MINEHEAD’S ‘new' cricket pavilion was officially opened on June 7, 2013, by Dick Strong who was then president of Minehead Cricket Club.

Since then a lot has happened  at the club and ten years later almost to the day, the former president called into the ground and talked about the intervening period.

Dick, who started playing for the club back in the 1970s and went onto play a major part in helping the club to secure where they are now based, said: 

“The club has started to get back to the way things were before Covid because without a doubt that made an impact on socialising and people getting into the swing of being club members

“The club has an excellent committee led by chairman Andrew Stevens who leads by example, and this season the teams are enjoying winning results which is very encouraging for the captains and the teams who have all been very loyal during the period of covid.”

Dick went on: “Members are now socialising and younger members are doing a great job in organising events. We live within close proximity of the club and to hear young people and players enjoying themselves and socialising gives me a lot of pleasure.

“The pavilion is kept like new which is a great tribute to longer standing members and the ground is looking better than ever.

“The Juniors are excellent led by Barry Swann and a number of others who are doing the coaching including several youngsters and there are now three sides who are getting regular cricket.”

The governance of the club has also been formalised as Dick explained: “The club is now incorporated to protect members from personal liability and there are five directors for the business who have taken over from the trustees. 

"Each director brings their unique expertise to the club and have shown loyalty over the years so overall the club is in a great place for the future.”

Dick added: “It’s is just so sad that we have no longer got David Lethaby around because he was a wonderful member of the club and a great friend. He was the chairman at the time and asked me to get involved with the paviion project which led to two years of pretty much full time which I thoroughly enjoyed.” 

“The result of all the effort that was put in is that we now have a community facility for young and old that for the past ten years and now going into the future.”

Minehead Cricket Club are holding a Celebration Day in Memory of David Lethaby on Saturday, July 8. This will start with a Coffee Morning between 10-12 noon.

There will be a 12 Hour Endurance Spinning Bike Challenge at the Club, details of which can be obtained by calling Suzanne on 07853 898 231.

Refreshments will be available and the bar open all day.In the afternoon Minehead CC are hosting Taunton Deane in the Somerset Premier League and in the evening there will be live music, so make a note of the date in your diary.