TIC’S PAST PLAYER’S ASSOCIATION

Dear Members

NEWSLETTER NO: 49

Firstly of course we send you and your families our very best wishes, hoping all is well with you. As far as I know our family HQ is all ticking over smoothly, and we try to help the main club as much as possible, and keep a close liaison with them.

To start with I have some very good and important news. Barney Bettesworth has signed a new lease on the Recreation Ground, initially for 7 years with a view to extending it for a further 40 years. Great news after so long a wait to get a decision on that. Barney at some time surely must have thought he was wasting his valuable time over it, and we must give him a very big vote of thanks for his perseverance on our behalf for achieving this result.

This will now give confidence to plan for the future. I told you in my last letter that Barney is chairing a special sub-committee with that future in view. An EGM was held at the Grand Hotel on 7 March 2008 – I couldn’t attend myself but I have been told that it was basically to inform Members what I’ve told you about the Lease and to get an assurance from the Members to now fully address the future plans that will be officially be made known at the AGM in June 2008. There’s a nice spirit in the Club itself – these new modern terms of administration means there may be new structuring of the Club. We’ll have to wait and see.

Now to ourselves. Our Xmas Dinner Party was a superb evening – it was a full house yet again, and Jeanette, Karen’s Mum, produced a really excellent meal for us, now using the new equipment in the kitchen – making it more efficient and easier too for the provider. The young Colts team lads were tip top waiters – they all got suitably thanked of course.
Now from the good news to a Last Post. Can I go back to my last letter in July 2007 when we sadly lost Malcolm Baker – I did report it but it was all before the Funeral – it was stop press news then and we were all deeply shocked and saddened. Malcolm was with Barney at Lourdes helping handicapped children, which they have done in previous years and died in his sleep.

The funeral day was a great tribute to him, a wonderful turnout of Club Members and his work colleagues from Devon County Council. Great tributes were paid to him at the Church. A reception was held at the Club House afterwards – where else could it be – where Barney amongst others, paid a further tribute to him. I know that Nicky and her family were very proud of it all.

We have also recently lost Len Toms after a long illness. The Crem was full up, and again the reception was held at the Club House, which was his “second home.” We paid our tributes to his family, Nigel and Jackie. So now, in the last 12 months we have lost 8 of our Members, mainly all local ones, so we were able to fully support the families. Fred Cheshire lived in Swindon, so we were not able to support his family as much as we would have liked, but I have kept in touch with his wife Jean. Ray Batten and I spent a couple of evenings with them years ago when they were on holiday at the Sherwood Hotel in Belgrave Road before the war – sorry for giving away your age Ray!

Stop Press: The Under 16’s have now reached the final of the Fisherman’s Cup, against Ivybridge, and also meet Exeter Chiefs in the County Final. What an achievement – to reach both finals. You can contact Colin Whitford for further details on Tel: (01803)392023.

We are trying to get the younger element of Players in their twilight years as members, mainly the 3rd Team, relics of the Old Harlequins, who always played in a cavalier spirit, but were not interested in 1st Team rugby but just for the fun of playing. They are well managed by Tony McCarthy, Kevin King and John Jones. We recently sponsored their game against OPMs, with a few jugs of beer and a Man of the Match Award. Dave Winser and myself talked to them after the match about our aims for the Club which was well received and we are likely to get several new recruits. We couldn’t cope with their drinking habits though!!!!!

From our recent Bi-Annual General Meeting our Governing Committee is now as follows:

President – Freddie Friend
Vice President - Steve Payne
Chairman – Dave Winser
Treasurer – Dave Godfrey
Secretary – Pat Godfrey
Committee – Ralph Spray, Ted Caunter, Stan Foster, Ian Redfern and Averil Yeo.

If any of the younger members want to be on the Committee we would welcome them in order to keep the younger element of the Club represented. So please contact Dave Godfrey if you would like to do this.

Just a mention – Ian Redfern, a past Club Captain recently had a knee operation and is doing OK. Ian, along with Stan Foster and Dave Robinson mastermind the Club Draw every home game and raise a lot of money, which enables us to help the Main Club out from time to time.

If you need to contact us other than by phone or letter, you can now do so by emailing Dave or Pat Godfrey: davegodfrey@hotmail.co.uk or patgodfrey@hotmail.co.uk. They are experts on this website “thing”.

We will be having a Social Evening on Friday, 25 April 2008. This will be an informal evening together, with no other distractions. A buffet will be provided of course. Please let Dave or Pat Godfrey know if you will be attending by phoning: (01803) 324239 or emailing them on the email address above. Thanks.

Just a reminder – your wives and partners are always welcome to our Social Do’s – we are a family, and a happy one too! – I’m your Great Uncle!!! Well, I just want to complete 50 newsletters and then get “pensioned off”!!!

Best wishes to you all.



Freddie Friend