Swindon have CricketForce covered

10 April 2006

The new Climate Cover sports turf flat sheet on the pitch at Swindon

Swindon’s NatWest CricketForce event went so well over the weekend the Staffordshire club plan to host a film night in a few weeks time to show all the volunteers the video footage shot on the day.

Graeme Hick led a contingent of Worcestershire players along to lend a hand with the proceedings, while the club were presented with a new pitch cover by Climate Cover – one of the Official Supporters of NatWest CricketForce 2006 – having been chosen to receive the free prize offering by ECB.

Graeme Hick checks on the new patio alignment

Swindon CricketForce coordinator Jacqui Watson explained that the film night will provide a chance to reward all those who have worked so hard in the run-up to the event and on the day itself: “It’ll be ‘CricketForce the Movie’. We’ll be serving hot dogs and popcorn and invite members to enjoy the newly refurbished facilities and see themselves on the small screen.

“Junior volunteers will receive a Certificate of Achievement for their outstanding participation in the event, and we will be awarding an MP3 player to the person nominated as Volunteer of the Weekend.”

All sewn up: Graeme Hick as you've never seen him before

Hick certainly did his bit to help Swindon, broadcasting live from the ground on Beacon FM to promote CricketForce one minute; then helping to lay a new patio, and also helping to sew the new clubhouse curtains donated from the Hilton Trafalgar Hotel the next!

Stalwart of women’s cricket Rachel Heyhoe-Flint was also present, and was offered and accepted a position as Honorary Vice-President of the club.

In amongst all their CricketForce works, the club managed to host a VIP lunch for two dozen civic and local dignitaries and their partners: attended by Chairman of South Staffordshire District Council, Brian Hapson; the Chairman of Swindon Parish Council, Roger Lees; and Dewi Williams from Dudley MBC Youth Service; plus Head Teachers from two local primary schools.

“We’re still totalling up the contributions we’ve received from local businesses - but it looks likely to be worth in the region of £6,500,” added Watson. “It was a truly awesome event! We achieved absolutely everything we set out to do as part of our event plan.

“The ‘team spirit’ was absolutely unbelievable, with our youngest volunteer aged four - who painted a bench beautifully - and our oldest volunteer in his 70s!”

Group effort: junior volunteers, club coaches, Dave Powell the Swindon CC Secretary for 32 years (centre), Stuart Lampitt CDM for Worcestershire (far right)