dark nights and bad weather. The lights on the park are now turned off at 9.30 p.m. PS will continue with plans to make the playing field an alcohol free zone. Liaison with local police will also continue. MD reported vandalism at Crusaders Rugby Club.
Marketing and Promotion
The association still has a budget of £700 lodged with South Norfolk Council for promotion and publicity purposes. This item will be placed on the agenda of the next meeting for discussion.
Any Other Business
PS once again thanked Park Farm for the use of their excellent facilities.
Date and Venue of Next Meeting
Monday 14th April, 2014 at 7.30 p.m at Park Farm Hotel.
Apologies
Apologies were received from Toni Horsfield (TH), Maria Alborough (MA), Colin McDermott (CM), Harold Kerslake (HK), Bobby Dowling (BD), Claire Burke (CB), Alison Utting (AU), Helen Lawn (HL) and Mark Heazle (MH).
Round Table Introductions There were 14 members present – Gary Wyatt (GW), Mel Perkins (MP), Fiona Whiting (FW), Matt Selby (MS), Ron Butcher (RB), David Bunn (DBu), Leslie Dale (LD), David Bills (DBi), Bart Anderton (BA), Maurice Durrant (MD), Shane Hull (SH), Peter Hoult (PH), Peter Steward (PS) and Anne Barrett (AB)
Minutes of Previous Meeting
These had been circulated and were taken as read.
Treasurer’s Report
SH produced the latest accounts with a grant of £300 being received from Lloyds Bank under their community fund. This brought the present balance for the association to £1,242.35p. In addition the association still has £700 lodged with South Norfolk Council for marketing and promotion.
Membership forms were passed round – membership being £5 a year for clubs and free for individuals.
New Clubs/Equipment Reports
BA gave a report on the success of Hethersett Velo Club which has between 170 and 180 members. The club’s aim is to attract more people to cycling to improve their fitness. The club is affiliated to British Cycling and, as well as regular weekly club rides, also organises social events and has an age range of 13 to 74.
BA reported that this year’s 30-60-90 event will take place on April 20th starting from Hethersett Social Club. Over 200 riders have already signed up and it is anticipated that between 750 and 800 will take part.
PH reported on the success of the Memorial Playing Field Croquet Club, the setting up of which has been supported by the association. The club is currently on a winter break but will start up again in April with the possibility of a second lawn being introduced.
MH gave his apologies for the evening but sent in a report on the community gym which will initially be continuing until April when a decision will be made on whether it should become a permanent part of fitness in Hethersett. It is hoped to develop a volunteer committee to run the initiative. This could possibly come from the ranks of HaMSA. It was agreed that additional flyers should be distributed in the village.
MH also promoted a Sport Relief Mile event which will take place in Wymondham at Ketts Park on March 23rd. He will be forwarding full details in the near future.
SH updated the meeting on the possibility of all weather sports facilities in Hethersett. A piece of land has been identified at Hethersett Junior School and a meeting to discuss this is being held at the school at 6 p.m on February 6th to which everyone is welcome. There is the possibility of setting up a Trust to drive this initiative forward. Liaison with the Norwich Diocese, who own the land, is currently taking place. The plan is for 3g facilities that can feature football, rugby, hockey and other sports, possibly with floodlighting. The project would cost up to £500,000. This would be raised through fund-raising and grants.
PH reported on the new petanque terrain which is now ready for use and has been provided through funding from HaMSA. PS agreed to contact Richard Headicar from Woodcote Sheltered Housing to discuss the future use of the area on the Memorial Playing Field.
PS reported that the running group will be reconstituted on Thursday evenings once the nights are light enough. The group is currently without a qualified coach and is likely to consist of people wanting to run together in a group. Interest has already been shown in developing this idea. PS will also organise come and try events for tennis and rounders in the Spring.
PH and DBu spoke about the success of the Queen’s Road Badminton Club and its expansion with a number of new youth members in the eight to 16 year bracket. The club applied for funding from the association to help it to continue to expand and use courts at Hethersett Old Hall School. On a proposal from DB, seconded by MP, the club was granted £250 to help with equipment and expansion.
RB and AB reported on the improvements to the bowls club on the Memorial Playing Field with expansion work now well under way. The plans had been “kick started” by the grant from HaMSA. Additional funding has been gained from the Geoffrey Watling Trust and Active Norfolk. RB passed around photographs of the work in progress. The club will have an official opening of the improvements at the end of April and are hoping the work will help to attract additional members and also some publicity.
MD updated members on equipment purchased by Crusaders Rugby Club through money received via the Lloyds Bank grant. The money has allowed the club to attract more children with up to 100 training every Sunday.
The Success Story So Far and Coming and Past Events
SH reported on plans for the fifth Hethersett Open Weekend which will take place from July 4th and 6th with sport on the park on the 5th. The next meeting of the Hethersett Olympic Legacy Committee will be on January 21st at 7 p.m when the full programme will be discussed. The committee will also consider any new ideas. LD suggested that a society’s day could be added to the Open Weekend activities and this met with support from around the table.
MP updated the association on plans to improve the pavilion on the Memorial Field with the next stage being obtaining quotes from builders ahead of applying for grants.
PS stated that this year’s South Norfolk Village Games will take place at Long Stratton on June 8th with the county finals on July 13th. He will advise HaMSA of what sports will be included this year once he receives the list. Hethersett have won the area games for the past three years and come runners-up in the county finals for three years in a row.
FW explained her current role within the cluster group of schools which includes Hethersett, Mulbarton and Cringleford. The cluster has received an Olympic legacy grant to promote the legacy values. This includes both sporting and other artistic endeavours. An Aspirations Week will take place in the week beginning February 10th. FW will ask the new Hethersett Academy for a presence at coming HaMSA meetings.
MS reported that Fitness Express has about 1,000 members and the ladies changing rooms will shortly be refurbished. There is also the possibility of new equipment for the gym.
MP reported on moves by Hethersett Athletic Football Club to work in conjunction with other groups to instigate a village fireworks display in 2014. Crusaders Rugby Club expressed an interest in helping and the matter will be discussed at the next football club meeting.
DB has spoken with Hethersett Hall which is keen to have its facilities used by HaMSA. This matter will be kept on the agenda.
PH reported that the table tennis club based at the Methodist Church has been taking a winter break but is ready to resume providing people come forward to run it. PH will get in touch with players with a view to the Friday evening sessions being split into one for juniors and one for seniors.
MP introduced his ideas for a villages’ sports challenge for teams of up to eight people from either Hethersett or the Meltons. Events would take place between April and October. Members agreed that this was an excellent idea and trophies could be funded by HaMSA. MP asked for expressions of interest from member clubs in staging events for the challenge.
PH explained his ideas for a cryptic clue treasure hunt style competition (possibly called Quest). This would involve four to five mile walks looking for clues with special prizes for children taking part. PH will release more information on this as soon as it is available.
Northern River Valleys Board
DB reported on proposed changes to the Northern River Valleys Board set-up with more promotion in local areas and the chairman having more responsibility and freedom to make decisions. Julie Ringer has replaced Nigel Bailey who has left the council. It was agreed that Julie should be invited to the next HaMSA meeting and added to the association’s mailing list.
DB also reported the latest position with the regard to the purchase of a race clock. This would become the property of HaMSA for use by village organisations and also organisations outside Hethersett for a small fee.
Campaigns Update
It was felt that considerable steps have already been taken towards achieving many of the 2013 aims of the association with the aims being taken forward into 2014.
These include the continuing support for sport and recreational facilities, encouraging more people to walk or cycle, encouraging more participation in sport by girls and women, and lobbying for improved footpaths in the area. PS will contact organisations to put together a dossier of facts on these successes.
PS reported that the levels of vandalism and nuisance on the Memorial Field have been drastically cut due to the efforts of the police and the Memorial Playing Field Trustees. This could also be due to the dark nights and bad weather. The lights on the park are now turned off at 9.30 p.m. PS will continue with plans to make the playing field an alcohol free zone. Liaison with local police will also continue. MD reported vandalism at Crusaders Rugby Club.
Marketing and Promotion
The association still has a budget of £700 lodged with South Norfolk Council for promotion and publicity purposes. This item will be placed on the agenda of the next meeting for discussion.
Any Other Business
PS once again thanked Park Farm for the use of their excellent facilities.
Date and Venue of Next Meeting
Monday 14th April, 2014 at 7.30 p.m at Park Farm Hotel.