Members’ newsletter May 2004

OR SOMEONE WHO IS BLIND and elderly, Christmas can be Fvery difficult. Without sight, reading Christmas cards, putting up the decorations and even buying presents, become real problems. But for a blind person living alone and with their mobility restricted because of age, the biggest problem is isolation and loneliness. 75% of all visually impaired people are aged over 75. In Derbyshire, there is an extraordinary organisation which makes sure that Christmas is not a time when elderly people with little or no sight are left alone.

SLAP-UP MEAL Every year, the Derbyshire Association for the Blind arranges a Christmas lunch for over 100 blind and partially sighted people past the first flush of youth. They get the works – a slap-up meal, lots of booze, entertainment, a singsong, a raffle and dancing.

WONDERFUL AFTERNOON For one wonderful afternoon, the difficulties of growing old with a visual impairment are forgotten. Lucy Turton (top left) is 86, has very limited sight and lives alone. She says “You forget about everything that afternoon. It is just lovely being with people who understand. It’s one of the best days of the year.” Gail Ashby (top right), a stripling of 46, is totally blind. “You’ve got two choices. You can The 2003 Christmas lunch was paid for by a either sit at home doing nothing or you can grant from The Primary Club. Members are motivate yourself. You only live once.” asked to be as generous as possible with their The DAB Christmas lunch gives Lucy and Gail donation this year. the chance to have a really happy Christmas. Full details of the 2004 grants are on page 8.

INSIDE: The New Hon Sec (p3) + Why the Willow Wept and ‘Cometh the Hour’ (p7) PRIMARY CLUB NEWS APRIL 2004 Dinner at Headquarters Three hundred and seventy Most members and guests produced a profit for the four members and their took advantage of the Club of over £17,000. guests sat down to the first generous offer by the MCC There are plans for another ever Primary Club dinner in to visit the Long Room dinner in 2005 – the 50th the Banqueting Suite at before dinner. After dinner, anniversary of the Club. Lord’s on 10 October 2003. three speakers – the patron Greatly to the relief of the Derek Underwood MBE, organisers, the evening was a Mike Brace (Club trustee huge success. and Chairman of the British Paralympic Association) and The antiquities department of the ex-England captain Mike British Museum kindly released two of the three living founder members Brearley OBE – were all on of the Club for the dinner. This top form. Mike Bax picture was taken late in the evening, conducted the auction with so if it looks out of focus it is them great skill and Pauline not you. Left: Keith Patterson, right: Johnston, wife of the late The Hon Sec with Pauline Johnston, Mike Sheeres. who drew the raffle, and Alan Guild, Brian Johnston, drew the one of the team of 6 volunteers who raffle. helped the evening smoothly. Resignation An entertaining and, at Old friends and colleagues – Mike Brearley and Derek Underwood. times, very funny evening Brian Cooney, representing New Post the Royal Society for the Blind, has resigned as Peter Matthews, “a Glou- a trustee. Golden Duck Award cestershire man through and Until the mid 1980s, the through”, has become the Club donated all its funds to A vicar from Bury, Lanca- achieve a good discount on Club’s first Head of Fund- the RLSB, so it was appro- shire, has ‘triumphed’ in the weddings and christenings. raising. priate that they should be inaugural Golden Duck Write to The Wisden Peter, aged 39, who is a represented on the board of Award. Cricketer if anyone in your partner in the accountancy trustees. The Primary Club has team achieves a noteworthy firm Ernst and Young, lives However, since then there joined forces with The primary in 2004. They with his wife Jeannie and has been a huge increase in Wisden Cricketer and the could win their club a their three young daughters the size and number of Professional Cricketers’ coaching session with the near Cirencester. grants made by the Club. Association to launch the nearest county side. He broadcasts on BBC We now work with over 40 competition. To enter, clubs local radio on football and clubs and schools for the nominated a player who had LEGACIES and has written two blind throughout the UK, suffered a noteworthy If you are planning to move on to books on football. His next which reflects our member- primary during the season. the Great Pavilion In The Sky, book, on ship. The before you go please make sure Glouces- As The Primary Club the Club is mentioned in your Reverend tershire hopes to continue the long will. Hugh Bearn cricket, is and happy association with due out (left) achieved BANK STANDING ORDERS the Kent charity, the RLSB his primary If you make a donation by Bank next year. felt that they should resign on his debut Standing Order, please think about to avoid any possible for the Man- increasing the amount this year. conflict of interest. chester Diocesan Cricket Brian Cooney and his Club in the opening match predecessors have contribut- of the season against Primary of the Month ed much to the Club. We Chester Diocese. are grateful to them all. By winning the Award, Six of the leading batsmen in the country achieved The Rev Bearn has won a the Primary of the Month award in 2003 and became EMAIL honorary members of the Club. They are:- day at Old Trafford for his ADDRESSES team, watching Lancashire Jamie Cox (Somerset), (Essex), play. During the day, the Robert Key (Kent), Craig White (Yorks), Ed Smith On the Donation and PCA has arranged for the (Kent) and Ian Blackwell (Somerset). Order Form this year Manchester Diocesan team The ‘winners’ are chosen by the Professional there is a space for your Cricketers’ Association and announced each month to have a two-hour coaching email address. Please fill during the cricket season in The Wisden Cricketer. session with members of the it in, even if you donate county side. In return, the Stuart Cox at P A Sport supplies the statistics. by Bank Standing Order. Lancashire team should The Club is grateful to all of them.

- 2 - APRIL 2004 PRIMARY CLUB NEWS The New Hon Sec bowler with a taste for Chris plays bridge as Aclaret has become the seriously as he used to play fifth Honorary Secretary of cricket. However, his The Primary Club. competitive edge is mitigated Chris Larlham is a by a gently self-mocking remarkable man. Problems humour. “I am captain of in the family business meant the county team but, as one he had to leave Dulwich of my friends rather un- College at the age of 16. By kindly put it, that’s just Primary Club Trustees because I had a big car and a the age of 40, he was Left to right clockwise: Mike Brace, Andrew Dixon, Tony Bentall, Warwick managing partner at word processor – nothing to Armstrong, Robert Fleming, Tonie Thomas, Chris Larlham, Mike Sheeres, Cameron Markby Hewitt do with my bridge skills.” Marion Fleming. Absent: Mike Thomas. (now Cameron McKenna), one of the biggest firms of WINE “From the Desk of the Chairman” City solicitors. He retired six Another great love in his life years ago at the age of 48. is wine. He has accumulated etiring as Honorary done well at an event a substantial cellar, mostly RSecretary and becoming sponsored by the Club, is ENOUGH French, with a bias towards Chairman of The Primary unforgettable. “I had frankly had enough. Bordeaux. This is one area Club means that I can fulfil a In Chris Larlham we have I had spent 32 years of my where he differs from his lifetime’s ambition – to issue found an ideal Hon Sec. He life working and I was predecessor as Honorary a stream of pompous memos will, in effect, be the chief financially secure. Practising Secretary, a determined ‘From the desk of the executive. As Chairman, I law in the City was great fun Burgundian. Chairman.’ hope to coordinate groups of when I started. It was So why The Primary My wife Marion and I members working on press anything but when I fin- Club? “It is a very worth- have greatly enjoyed running and public relations, spon- ished.” while job. It is a club which The Primary Club for the sorship, membership Chris and his wife Cecily, does an awful lot of good past seven years. Without recruitment and fundraising who is a lawyer and a garden and I’ve got time on my Marion it would not have events. designer, have one son. hands. I think I’ve got the been possible. Chris played most of his necessary qualifications. There is so much that we STRUCTURE cricket for the Old Time will tell if I’m any shall miss; Margaret Palmer With a proper structure for Alleynians (Dulwich Old good at it.” and ‘Pig’, a china beast who the Club, we should be able Boys), Bishop’s Stortford In Chris Larlham The produces £40 or so when- to support blind sports men, and Incogniti. Primary Club has found a ever his cork is removed; women and children better He has now relegated his pair of safe hands to lead it C.L.A.W. (Cricket Lovers At than we are at present. cricket gear through an important time in Warwickshire), a group of Several members have already to the attic its history. retired schoolmasters who offered their services. and plays fine each other, to the benefit The other role that Marion golf. He NEW CLUB of the Club, for the most (who is also a trustee) and I feels ‘over absurd reasons; Nigel will take on, is visiting clubs burdened’ CONTACTS Flower, who shamelessly and schools where we have with a THE PRIMARY CLUB fines generations of unruly provided funds for projects. handicap PO BOX 12121 Lower 6th formers at We will be able to see how of 18. SAFFRON WALDEN Gresham’s School in the Club’s money has been ESSEX CB10 2ZF Norfolk; and many more. spent and work with them on The members of The Changes TEL/FAX:01799 586507 new projects. I will continue EMAIL: [email protected] Primary Club are middle to edit the newsletter. 2004 is a year of change in Website: www.primaryclub.org Britain at its best. Finally, I want to say The Primary Club. thank you to our patron REWARD Derek Underwood and our Robert Fleming is retiring Enclosed with this newsletter If the members are the joy of Hon Treasurer Tony Bentall. as Honorary Secretary and are new Club Rules which have the Hon Sec’s job, represent- They are both a huge asset becomes Chairman (see been lodged with the Charity facing article). Commission. With the increase ing the Club at schools and to the Club and a delight to in income and grants in recent clubs for the blind is the work with. Thank you for Chris Larlham becomes years, the trustees feel that the reward. The expression on all the support you have the fifth Honorary Club should have a more formal Secretary (see above) and the face of a child with given Marion and me over constitution. multiple disabilities explor- seven wonderful years. a trustee. The watch on the bridge may ing a soft playroom, or the be changing but the ship is still Peter Matthews becomes delight of a blind sports man Head of Fundraising (see on the same course. We seem, Robert Fleming page 2). however, to have grown from a or woman when they have minesweeper into a frigate.

- 3 - PRIMARY CLUB NEWS APRIL 2004

These are some of the projects paid for by Primary Club PRIMARY CLUB PR members. funding for Fairfield School music is Lianne’s greatest in West Yorkshire to acquire pleasure in life. She always a Vibrodome, part of our has a tune in her head. Sailing holidays grant to Kirklees Education Percussion is her main Authority. joy. She does not even need n partnership with The The Vibrodome is used by instruments to beat out a IIsland Trust, last summer Emily Kelly (pictured right) rhythm – anything will do, the Club paid for sailing who has ‘severe and tables, boxes, even drain- holidays for visually profound learning disabili- pipes. impaired children from two ties’. She has no speech and The drum kit has trans- schools. little sight. A range of formed Lianne’s life and she The day was one of a series The picture below shows physical problems and lack spends hour after hour organised by British Blind Lisa Burgess (right) from of coordination mean that, at practising, usually alone. Sport and funded by The Joseph Clarke School in east the age of 4, she has the Her music teacher says that, Primary Club. London, experiencing the development of a child of 9- before long, Lianne will be In the morning, 20 joys of sailing for the first 12 months. ready to play in concerts children were given basic time. The Vibrodome gives with the school band. training in ball skills, passing The children lived on Emily some independence and shooting practice. In board a converted Mersey and, through hours of patient the afternoon, there were ferry in Salcombe Bay and work with her teacher, Karen two hotly contested games. sailed for four hours a day Sawley, it is used to stimu- Half the children had never over six days. late the senses that Emily played football before. can use. Emily is learning Curtis and Taylor have that, if she pushes a blue very limited vision and also button the dome plays suffer from Alström syn- ‘Twinkle, twinkle little star’; drome, a very rare genetic a red button makes the lights disorder which means that flash on and off; and a they will have increasing yellow button makes the problems with their sight as dome vibrate. they grow older. Emily loves the For the Vasey family, the Vibrodome. When she day was a great success. pushes a button and some- Brian says: “The day gave Quad bikes thing happens she smiles Curtis and Taylor the chance and makes ‘little babbling reya is 11. At 18 to meet other kids with sounds’. months she contracted similar problems. They F Lisa, who was born Karen says: “She is such meningitis which resulted in loved it and made lots of prematurely, has no useful a responsive child, an damage to her brain, friends. vision and very limited use absolute pleasure to work severely affecting her sight, “They didn’t want the of her right arm and leg. with, and that lovely smile is hearing and speech. She has day to end. There were With her disabilities, well worth waiting for”. little control of her arms or even a few tears when it was without needing to move legs and suffers from time to leave.” around the boat, Lisa was Football epilepsy. able to take the tiller and Freya is in the care of a haul down the sails. After rian Vasey (below) took Drum kit special unit at the Royal the weeks sailing , Lisa’s Bhis two sons Curtis, Schools for the Deaf in teachers noticed that she aged 11, (left) and Taylor, he Club grant which Manchester, which looks had a greater enthusiasm for aged 9 (right) to the first Tbought a drum kit for after children with complex everything she attempted at ever Football Development the Marjorie McClure disabilities. The . Day for visually impaired School in Kent has made a Club has agreed a grant to And Lisa? “Now that youngsters in Yorkshire. young girl very happy. buy five Quad Bikes for I’ve done sailing I’ll have a Eleven-year old Lianne Freya and four other go at anything,” she says. Beales is aware of light and children in the unit. dark but otherwise has very The bikes are specially Vibrodome little sight. However, adapted for each child. children born with Lianne’s Freya’s bike is painted in her n unusual project for type of visual impairment are favourite pink and has a seat Athe Club was to provide often musically gifted and that swivels so that she can

- 4 - APRIL 2004 PRIMARY CLUB NEWS PROJECTS IN 2003

be moved on to the bike and strapped in. Athletics Although Freya cannot move the bike by herself, it grant from the Club to prevents her being totally AMetro Sports funded passive. It is also stretches the 27th National Athletics and strengthens her legs. Championships for the Freya seems to enjoy the Visually Impaired. half an hour a day she Metro is a London club spends on the bike. Some- but these championships times she shows her were for visually impaired He has, for many years, pleasure by lifting her head athletes throughout the UK. been one of the country’s and smiling. Freya on her quad bike. There were 75 competitors leading blind athletes. He is of all ages and abilities. Chairman of the British Easter camp each other and throwing the Pictured top right is Mike Paralympic Association and javelin the wrong way!” Brace, who won the silver a trustee of The Primary Primary Club grant to Madelaine loved the day. medal in the veterans’ discus Club. AThe London Sports She made some new friends event. Mike, who is 53, Mike claims: “I got the Forum paid for a day of and had a go at several lost his sight in an accident silver medal for the discus sport and games for 22 sports. Her favourites were on Guy Fawkes’ Night at the but I won the gold medal for visually impaired children cricket, athletics and age of 10. grunting.” from south London and trampolining although she Kent. found the rugby a bit rough. We need your support for projects like these in 2004. Madelaine Kirkman Please give generously. (below), aged 11, has had few opportunities for sport. When she was 6fi she Honorary Secretaries and their Wives contracted a rare illness which severely affected her hat other club could Only the two undersigned sight. She is left with tunnel Wpossibly have been as can even start to appreciate vision and what she can see fortunate as The Primary the time, thought and is ‘like looking down a toilet Club in having three enthusiasm Robert (with his roll with bubble wrap full of successive duos of ‘Mr and fair maid Marion) has given water at the end’. Mrs Hon Sec’ the likes of to the job over the years. Attending a mainstream Leslie and Joan Harris He has masterminded the school, she seldom meets (1970-85), Mike and Tonie sale of a wide range of other children with sight Thomas (1985-96) and clothing and drinkables, a Marion and Robert Fleming. problems. Robert and Marion Fleming series of events such as golf Madelaine’s father, Cy, (1996-2004)? days and cricket tourna- and stories that have feels that the value of the In 1970 the Club was ments, approaches through touched our hearts? day was that, after years of donating £700 a year to the members to several charita- We could not let Robert illness, she was taking part in RLSB (). bly-minded organisations and Marion disappear activities with other children Leslie’s cricket contacts took and, as a final fling, a altogether, so we are keeping who have similar problems. the Club into the Brian splendid dinner at Lord’s. them on the board in the “Everyone’s bumping into Johnston/ What we believe has new roles of Chairman and era, on which first Mike, and impressed itself most on the his Lady. then Robert have built with generous minds of members Mike Sheeres great success. As a result, has been the style and (founder member since this year the Club will be quality of the annual 1955) donating £180,000, not only newsletter. Who will forget Tony Bentall to RLSB but to almost 40 many of the photographs (Hon Treasurer) other schools and clubs for the blind and partially VOLUNTEERS NEEDED — YOUR CLUB NEEDS YOU! sighted. The Primary Club is growing fast and we need part time Now we faced the need to volunteers throughout the UK to help with • recruitment of new find the next Hon Sec, a job members • press and public relations • attracting sponsorship. Robert has met with his Contact Robert Fleming 020 7267 3316 or [email protected] customary aplomb.

- 5 - PRIMARY CLUB NEWS APRIL 2004 2004 Grants – Net Widens Aggers at Clarkers Due to the generosity of Court Trust (Sussex); members, the amount of London Goalball Club. money available for grants in 2004 is bigger than ever MIDLANDS – RNIB, –£180,000. Loughborough As our income grows, so do the requests for our NORTH – Tyneside Recrea- financial help. This year we tion Club for the Blind; have agreed grants to 11 Royal Schools for the Deaf charities new to The Primary (Manchester); Sheffield Club. The good news is that Royal Society for the Blind. they are spread all over the Peter Baxter and meet pupils from Joseph Clarke School. UK, reflecting our wide NORTHERN IRELAND – It was an extraordinary afternoon when Jonathan membership. The Blind Centre for Agnew, BBC cricket correspondent, and Peter Baxter, Northern Ireland. doyen of BBC sports producers, visited Joseph Clarke WEST COUNTRY – The The Club now regularly School in east London. Island Trust; RNIB Bristol. works with over 40 clubs The reason for the visit was the opening of the and schools for the blind Sensory Garden and Nature Trail, funded by The Primary SOUTH – Mind’s Eye and partially sighted. Club. In addition to being blind, many of the children at (Hants); Marjory McClure For details of the Club’s the school have other disabilities. School (Kent); Blatchington 2004 grants see page 8. The formalities were brief but Jonathan and Peter were then shown around the school. That was fascinat- ing. The way the children responded to their two intelligent and sympathetic visitors was very moving. Keeping We are very fortunate that, for many years, the Test Match Special team have been such good friends to The in Contact Primary Club. Many people first became aware of The Primary Club by hearing the late Brian Grandmother of Invention Johnston talk about the Club If necessity is the mother of in £1 for every birdie he on Test Match Special, a invention, then fundraising achieved. There were 50. tradition that has continued must be the grandmother T M Daber sent his since his death. and a lot of our members colleagues an e-card for The Club has remained in can call themselves Christmas and donated the contact with his family. His ‘grandma’. £15 he saved to the Club wife, Pauline, came to the while Richard Griffiths was Lord’s dinner (page 2) and Hugh Cave fined his golf ‘fed up with wasting money recently, the Club gave a Joanna Johnston sports the Club opponent £1 for an airshot, sending business colleagues track suit to their much- tracksuit. The picture was taken by whilst Steve Kane chipped Christmas cards’ and sent us loved daughter, Joanna. Pauline. £100 instead. Ian Vardon raised £23.54 from a quiz at his cricket “Golden Duck” on Schedule club and Ian Royle, who was elected president of his The largest current Club club when he missed the project, the canal boat for committee meeting, stipu- the Royal London Society lated that the club should for the Blind, is well on contribute £5 for every schedule for a June launch. primary – total £30. A wide variety of names Alistair Grant raised £40 were suggested, but the easy from a fantasy league cricket winner was ‘Golden Duck’, competition. He writes, ‘It is the preferred name of so with profound sadness that I many members that Mrs must report that my auntie Hon Sec has withdrawn her was first and my mum offer of a kiss to the winner. second. Goodness only She feels that she would be The Golden Duck under construction. knows why we let them all puckered out. enter in the first place.’ We refrain from naming that the boat should have (see last year’s newsletter) the member who suggested ‘The Barmaid from Sale’ plastered across her stern. Thank you all.

- 6 - APRIL 2004 PRIMARY CLUB NEWS Cometh the Hour... Our Man in the North One of our members, Nick A Primary Club member is The next thing John Brown, who is Cricket just the sort of person you remembers is being led away Development Officer for need in a crisis, so picture by the police (see right) Durham County, came up the scene:- covered in tomato ketchup, with a novel idea for raising presumably for crimes Getty Images money for the Club. Headingley, 23 August against . He arranged to play one 2002, England v India “I saw Ganguly hit it but THANK YOU! game in each of the nine The Indian captain, lost the ball in flight. When Once again, the Club is leagues in the county and a Saurav Ganguly, lifts Ashley I saw the ball again, greatly indebted to tenth against a team of Giles over mid on; way over everyone was standing up Nicci WestgarthGetty Images and touring Aussies. mid on and into the crowd. around me and it was too Sam Wells and also Sue At every game, Nick There, eagle-eyed and late.” Webb and Debbie persuaded the teams to alert, is our member, John John’s excuse? Apart Enright of Network donate generously to The Bunton, waiting for his from having poor eyesight, it Typing Services, for Primary Club. The county moment of glory. As the was just after lunch – giving their time in side also dug deep into their ball descended the eyes of something with which all helping produce this pockets. the cricket world were on members will sympathise. newsletter. The result was a splendid him. donation to the Club of £606. Why the Famous Primaries Willow Wept From heard the cheer, as the Andy Woodward umpire raised his finger. The umpire, by the way, was In 1979, I managed to a Lancashire league umpire captain the smallest depart- but was also the father of ment in Burnley Borough the bowler ( I kid you not). Nick Brown at the crease. First slip Council Environmental I am convinced to this bears a strange resemblance to Health Department to the Alistair Campbell. A spin bowler This picture shows the sad day that the appeal went final of the Interdepartmental something on the lines of presumably. moment when a favourite Cricket Competition. We bat was consigned to the “How’s that, Dad?” with the were due to play the holders, reply of “That’s out, son.” gets worse. I then great refuse heap in the sky. the Chief Executive’s De- Playing for Matfield CC, One for 2 and things did proceeded to drop the Chief partment. not get any better. We were Exec in the first over (good in Kent, Christopher Knott I contrived to turn up late (right) was at mid on, lucky to get to 24 for 9. for my job prospects) and he and I missed the toss. We As our innings reached its remained as they completed first ball, using the bat. were put in to bat with two Two later, his ignominious close, I put my an eight win in men short, yours truly being pads on as I was also the double quick time. brother Simon (centre) was one. A rat catcher was also first ball using the wicket keeper and wanted to unavoidably detained. get this all over with. same bat. I turned up just as we had Ten minutes after that, The opposing skipper was lost our first wicket for one the Chief Executive himself the team’s in-form batsman, run. This was doubly bad Peter Danby (left), broke his and, being a generous and news as it was Derek the sporting sort, he suggested bat and called for a replace- Dog Warden who, although ment. as we only had 10 men that getting on in years, was the we send another man in to Without thinking, Simon only other player in the team took out the bat. Inevitably, try and make a game of it. who knew which way up to I was padded up and the the wretched Danby was out hold the bat. next ball. obvious choice. Once more, I threw on some pads and I marched out to the middle The pride of Gray-Nicolls breathlessly marched out to had thus caused the down- dreaming of a rapid-fire 20 rescue the situation. or so to set some sort of fall of three of Kent’s finest. The first ball was going None of their own doing, of target. miles (honestly) down the But … you’ve guessed it. course. leg side and I tried to clip it Through an oversight, the I got another first baller. off my legs and missed the This time caught at mid flag of St George in the back- ball. It hit my pads but I Andy was so disturbed by the day’s wicket with absolutely no events that he got the hump and ground was not lowered to was not too concerned at the half mast for the ceremony. excuse. My embarrassment rode off. In the picture above Andy subsequent appeal until I was almost complete, but it is the one in the middle.

- 7 - PRIMARY CLUB NEWS APRIL 2004

The Primary Club From the Hon Sec... Forecast Result for the year ended 31 March 2004

2004 2003 Dear Member years when I was a (not very good) (Forecast) (Actual) £ £ member. It’s a good job I retired Joining subscriptions, donations and sale of goods 166,000 176,000 Tax claimed under Gift Aid 21,000 23,000 About a year ago I was enjoying a (more or less) 6 years ago and have Legacies received - 1,000 Dinner receipts 28,000 - breakfast bacon sandwich and a bit of spare time on my hands. Interest receivable 1,000 2,000

browsing through the latest MCC Total income 216,000 202,000

members’ newsletter when I spotted Having only just got my feet under Cost of ties and brooches (2,000) (2,000) Cost of goods sold (17,000) (17,000) a small paragraph about the Prima- the table, I cannot write about last Dinner costs (14,000) - Administration expenses (9,000) (8,000) ry Club and its search for a new year’s many projects with any Surplus for the year 174,000 175,000 Honorary Secretary. I knew of the degree of first hand knowledge; by Surplus from the earlier years 8,000 8,000 182,000 183,000 Primary Club, of course – I was the time you read this the “Golden Donations (details below) 180,000 175,000 made a member over 30 years ago Duck” will have been officially Surplus to carry forward 2,000 8,000

when Leslie Harris, the second Hon launched. The trustees are to be Note: Copies of the Club s full accounts can be obtained from the Honorary Treasurer.

Sec, cleaned me up first ball in a congratulated on their impeccable 2004 DONATIONS TO SCHOOLS AND CLUBS FOR THE BLIND AND PARTIALLY SIGHTED

match between Beckenham & the timing last year when they made a Royal London Society Canal boat (2 of 2) 45,000 for the Blind, Kent Old Alleynians (not my first grant to the Sussex Sharks Visually The Island Trust, Devon Sailing holidays 03 3,938 “primary” I’m sure and certainly not Impaired Cricket Club for an audio Sailing holidays 04 5,775 9,713 my last). It turned out I knew very system at Hove, which I am sure was Kirklees Sporting and Sport and recreation aids 4,714 little of the scale of the Club’s in great demand as the first ever Education Service, Yorks

current activities. I emailed Robert Sussex Championship drew ever London Sports Summer camps 11,580 Forum Fleming with a copy of my cv and closer. St Vincent School, PE equipment 3,440 brief details of my cricketing Liverpool

credentials and we met up at Lord’s I am looking forward to getting my London Goalball Club Equipment and venues 1,250 (where else) for a preliminary chat. hands on the membership list as I am Archery 2,667 sure there will be a lot of old Athletics 7,250 Bowls 3,000 By now, having read the article in cricketing friends on there; it is even Goalball 5,980 Riding 2,175 21,072 “The Cricketer” and Robert having possible that, in my bowling days, I Derbyshire Assoc. Turkey and Tinsel holiday 2,000 kindly supplied me with a copy of may have rendered one or more of for the Blind Spring holiday 2,000 Swimming/sailing club costs 1,300 5,300 last year’s newsletter, I was aware you eligible for membership. Don’t 2 new Actionnaires Clubs 8,720 of the scale of the operation which I hold it against me – just keep Tyneside Recreation Club 2 tandem bikes 3,100 had rashly volunteered to assist: an sending those donations. for the Blind

annual income of almost £200,000 Royal National College, Football pitch (4 of 4) 6,357 Hereford represented a lot of fines for those Yours sincerely , Hoists and tracks for pool (1 of 3) 8,500 not wearing the club tie on the first London

Saturday of the cricket months or the RNIB, Loughborough Goalball equipment and clothing 2,000

Saturdays of home tests; things had Minds Eyes, Hants 10-pin bowling sponsorship 1,000

clearly moved on from those early Chris Larlham Sheffield Royal Society Archery equipment 340 for the Blind

Kent Assoc for the Blind Transport costs 500

Pennine Bowling Club Winter bowling sessions 2,288

M E Trescothick c Adams Blind Centre for Northern Introductory sessions to VI sport 2,360 b Pollock Ireland Rule 5 (c) Marjory McClure School, Drum kit 475 (Caught off his thigh at Kent

England batsmen, thought- short leg) Eastern Vipers CC 04 season expenses 2,000

fully, performed well enough E T Smith lbw Hall Royal Schools for the Deaf, 5 quad bikes 6,791 in the 2003 season to spare (Sadly he could not repeat Manchester (deaf/blind unit) St Benedict School, Transport to goalball 600 the pockets of Primary Club his stylish 64 in the 1st Derby members. innings) East Anglian Sailing Trust Tall ship sailing 500 Club Rule 5(c) asks Members are, therefore, RNIB, Bristol Children s sport club 3,750 members to add £2 to their asked to add £4 to their Metro Sports & Social Club, Cricket 2,000 London Bowls 2,413 4,413 annual donation for each donations. It really makes a Sussex Sharks VICC 04 season expenses 2,000 primary achieved by an difference to our income if Joseph Clarke School, Skiing 2,000 England batsman in a home every member follows this east London Goalball 1,000 3,000 Test Match. rule. West of England School Athletics equipment 3,100

The Bearded Wonder The Outlook Trust, Yorks Sailing holidays 3,037 Contributions please! himself, Bill Frindall, has Blatchington Court Trust, Residential camp 3,600 confirmed that, in 2003, This is your newsletter. Sussex The editor needs mem- London Community Cricket Coaches, equipment and facilities 3,000 there were just two such Assoc bers’ stories, no matter primaries, both in the second South Wales Dragons CC 04 season expenses 2,000 how bizarre or tragic, of innings of the third Test English Blind Golf Assoc Sponsorship of 2004 Matchplay Championship 2,500 triumph or failure on the against South Africa at Trent London Sports Club for the 04 season expenses 2,000 cricket field. Blind Bridge. 180,000

The Primary Club, PO Box- 8 12121, - London NW1 9WS Tel: 020 7267 3316 Fax: 020 7485 6808 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.primaryclub.org Registered charity no: 285285