Dear Member
We at BVCC hope and pray that you are all in good health and spirit at this, the most challenging of times. Since we last wrote to you, the impact of coronavirus on our everyday lives has become even greater. Many of our members will be finding it difficult and our first thoughts are for your wellbeing and that of your loved ones. We’d also like to share our appreciation for the heroic efforts of NHS staff and all our other key workers, doing an amazing job in such difficult circumstances.
Following the Government’s advice around social distancing, all forms of recreational cricket are for now suspended, including training and any associated cricket activity. This also includes the social side of the Club, which is now in ‘shutdown’ and we are following up the ECB and Government links with regard to ongoing financial support for leisure clubs. Obviously, we will not be asking for your membership subscriptions until such time as we are able to re-open but we do intend to continue with the Century Club every month and therefore ask that, wherever possible, you maintain your contributions. Monthly winner’s notifications will continue and prizes will be ‘banked’ until we can safely make payments.
At this time, we are unsure whether activities such as Bledfest will be able to go ahead this year, not least through rules on social separation but also because it is dependent in large part to countless hours of planning and work from many volunteers. We can only look forward to the possibilities for the rest of 2020 and consider whether we may be able to play out half a cricket season.
In the anticipation that we will be able to open again sometime in the summer, we continue to maintain the ground and facilities, in accordance with the published rules and guidance of the ECB and any essential work is carried out with strict adherence to the government guidance on social distancing. We ask that if you do find yourself at the Club during these times, possibly during periods of personal exercise, that you equally observe the spirit of the Government’s guidance.
We all know that sports clubs can play a big part in the life of a community and we all feel disappointed that we can’t do more at this time. We also know that the Club can play an important role in bringing our community back together once we get past this uncertain period. I am sure that our Bledlow Family can come back even stronger than ever as a result of all this. We are thankful for your continued support and hope that we can share better news with you in the near future.
In the meantime, we will be happy to explore any thoughts and ideas that you might have relating to ‘virtual’ entertainment for members - particularly at junior levels. If you might have any other thoughts or questions please don’t hesitate to contact myself or one of the senior management team.
As the situation evolves, we’ll be in touch directly with further updates.
Stay Safe and Stay at Home,
Roger Downes
Chairman