Thame’s new ‘belter’ of a club house opened by Mayor

DISTINGUISHED guests, including representatives from the English Cricket Board, council dignitaries, Thame’s MP John Howell and sponsors joined the Mayor of Thame, Ann Midwinter on Sunday (17/12) for the officially opening of Thame Town Cricket Club’s brand new club house.

Before cutting the ceremonial ribbon, Mrs Midwinter paid tribute to those who planned and built the original clubhouse back in the mid 1970s (which was situated behind the new building up until this September), including Ken Patey and the late John Wrench. She said it was an honour to be able to open a building that is not only an outstanding cricket clubhouse but which is also a great asset for the community as a whole.

Thame Town Cricket Club’s President, Matt Swain thanked all those involved in bringing the project to its conclusion on-time and on budget, including Project Leader Simon Keen, of Ridge and Partners LLP, and paid particular tribute the Thame’s Town Clerk, Graham Hunt, to Ben Holland the Architect, to Steve McDonald and the Angus Lachlan whose original idea it was to build a new club house. Matt also thanked town councillors, South Oxfordshire District Council, the ECB, LEADER, Thame Welfare Trust, Travelodge, Farol Ltd, TOE2 and Grundon Waste Management Ltd, as well as Marston’s Brewery, the cricket club’s fundraising team, The Debenture Club and everyone who had bought a brick or made a donation – and Nigel ‘The Do-Gooder’ !

Matt’s grateful thanks were also extended to the club’s sponsors, J Bennett & Son Insurance, Mobalpa Kitchens, and the club’s new sponsor for the coming year, Field Sales Solutions.

The guests enjoyed sharing a celebratory drink and buffet upstairs in the new club house, some reminiscing with two very special people, Gill Wrench, the widow of John Wrench, and Ken Patey, who with John instigated the building of the old club house, back in the 1970s, in the field that the club then shared with a herd of sheep in between lambing time. Gill recalled serving homemade sandwiches and tea under a tarpaulin before the clubhouse kitchen was ready, and Ken recalled the lack of a changing room, necessitating cricketers changing under a overhang of the old barn, and hanging their clothes on a nail!

“Great times,” said Gill. It was cold, hard work but always great fun!” Ken recalled how the two men had to negotiate with Cllr David Dodds of Thame Urban District Council, and Dr Marcus over the plans, and how one of the planning provisos was that they had to have sheep painted on the back of the sight screens so that the neighbours could still look out at sheep during matches!

For the future, the new Thame Town Cricket Club building will be used – and already is being used – by local groups including Thame Netball Club and Thame Cycling Club, and it is an aspiration that Thame Hockey Club will come to use it in the winter too! The venue can be hired for events, and from February 2019, will be the new home of Thame and District Day Centre.

This grand, new community building has already become a very welcome and important contributor the fabric of Thame and a fitting successor to the old clubhouse that will remain in the memories of so many of all ages who enjoyed club teas, Sixth Form discos and birthday parties there.