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Gala Day on Bank Holiday Monday was a success for the village on a beautiful sunny afternoon. The Croft, Church and Club had numerous exhibits on show with a lot of interest for the many visitors who supported the event. To arrange such a Show takes a great deal of effort/time by the Gala Committee, volunteers who help on the day, exhibitors, stallholders and sponsors who make Gala Day possible. A big thank you to all concerned for ensuring Rolleston has again shown that we have a lovely village and not afraid to show it off.
Gala Day this year made a small surplus on the day with St. Mary’s Church and the Club benefitting by £427.68. A cheque was presented to Tom Martin, representative of the Church, by Club President, Len Torr at the Church’s ‘pop-up’ stall at the end of September.
A date for your diary could be Saturday 24th February 2018 when John Virgo, a well-known sporting snooker superstar visits Rolleston Club. The event will be in memory of the late David Bentley who played snooker for the Club for many years and his family wish to acknowledge David’s memory with a special tribute. The evening is a ‘one off’ event and will be a ticketed special in the Main Hall with limited numbers attending. A crucible style snooker table will be installed and John Virgo will put on an exhibition of snooker trick shots accompanied with his special brand of humour.
The Club is well known for its quality of draught beers and lagers and, once again, in September was awarded the Cask Marque. Two weeks later we had an unannounced visit by a representative of Cask Marque who tasted and analysed the quality of all the main bitters and the Club received a maximum score in every category. The areas tested were temperature, clarity, aroma and taste with an excellent assessment given for all its draught beers. The Club is very proud of its beer quality and credit must go to Fran Dawes who looks after the cellar together with the support of other Staff.
The Bowls Season has reached its conclusion with Rolleston fulfilling its full fixture list on all fronts. This season the Club had more teams than in previous years using the Bowling Green which has stood up very well despite some adverse weather conditions. Our Groundsman Mick Groves and Trustee Stan Ebberley can be seem regularly mowing, trimming and treating the green to make it an excellent playing surface. Other team members have also offered their time to supplement the work of the ground staff and this is greatly appreciated by those playing the game.
Snooker commenced its season in September with the Club having three teams in the League. A reconditioned table has been purchased for Snooker Room ‘B’ to replace the long standing original. The Club Committee’s policy is to support its members fully in providing facilities by re-investing the surplus made by the bar back into its assets.
The Crib Teams have also commenced their season with two teams in the League. Good luck to Mick Cheetham and the other members throughout the winter months and hopefully in April a trophy!
Rolleston is a very busy Club and hires its facilities out at very reasonable rates to members. There are a few vacancies for Saturday Evenings still available for 2018. If you are interested in hiring the Hall please give us a telephone call (01283 812072) or visit the Club and ask a member of Staff for the details.
There are also many classes/activities available for those wishing to attend:-
Monday: 11.15am – Pilates : 7pm to finish – Line Dancing
Tuesday: 5.30pm and 6.30pm – Fitsteps
Wednesday: 2pm – Yoga : 7.30pm – Pilates : 9.15pm – Quiz
Thursday: 7pm – Whist
Friday: 8pm – Bingo
Just a reminder that annual subscriptions are due on 1st January 2018 and
Committee Members and Staff will be collecting these early in the New Year.
Your co-operation with the early renewal of subscriptions would be appreciated.
This year New Year’s Eve sees Signed, Sealed, Delivered visiting the Club. Tickets are now available at £7.50 members and £12 guests. As usual members will have first opportunity to purchase the tickets with guests subsequently being able to do so two weeks later.
Transport Festival has come and gone and we now plan for Gala Day. The event was a success despite the weather when heavy rain descended on Rolleston during mid-afternoon and put a premature end to the barbeque as it was reaching its peak. This apart did not damper spirits too much as Committee members, friends, staff and helpers ensured that refreshments were available throughout the day as well as the bar serving an excellent range of beers. A mention must go the Burton Air Cadets and family members who were responsible for running the barbeque which was professionally organised and a great advert for the Club and also the Transport Festival.
Gala Day on August Bank Holiday Monday is well into its planning stages and the Committee were delighted to receive the promise of a grant from East Staffordshire Borough Council towards the cost of the marquee. The grant of £500 was obtained with the support of Councillor Beryl Toon on condition that the Gala matched this amount. This has been achieved with finance already being spent on insurance, advertising boards, printing and additional lighting and tables for the marquee.
Entry forms are available at the Newsagents and the Club and there are 107 classes to enter. This is a village event and will only succeed with the support of the residents of Rolleston and the surrounding areas so try your luck with an entry or two. The cost to enter is minimal and with many classes available for children we feel sure there is something which could appeal to the entire family. The day concludes with the presentation of awards, an auction of produce and the Grand Raffle Draw. So if you are free in the evening come along to the Club at 7pm when President Len Torr, our jovial auctioneer for the evening will sell off some of the produce at knock down prices.
A date for the diary is Friday 29th September when Rolleston Club hosts the annual Macmillan World’s Biggest Coffee Morning between 10am and 1 pm. We fully support this charitable organisation and will again have a raffle, tombola, stalls, competitions etc together with tea and coffee and delicious cakes. Everyone is welcome to attend and give support to a very special day.
In the last edition of the Rollestonian a mention was made that our Crib Team were in the final of the Festival Cup and playing the fixture in May. It is pleasing to report that the team won the trophy and received their award at the presentation evening in June. On the same evening the ‘B’ Team won the award for ‘losing crib’ and the spoon has come home. The large wooden spoon adorns the wall in the Club Lounge and is always a talking point when visitors spend some time in the bar.
The Snooker Rooms have been redecorated and given a new decor during the summer break. The colour scheme is much brighter and gives a lighter aspect to both rooms. In February 2018 we are anticipating a special snooker evening to be held with John Virgo playing his own brand of exhibition snooker in the Main Hall. This has been made possible by the family of the late David Bentley, who was a fervent supporter of snooker in the Club. They have fully supported the evening as a tribute to David and want his memory to have a lasting effect on the game he so enjoyed. Watch this space for further details of the evening which will be available to a limited number of members to watch a snooker legend ply his trade.
Our President, Len Torr had his birthday in June and as usual he spent his time in Rolleston Club. The date of his birthday fell on a Friday evening so it was business as usual supporting the bingo. However, I understand his wife arranged a surprise family gathering to celebrate his big day on the Sunday. Len has been a Committee member and supporter of the Club in excess of 50 years. This is a fine achievement and a tribute to someone who is prepared to give his time to enable others to enjoy Club activities.
On October 7th there is an evening when Lauren Moss performs a Whitney Houston and Tina Turner Ultimate Tribute Night. Lauren has performed at the Albert Hall, London Palladium and other top venues so a special evening is expected. Tickets are available at £5 members and £8 non-members from the Club so get yours early to avoid disappointment.
Forthcoming entertainment for August/November is shown below
In April the Club held its Annual General Meeting and reported another successful year. Membership and turnover have increased and more events have been provided with the use of the Main Hall for activities suitable for all ages. We have welcomed two new members to our Committee and are delighted that Anthony Adams and Anthony Rushton have joined our established team. A resignation was also received from Cate Flint and the Committee wish to thank for her valued contribution during her two years representing the Club. Cate has a new role at work and her expanded duties have left her with little time to spare.
A drama group for the 5 to 16 age groups has commenced on a Thursday from 4.15pm to 6.15pm. Rob Adcock is an experience leader and is well known for his expertise and training after many years organising drama classes at the Brewhouse. Maureen Bullock is hoping to expand her line dancing programme on a Monday evening with a beginners class before continuing with her popular classes for more experienced line dancers later in the evening. We also have Fitsteps sessions on a Tuesday evening at 5.30pm and 6.30pm, Yoga on a Wednesday at 2pm and 6pm followed by Pilates at 7.30pm. After all this exercise on a Wednesday there is the weekly Quiz for members to test their knowledge.
The Bowls section has now commenced with the Club having 12 teams (one more that last year). It is anticipated that the Club will be competitive in most leagues and hopefully at the end of the year there may be a trophy or more to collect. As spring arrives the winter activities come to an end. Snooker, darts and crib leagues finish in April and all our teams have completed their programmes. The Crib ‘A’ team have reached the final of the Festival Cup and play the Fire Service in early May, we wish them every success. The Club has also been successful with Tony Rushton and Joe Docksey winning the GSGH
Doubles in the Burton and District Snooker League. Joe also reached the final of the Jason Hyde memorial Trophy but unfortunately was unable to secure the trophy.
When the new Crib seasons re- commences in September the ‘B’ team will be seeking new members to join the League so if you are interested in playing contact Mick Cheetham or a member of the Committee with your details. There is also an opportunity for a dominoes team to be entered into the League and if anyone is interested in playing or running a team please contact the Club Secretary who will assist with the arrangements.
Bookings for our Main Room continue to increase with two weddings already booked for 2018. RODSEC have also reserved the room for special anniversary celebrations in 2018 and 2019. This illustrates how important it is to plan ahead.
Gala Day is to go ahead on August Bank Holiday Monday and it is pleasing that ‘villagers’ have rallied to our aid. John Phillips distributed a flyer asking for volunteers and the response was very positive. We now have an active Gala Committee and planning is well under way for the big day. There are over a hundred classes for all age groups to enter. The schedule will be available in May/June (pdf version) and it is hoped that we will receive many entries for show. It would be appreciated if you could spare a moment to read through the list of classes and take part to help establish the Gala for future years. The Committee have located a company to provide a marquee, tables and lighting etc for the day and hopefully this, coupled with your support will make the day something special. All we need is the weather, like last year, to make it another big day for Rolleston.
Not forgetting Transport Day on May Bank Holiday when the Club will again be supporting the event by the use of the Main Hall, toilets, car park and also providing refreshments during the day. The Air Cadets will be supporting us this year and if their enthusiasm and professional approach seen at the Seniors Party this year is repeated it will be a great day. The Transport Committee work very hard and put on a great event so please support their efforts and fund raising activities.
The Entertainment programme for 2017 is complete and shown below are the dates and groups booked for May – August
Rolleston Club welcomed in 2017 with a sell-out performance by local group Silicone Taxis. An excellent evening of music from the group together with a rhythm and blues/Motown disco had members and guests dancing into the early hours.
The Festive Season concluded with the Seniors Party in early January. The Committee decided to organise the event after Lisa Claber (Committee member) and John Evans offered to prepare the meal with the help of the Burton Air Cadets. These young men from the Air Cadets were a credit to their organisation and were very much appreciated by the members present, for their cheerful, polite approach and professionalism. Thanks also go to the other Committee Members and helpers who volunteered their services to make a very special evening.
From 1st January subscriptions are due and are presently being collected with a new membership card being issued. Subscriptions should be paid by the end of January to avoid a member having their membership discontinued. The price of an annual membership is relative small and many benefits become immediately available within the Club. New members are welcomed and if anyone is interested in joining just call into the Club and ask a member of staff for a form.
During the winter break work has taken place on the Bowling Green to get it into condition for the new season. The Club’s groundsman accompanied by certain bowlers have spent their time spiking, rolling and seeding the green also tidying the surrounding area to make the Bowling Section a credit to Rolleston Club.
This year we are also very proud to have four snooker teams in the League for the first time for a number of years. It is very satisfying to see both snooker rooms used on a regular basis as this creates a positive imagine for the Club. This year the Club has spent a considerable amount of money to improve the state of the rooms and in particular improvements to the snooker tables.
An additional activity has been added to the existing events which take place regularly in the Club. At present Line-dancing takes place on a Monday evening. Fitsteps have two active sessions on Tuesday with Yoga and Pilate classes on a Wednesday. A Drama class has now been booked for a Thursday at 4.15pm which hopefully will provide the 5 – 16 year old students with an interesting outlet.
There is also a Jazz group on a Tuesday afternoon, Whist and Bingo take place on a Thursday and Friday evenings and Live Entertainment on certain Saturdays during the month (see the notice board). The Club also have two Cribbage teams competing in the League and an active Darts team playing on a Tuesday night. We must not forget the weekly quiz on a Wednesday evening which is becoming more popular with a weekly prize of a gallon of ale. As you can see from the above programme the Club is in constant use and provides many locals with an outside interest without leaving the village.
The Club’s Financial Year end concluded on 31st December and the accounts are to be prepared and audited next month by Chartwell Practice. The Committee’s policy is to re-invest certain of its surplus in its infrastructure and improve certain of its facilities. A great deal of progress has been made over the last few years but there is still a great deal to be done.
The Annual General Meeting will be held in early April with nomination list available for new members to put their names forward to join the Committee. Rolleston Club had over 1,000 members at the end of December and can only continue to be a success if members join and support the Committee in their efforts to improve activities/facilities.
On behalf of the Committee and its members we wish to thank our President, Len Torr for his fifty years associated with the Club. Len’s dedication is an inspiration to many and together with his wife June they have supported the Club through thick and thin. Len has no intention of retiring yet and hopefully we will see him in and around the Club for many years to come.
Entertainment is still proving popular and our programme for the next three months is shown.
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Last updated: 13 November 2017