Members’ Newsletter May 2006

Dear Primary Club Members We are the parents of Sean Harrington, now aged five. Sean is totally blind, having had both eyes removed in October 2003. childhood retinalAt cancer twenty months he was diagnosed with As well as the heartbreak. of his loss, we didn’ to encourage him to start moving around. He began wandering around the house, bumping into things. t know how The Sensory Services Department of Kirklees Council advised us to apply for financial help to buy some equipment to channel Sean’ receive £1,500 from s ener The Primary gyClub.. We were delighted to With the money we were able to buy a wonderful climbing frame. As well as helping his mobility and strength, it has been an invaluable ‘friend magnet’, drawing in a lot of the neighbouring children who were unsure how to react to him. We want to say a huge thank you to all the members who enabled us to buy this wonderful piece of equipment which has helped Sean take his first steps on the road to re-adjustment and gaining confidence. Yours sincerely Brian and Victoria Harrington

PLEASE BE AS GENEROUS AS POSSIBLE WITH YOUR DONATION THIS YEAR Inside: Andrew Strauss becomes President of the Primary Club Juniors PRIMARY CLUB NEWS APRIL 2006

Primary Club Juniors We need

The Primary Club Juniors Club’s quarterly email more reps! have arrived! In response newsletter and be able to to requests from many log on to a special website A big thank you to the nine members (there must be www.primaryclub.org/ members who responded to life before 50), the Club is juniors or visit the main last year’s appeal for opening a junior section website, Primary Club Area Repre- for those aged eighteen or www.primaryclub.org, sentatives. They are: under. and click ‘Juniors’. under. It’s a really special Kimball Bailey (Surrey), Middlesex and To find out more, check birthday or Christmas David Boardman (West opening batsman Andrew out the website and sign up present, which could make Country), Rick Coleman Strauss (pictured right) has your sons, daughters, a big difference to the lives (Warwickshire), Jeremy agreed to be the first godchildren and everyone of other young people who Challis (Kent), Rowan President of the Club’s else you know who is 18 or have little or no sight. Laxton (Middlesex), Luke junior section. Living (London), Peter The Primary Club Juniors Marsden (Essex, inner), will be a great way for Bob Middleton (West young people to become Website goes live! Yorkshire) and Bob part of The Primary Club’s The Club’s new website has been launched! It features Southward (Essex/Suffolk). work with blind and everything you could possibly want to know about the We still need more partially sighted sports men, Club, including news of current and new projects and volunteers so that we are women and children. We back copies of newsletters. Thanks to PA Sport, one page represented throughout the hope that most Juniors will will show every primary in first class or county one day country – particularly eventually become full games, almost as soon as it happens. outside the south east. members of the Club. If you can spare some For an annual member- Donate online! time to help the Club, find ship of £15, Primary Club out more by contacting: Juniors will receive a It is now possible to enrol new Roger Johnson certificate and a letter members, make donations and buy 10 Beresford Hall, St signed by Andrew Strauss, James Park, Long Ditton and a ‘goody bag’ including merchandise online, using a credit Surrey KT6 5RS a Gray-Nicolls ball and a or debit card. Tel: 020 8786 6279 mini bat, also signed by Mobile: 07801 699107 Andrew Strauss. Email: recruitment In addition, Junior @primaryclub.org Members will receive the www.primaryclub.org

Don’t be a mug — buy yours now The Brian Johnston Award Following the 2005 celebra- The late Brian Johnston Pauline Johnston will tions, the Club still has a was a great friend of The present the winning team few jubilee mugs. Primary Club. His frequent with the Brian Johnston These limited edition, references to the Club on Trophy, a silver-plated fine bone china mugs bear Test Match Special played -keeping glove the Club’s jubilee logo in a vital part in its develop- mounted on a wooden burnished gold. ment. ‘chocolate cake’. As all In a moment of generos- Brian’s wife Pauline lovers know, Brian ity, bordering on insanity, wants to keep up the family was a wicket-keeper who the Hon Sec is slashing the link with the Club through loved his cake! price to an absurd £7.50 the Brian Johnston Award, The 12 teams will be each which will go to the winner joined by a guest profes- an excellent way to raise (inc p&p). of an annual six-a-side sional cricketer. There will money for the Club. Don’t tournament. This year’s be lunch, a ‘player of the There will be one team miss this tournament is on Friday, day’ and, of course, a representing The Primary amazing 18 August at Shenley in ‘champagne moment’. Club. If you would like to offer! Hertfordshire. As well as being a represent the Club contact See www.primaryclub.org. special occasion, it will be the Hon Sec. for details. - 2 - 6 JULY 18 JULY 14 The Primary Club’s new website goes live 14 The Club’s biggest recent project MAY Ian Bell joins The Primary Club. Ian Bell MAY ‘Golden Duck’ is launched by the (c Warne b McGrath) becomes the seventh Duchess of Gloucester member of England’s victorious20 Ashes team 6 to join The Primary Club duringJULY the Fifth JULY Test Match (see page 4) 11 31 11 18 SEPT JULY 6 JULY SEPT JULY 14 18 18 20 MAY AUGUST 18 AUGUST JULY JULY 14 MAY 31 11 JULY6 SEPT 20 JULY JULY 18 18 AUGUST 31 11 JULY JULY SEPT 14 20 MAY 18 JULY 6 AUGUST TheJULY Patron retires. Derek Underwood walks off a cricket 522 members and friends attend the Golden field in England for the last time. He had been playing at Jubilee Dinner at Lord’s. Top: The three speakers, Shenley for The Primary Club in a six-a-side competition Mike31 Brace, Derek Underwood11 and Richie Benaud. Above: Bill Frindall, Major Peter Horsfall, JULY SEPT 18 6 Sam Loxton and Richie Benaud JULY JULY 14 18 MAY 18 AUGUST 6 20 JULY JULY JULY 14 20 MAY 18 31 11 JULY JULY JULY The day TheSEPT Primary Club was formed in 1955 at the Bar The Brian Johnston Six-a-side of Beckenham Cricket Club Competition is announced. Pauline after a match against Old Johnston presents the Hon Sec with the Olavians. Three founder trophy for the new award (see page 2) members (l to r) the late Mike 31 11 20 Sheeres, Keith18 Patterson, Ralph JULY JULY SEPT Lilley, in 1999AUGUST 18 31 The Primary Club v The Primary Club of Australia. Top: PCA captain, AUGUSRick T JULY Glover, with Derek Underwood, holding the Golden Duck Shield. Above: The teams PRIMARY CLUB NEWS APRIL 2006

Expensive – Pool Hoists but worth it... HOW YOUR MONEY England’s wonderful Ashes victory last summer came at Pool Hoists children at Linden Lodge ‘Space Age Curling’ a cost to Club members. have severe physical Whilst winning the series A grant from The Primary disabilities. It is not how we would 2-1, the England team Club to Linden Lodge Alex Bramley (left) is normally think of curling. achieved no fewer than School in Wandsworth, seven. Because of a The game, played at the four primaries, duly south London paid for genetic problem he was West of England School, authenticated by Bill (‘the hoists to enable physically born totally blind and with has been adapted for Bearded Wonder’) Frindall. disabled children to use the no use of his legs. Alex is visually impaired players. They were:- First Test – hydrotherapy and swim- very bright and intelligent. ‘Space Age Curling’ is a Harmison; Second Test – ming pools. He loves swimming which, good way of including Harmison; Third Test – In addition to visual because his body is buoyed blind and partially sighted Pietersen; Fifth Test – impairment, many of the up by the water, is his only young people, often with Bell. access to independent other disabilities, in Members are therefore movement. activities with their peers. asked to add £8 to their The hydrotherapy pool In addition to very poor annual donation. (Rule 5c, is for relaxing muscles and sight, Chris Granados, 14, £2 for each England home exercising otherwiseSwimming pool(below) has severe cerebral primary.) unused limbs. palsy. The Primary Club It is a small price to pay Without the hoist Alex grant pays for Chris to for that unforgettable would be unable to enter play ‘Space Age Curling’ summer and will make a big the pool. with a long-handled pole, difference to what we can His smiles and cries of as he spends most of his contribute to schools and pleasure when he is in the time in a wheelchair. clubs for the blind. water tell their own story. He loves being part of a team. Children in wheel- Club casuals chairs can be easily Athletics blind) and from under 12s isolated. A group of (comparatively) to veterans. younger and fitter Club A grant from The Primary Pictured below is Lisa members have formed ‘The Club funded the British Daley, 20, winning the Primary Club Casuals’ to Blind Sport Athletics Senior 400 metres mixed play not-too-serious cricket Championships, held in event. in the south east and raise Nuneaton on 23 April 2005. Lisa is a very determined money for the Club. If you Over 90 athletes took part. young woman who has a know of a club or village, Despite rain, and at times passion for athletics. She reasonably close to the lightning, 15 records were is a member of two athletics M25, that would enjoy a broken during the day. clubs and trains six nights a game one weekend this Competitors ranged from week. summer, please contact B1-B4 (totally blind to Keep an eye on the Special Holidays Luke Living at those with less severe visual results from Beijing in [email protected]. impairment, all registered 2008. In summer 2005, eight children with little or no sight enjoyed a week’s OZ tour holiday at Honeywood After last summer’s House, a specialist hotel in successful England tour, West Sussex, owned by the The Primary Club of Royal Blind Society. Most Australia has invited the of the children also have Club to send a team to play other severe physical in Australia late in 2006. disabilities. If you would like to The holidays were paid represent the Club, during for by a grant from The an Ashes summer in Oz, Primary Club. contact the Hon Sec at The age of the children [email protected] ranged from 2 to 10. A or phone 01799 586507. busy week included trips to

- 4 - PRIMARY CLUB NEWS APRIL 2006 WAS SPENT IN 2005 Wine offer Trust were on a sailing holiday paid for by a grant In addition to our usual from The Primary Club. Club wines (see merchan- Sarah’s sight is deterio- dise leaflet), we can now rating. She steered Alba offer members two excep- Venturer with the help of a tional wines, produced by guide or, on occasions, with one of Australia’s great an audio compass. wine makers, Jim Barry. Sarah gained experience at the helm of a boat Silly Mid On 2005 through sailing Out for a A delicious blend of Duck (a 25-foot gig The Sauvignon Blanc and Primary Club gave to The Semillon. It has three Outlook Trust in 1999) on different labels, illustrating Lake Windermere. the hazards of fielding in At the end of a demand- the most dangerous the seaside and to a leisure ing trip, the skipper of Alba position on the field. Best park in the New Forest. Venturer paid his visually drunk after . We need your support Josh Read (above) is 10. impaired crew a fine for projects like these He has very little sight and compliment. He said that The Cover Drive 2004 in 2007. Please give always wears dark glasses they had sailed the boat as An exceptional Cabernet generously. because his eyes cannot efficiently as any able- Sauvignon, it is named cope with any brightness. bodied crew. appropriately after the most Other serious, and very graceful shot in the game. complex, physical problems Think Tom Graveney in his have led to Josh being a Mike Thomas pomp. ‘Code 100’ with the The former Hon Sec of The emergency services, their Both wines are ready for Primary Club, Mike Thomas, highest risk level. He drinking and come in died on 29 August in the always has a special cases or half cases, mixed Princess Royal Hospital, emergency pack with him if required. Bromley, after a short illness. and his family have been 12 bottles (mixed or He was 81. trained in what to do in a unmixed) cost £108; Mike played for many crisis. 6 bottles (mixed or unmixed) years for the Beckenham 1st Despite all his problems cost £60. Both prices X1. He was captain of Josh attends a mainstream include . Beckenham when the 15 year school, with a personal Please use the enclosed old Derek Underwood, now Primary Club Patron, played carer, and enjoys karate and Donation and Order Form his first game for the club. He became President of both horse riding. Beckenham cricket and rugby clubs. Josh Read is a remark- Cricket In 1985 Mike became Honorary Secretary of The able young man. Primary Club. With his wife Tonie, he ran the cricketers’ Covers Nautical Challenge charity for the blind until 1996. During those eleven years Many members will be The Primary Club went from strength to strength. Grants pleased that the Club has, Sarah Walker from Bradford for sporting facilities, to schools and clubs for the blind, once again, decided to offer is 18. In the picture (top grew significantly. Cricket Covers for sale – right) she is steering Alba The care that Mike took to develop personal relation- the enclosed leaflet gives Venturer, a 70-foot sail ships with the Club’s members created the idiosyncratic more details. training vessel, through style that is so important to The Primary Club. If you are ordering rough seas off the west Mike Thomas was a man of total integrity, great charm Cricket Covers use the coast of Scotland during a and inexhaustible energy. He contributed hugely to every special form. Remember to five day trip from Largs to club or organisation with which he was involved. Primary use the usual Club Tarbert. Club members will miss him, as will visually impaired Donation and Order Form Sarah and seven other sportsmen, women and children throughout the UK. for any other purchases visually impaired young The Club’s thoughts are with Tonie and his daughter and, above all, your people from The Outlook Jackie and son Adrian. donation.

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The North Atlantic Beat

Andy Clark, a detective There will be 15 identical with the Metropolitan four-man boats braving the Police, is embarking on Atlantic in the Shepherd one of the most daunting Ocean Fours Rowing Race. tasks ever taken on by a The Primary Club, which member to raise money for has been named by Andy the Club. as his chosen charity, On 6 June 2006, he and stands to gain substantially three others from from this formidable Sevenoaks Rugby Club will challenge. set off from New York to Members can learn more Derek Underwood is shown “Team Sevenoaks” by Andy Clark row the Atlantic. They about the race and follow expect to arrive in Falmouth Andy’s progress on www. some 55 days and 3,100 sevenoaksatlanticrow.com. nautical miles later. The generous fiddler

The Club has received the turn down the television most generous bequest in sound and listen to Test Famous Primaries its history from a musician Match Special, in particular From Dave Lewis... who loved cricket and, in the late Brian Johnston. “Our pub, The Reform Inn, his later years, had Mr Lockwood’s extraor- Barnstaple, plays once a problems with his sight. dinary generosity will make year, whether we want to or When Ronald Lockwood a very significant difference not, under the name of Lord died in April 2005, at the to what the Club can Basil’s Invitation XI. This age of 83, he bequeathed achieve in its work with time we took on an older The Primary Club £113,000 visually impaired sports- enemy than Australia, in his will. men, women and children. namely the Cornish, and a Music was Ronald team from The Oddfellows’ Lockwood’s life. He trained Arms, Falmouth. at the Guildhall School of “Maybe it was the sun, Music and had a success- probably it was the beer, ful career as a freelance but on my way out to bat at Dave Lewis...revenge will be violinist, playing in several number 10 I was able to say sweet – literally! of the country’s major quite confidently to number many points for his cake as orchestras. 11, ‘Pad up Alan I’ll be back I had runs on the score As he grew older his in a minute’. sheet. I am far more suited sight failed, but fortunately “And I was, middle stump to eating cakes than he was able to watch his knocked out of the ground playing cricket.” great loves, cricket and by Simon Bush. Mr Lewis was accepted rugby, on television. His “I will have revenge. In as a member with alacrity. biggest pleasure was to Generous...Ronald Lockwood June The Oddfellows’ Arms hosts Cakefest: the regulars all bake a cake and I’m brought in as impartial Changing the guard observer to pick the best After 20 years devoted Educated at St Paul’s one. Let’s just say Mr service to the Club, Tony School and Oxford, he is a Bush will have about as Bentall has retired as Hon qualified chartered ac- Treasurer. countant and has worked in Horror stories Tony has been a reallly major City accounting This is YOUR newsletter. outstanding Treasurer and firms. He was Finance and Describing himself as a Please send the Hon Sec has worked closely with the IT Director and Global modest village cricketer, stories of your primaries, last three Hon Secs. He will Policy Director of the Ross is serious about his or other cricketing remain as a Trustee. Association of Chartered bridge and his wine – a horrors you have We are very fortunate Certified Accountants from natural soul mate for the witnessed or suffered, for that he is succeeded by 1991 until his retirement in Hon Sec. Ross becomes a next year’s newsletter. Ross Midgley (right). 2004. Trustee of the Club.

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THE PRIMARY CLUB From the FORECAST RESULT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2006 2005/6 2004/5 (forecast) (actual) Hon Sec.... ££ Joining subscriptions and donations 151,000 116,149 Lockwood bequest 113,000 - Proceeds of sales of merchandise 25,000 18,014 Tax claim under Gift Aid 26,400 23,972 Dear Member Dinner tickets and other receipts 43,694 - Interest receivable 2,900 1,326

Among cricket followers, 2005 Total income 361,994 159,461 will always be remembered as the year in which England, Cost of ties and brooches (6,800) (879) Cost of merchandise sold (15,000) (10,976) after a marvellous summer of Test cricket, finally regained Dinner costs (24,888) - The Ashes. It will also be remembered, and not just by the Publicity and administration costs (17,500) (16,738) 9,500 of you reading this newsletter, as the year in which Surplus for the year 297,806 130,868 Surplus from earlier years 4,359 8,145 your Club celebrated its Golden Jubilee – and very Adjustment thereto 1,070 2,819 successfully too, with a record income, a near 50% 303,235 141,832 increase in new members and grants to 45 schools and Grants (details below) 200,547 137,473 clubs for the blind and partially sighted (including 14 Surplus to carry forward 102,688 4,359 new applicants) exceeding £200,000 for the first time. Note: Copies of the Club s full accounts can be obtained from the Honorary Treasurer.

2006 GRANTS TO SCHOOLS AND CLUBS FOR THE The Club has always been fortunate in the volunteers BLIND AND PARTIALLY SIGHTED who help to run it. This year has seen the retirement of /Coventry Actionnaires Club 12,360 Tony Bentall after nearly twenty years keeping a watchful Berkshire Co Blind Soc Visit to Cadbury World 800 Blatchington Ct Trust, Sussex Residential camp 3,650 eye on the Club’s finances and exercising a gentle Archery 3,000 Athletics 1,840 restraining influence on successive Hon Secs who wanted Cricket KO Final at Lord s 5,050 to pay out every penny in grants. Sadly, one of those Hon Shooting 1,200 Ten-pin bowling 5,700 16,790 Secs, Mike Thomas, died during the year. This newsletter , Horse riding 4,000 is only possible because of the design skills of Sam Wells east London Music tuition 5,700 9,700 Clevedon VH Bowling 2005 season expenses 1,000 and Nicci Westgarth and reaches you via Derek & County Bowls Assoc 2006 West Country bowls tournament 1,500 Derbyshire Assoc for Blind Spring holidays 2,300 Maureen Rowlands and their team who pack all those East Anglian Sailing Trust Royal Yachting Assoc Course 1,540 envelopes. Eastern Vipers VI CC 2006 season expenses 2,000 English Blind Golf Assoc Matchplay Championship 2,500 Fairfield School, Soft Play Area 6,950 I must also mention Helen Cleaves, Paul Doyle, Allan Heckmondwike HSBP Henshaws, Harrogate Horticultural workshop 3,500 Guild and Luke Living. These four young graduates from Highland Society, Inverness Residential Outdoor Bound project 2,780 Honeywood House, Sussex Family holidays 2005 1,960 Warwick University first became involved with the Club (Royal Blind Society) at the time of the 2003 dinner; since then, they have been Huddersfield Town FC Screen/projector for VI box 1,528 Independent Tenpin Bowling Have a Go days 2,000 largely responsible for our excellent new website (in League, Belfast conjunction with Bob Southward, our “Webmaster”) and The Island Trust, Devon Sailing holidays 2006 6,195 Kirklees Education Sport and Recreation aids 4,339 database, the fund-raising activities of the Primary Club Service, Yorks , London Hoists and tracks for pool (3 of 3) 8,500 Casuals, the Primary Club Juniors and many other London Community Cricket coaching and expenses 4,800 things. With a number of their friends they put in a huge Cricket Association London Goalball Club 2006 season expenses 1,440 amount of work to help the Jubilee Dinner run smoothly. London Sports Club 2006 season expenses 2,000 London Sports Forum Summer Camps 5,960 Goalball 1,800 7,760 Our increased revenue has also brought unavoidable Metro VI Sports & Social Club Cricket 2,000 Lawn bowls 2,000 4,000 increases in expenditure; having taken our turnover Mind s Eye, Basingstoke Jo Dixson - South Korea World 500 above £250,000 we are now obliged to have our ac- Tenpin Bowling Championships Newham Goalball Club 2006 season expenses 1,085 counts fully audited. Postage costs increased last April Newry & Mourne Watch Club Racing tandems 4,000 and will have increased again by the time you read these Northants Vixins VICC 2006 season expenses 2,000 The Outlook Trust, Yorks Sailing weekends 2,500 words. Every step is taken to minimise the amount of your Pennine Bowling Club Winter bowling sessions 2005/6 2,640 Pennine Galloway s VICC 2006 season expenses 2,000 donations that is spent on anything other than grants. It RLSB (), Kent Summer schools 24,050 has always been the Club’s policy to acknowledge every Ski trip 3,000 Soft Play Area 10,500 37,550 postal donation unless we are asked not to; if you are Royal School for the Blind, Gym equipment 5,000 content merely to see your cheque pass through your Royal Schools for the Deaf, Multi-sensory quiet room 7,300 bank account, please write “No acknowledgement St Benedict School, Derby Goalball expenses 1,040 necessary” on the donation form. St Vincent School, Liverpool Outdoor & adventure holidays 2,300 Soundabout, Bucks Percussion instruments 1,000 South Wales Dragons VI CC 2006 season expenses 2,000 Yours sincerely Stockton Blind People s Voice Various sports 5,000 Sussex Sharks VICC 2006 season expenses 2,000 Toynbee School, Hants After school goalball club 2,890 Warwickshire VICC 2006 season expenses 2,000 West Sussex Assoc for Blind Social sports groups 3,850 Worcester Royals VICC 2006 season expenses 2,000 Chris Larlham £200,547

- 7 - PRIMARY CLUB NEWS APRIL 2006 Dorton Radio revisited On 7 December 1999 Dorton Radio went on air, funded by grants from The Primary Club totalling £51,000. Dorton House School and College, run by the Royal London Society for the Blind, is in north Kent. Six years after the opening, we revisited Dorton to see how things were going at one of the country’s smallest radio stations. Feysal Abdullahi, 18, in the control room. The grant paid for state- The BBC it is not. Lord Reith would be astonished at of-the-art equipment adapted for the visually impaired. Most the chaotic informality of Dorton Radio. The young disc students, even those with the poorest sight, quickly become expert jockeys and producers who run the station have a unique with the controls. approach to broadcasting. Declan Dexter,12, is one of a group Dorton Radio of younger students broadcasts mainly with real broad- music but there is casting also a sports flair. programme, and interviews with visiting celebrities.

The station is ‘on air’, Monday- Wednesday 4.30-7.30pm; Thursday 12.40-1.40pm: The Thursday lunchtime programme, run by and for Friday 2-4pm the younger students, is a masterclass in how to break & Saturday 4- every rule in the book of ‘how to broadcast’ and get away 8pm (except with it. Brilliantly. holidays). Everyone, broadcasters and listeners, has a lot of fun. For older students it is valuable training and work experience. You can tune into Dorton Radio on medium wave kHz 1350 or through the internet. Go to www.rlsb.org.uk and click on ‘Listen Live to Dorton Radio’ Dorton Radio broadcasts to students and staff. Broadcasts can be received within a 10 mile radius of Dorton. Through the internet, Dorton Radio even has listeners in Brazil!

Terry out and about interviewing the Media Tutor Michael Whiting shows Terry Kelly, 18, how to use a unsuspecting citizens of portable digital recorder. For older students, who are planning a Sevenoaks. Work with the career in broadcasting, the radio station is not just fun — the level radio station develops the 2 Media Course is an introduction to radio production. students’ confidence.

The Primary Club, PO Box 12121, Saffron Walden, Essex CB10 2ZF Tel: 01799 586 507 Fax: 01799 586 064 Email: [email protected] 8 - Website: www.primaryclub.org Registered charity no: 285285