Chairman’s new year message

Happy New Year everyone! Even though January is usually seen as the bleakest month, I’m pleased to say that the start of 2022 sees the club full of optimism for a number of reasons.

Firstly, while the ground is currently a building site and we are yet to see things going up rather than coming down, the excitement is beginning to build for our long-awaited new pavilion. It won’t be long before we are all worrying about the colour of the walls and what furniture to have on the veranda.  With fingers firmly crossed, I really hope we get to open the Pete Danes Pavilion on time this summer and take the opportunity to eventually celebrate the life of the man whose extraordinary legacy will have made it all possible.

Secondly, we are in the midst of a major fundraising campaign that is proving to be incredibly well supported.  We are hugely appreciative of all the donations received so far (over 60), and it is particularly humbling to see just how far and wide donations have come from – including Melbourne, Kazakhstan and Bumbles Green! It’s also been fantastic to see just how many people from the club’s past have stepped up to help, showing the bonds that were formed really do run deep.

Thirdly, word is beginning to spread around Nazeing about the club and its plans, and we look forward to having (new) doors to open to the local community.  As I said last year, we may be located at the top of the Common, but our aim is to be at the heart of the village

And finally, any club is only really as good as the people who make it up.  I’m proud to say we have a growing, wonderfully diverse and highly engaged membership, and hopefully we can welcome many more new members as the year unfolds.

Peter Barker, NCCC Chairman