IPSWICH & SUFFOLK CLUB Newsletter February 2010 Into the new decade final year, I am pleased to report both internal and external. The that the club continues to thrive, club is starting to ‘shine’ and I hope despite our current economic we can continue to polish it!!! climate. We must be doing As usual, Robert has produced an something right. interesting social calendar, with a In this bulletin you will find details good mix of events: some favourites of what has happened and what is and some new ideas. I hope you planned. I would, however, like to will support and enjoy the take this opportunity to thank my programme. fellow directors and officers for Also, do note our reciprocal clubs their continued support to me, and and, should you get the chance on for their hard work on your behalf. your travels, call in and use their A lot goes on behind the scenes. facilities. They are there for your For 2010 we have plans which enjoyment. If you know of other should see upgrades to the ladies clubs which may be useful to our and gentlemens’ facilities in the members, please let us know and club, the gardens front and back, we will see if we can add them to Club Chairman, Bruce Murrill and the web-site, which we hope to our list. Greetings to you all as we enter the turn into a more dynamic and I look forward to your company in ‘teenies’. The decades seem to informative experience. These are 2010 come and go with ever increasing in addition to a great deal of rapidity! However, as I enter my maintenance and redecoration Bruce Murrill - Club Chairman From the Oval Office The Social Events during the last situated next door to the church half year have largely been very but having as members the Vicar successful and in many cases a and the Director of Music. We are “sell-out”. Robert arranged a indebted to Charles Jenkin and number of interesting speakers for Michael Nicholson for arranging the monthly lunches although he and conducting the service at their does experience some difficulty in busy time of the year. As it assessing what will be of interest to happened it would have been members. For instance there was appropriate if one of the carols had no interest (with the meeting been “Good King Wenceslas” for on having to be cancelled) in Diabetes leaving the club after the buffet the whilst the story of the Suffolk Gipsy snow “lay deep and crisp and even” was heavily over subscribed – with a blizzard in progress. perhaps there were numbers of Fortunately everyone did get home members who were wishing to find albeit with some having a difficult their pedigree! and delayed journey. The evening events remain popular And finally, those of us who and I must make special mention attended the club Burns’ Night of the Club Carol Service prior to celebrations were treated to Christmas. The evening always This year was the third Club Carol another fine Scottish feast for all starts well with hot mulled wine Service and had the highest the senses - even if the haggis was (Robert refuses to share his recipe!) number of members and guests prepared by a French chef! followed by the Carol Service in the attending. We are particularly lovely St Mary le Tower Church. fortunate as a Club not only being Gerry Barnes - Club President From the Manager’s Office A Club Tradition It has been a very busy winter continues period for all the staff, even over the cold snap when we kept the club open by clearing snow in the car park (which certainly helped to check my inevitable Christmas holiday weight-gain.) Thanks to your continued loyal support, we have found it necessary to recruit another member of staff, so I would like to welcome Caroline to the team. Caroline ably assists Jackie in serving lunches and at club evening functions, and has already made her mark as a valued member of our staff call-out team who support Linda & Sheila front of house. Denis and Paul as ever are the legs furiously paddling unnoticed under the water (or at least out of sight in the kitchens) keeping you all fed For many years the Club bar has with splendid cuisine. So I would like to take this opportunity to thank displayed a large selection of artist’s every member of the I&S team as they have worked so hard. caricatures of prominent members I am grateful for the feedback from members with ideas regarding trips (mostly now sadly no longer with us.) and functions at the club. I listen and act when given an idea that is So now that the bar refurbishment has viable (like the Regent Show and Supper events and the Suffolk Punch been completed, we are delighted to trip to Woodbridge.) Do contact me if you know of a venue that requires announce the inclusion of three new a minimum number to attend and I will do my best to organise a trip for caricatures of prominent members you all. After all it is only with your help that I can create the Social both past and present. Calendar you want and enhance your club experience. Now we are into the New Year we are about to commence works on the ladies’ toilets to make two cubicles and two new hand-basins. This work will entail a closure of this area due to construction of the support walls and roof. I trust you will bear with us during this work. We will have the upstairs toilet available for the Ladies whilst the work is being carried out. Immediately after the ladies’ toilets are finished, we will start work on the gentlemen’s toilet. We will remove the old and replace with two new pedestal units, new flooring and decoration with new lighting. The Northgate Street car park will have a new raised bed area with climbing plants to enhance the view from the dining room. If funds allow we will continue this work along the wall and refurbish the existing raised bed near the Northgate entrance. We hopefully will soon start to redecorate the Tower Street side of the club with remedial work on many of the windows. This is in conjunction with IBC who after talks have agreed to remove and replant the silver birch trees on Tower Street, plant new shrubs on our entrance and all Caricatures of retired Cub Directors along our boundary wall. With further planting on our side in the David Wass and Bob Wright can now be borders we hope that this work will make the club grounds look much seen adjacent to the bar. improved and the envy of many. And our one-time “Oldest Member” Mike Mulley is also on display, no- Robert Coppin - Club General Manager doubt keeping a weather-eye on the units consumed by club members… Number Crunching At the AGM on 8th February the Board presented the accounts for year ending 30th September 2009, which showed a profit improvement on the 2008 year. Not an unusual event in itself but given the economic climate throughout the whole of that year it is a great credit to Robert and Denis and their staff that the club continues to thrive. We had a turnover of £312,000 and returned a surplus of 5% for the year. The club now has working capital of £65,000 and we have set a budget for 2010 to (at least) break even in order to try and maintain our reserves going forward. Results in tough times don’t happen by accident and you will all be pleased to hear that Robert has a keen eye for cost control, cash and margin-management. We are all very mindful that whilst the club is currently on a strong financial footing we need to continue to strive to provide facilities and events members enjoy. We are all too aware that we could spend our reserves very quickly on one problem with our historic building . Despite the challenge of the general economy with your support and the effort of Robert and his staff the club is looking forward to the new decade with as much vigour as it has for the previous 125 years. Golf News Snooker The annual golf day held at Purdis on 16th September 09 was enjoyed by all but especially by our winner Bruce Murrill (40 stableford points) a Newsletter truly great result. February 2010 Congratulations also to Prad Patel and George McLellan who achieved second and third positions respectively. The Winter Knockout Competitions are proceeding well with only occasional In fact 2009 resulted in a clean sweep for our sporting Chairman Bruce hiccups and deadlines missed. Members’ who also scooped the Northgate Trophy (our annual knockout golf efforts to play matches promptly are competition), beating George McLellan in a closely-fought final. much appreciated. If you wish to take part in the 2010 Northgate Trophy, please put your name on the entry sheet on the club notice board outside the bar, and please give your entry fee of £3 to cover prizes to our Bar Manager Sheila. This year will also see our two inter-club matches taking place with the Priarch Trophy against the Colchester Garrison Officers’ Club in April, and later in the year we will have an opportunity to improve upon last year’s draw against the Bury Farmers at Flempton Golf Club. Finally of course, our annual golf day for the Barnard Cup will be held at Purdis in September, so please do leave a space in your diary for what always proves to be a most enjoyable day’s golf and an excellent dinner to follow.