EAST BERGHOLT 2025 AGM

PLAYING FIELD COMMITTEE ANNUAL REVIEW

The 2024/25 year proved to be the busiest 12 months the playing
fields committee has experienced for many years.

The winter of 2023 brought all sports fixtures to a halt.
The incessant rainwater waterlogged the grounds, and the fields
flooded. One manager had to ‘send on his subs !’.
A Verti draining exercise was carried out in the following Spring
followed by sanding and re seeding. The ground improved in time to
complete the football season and start the new cricket fixtures.
However, a long-term plan was put into place to prevent future
flooding and provent further future damage. Councillor John Price, an
experienced civil engineer, was tasked with arranging geographical and
topographical surveys which gave us invaluable vital evidence for future
structural groundwork. The winter weather proved to be kinder and the
senior and junior football teams were relieved to be able to go on to
achieving good results.
The tennis club continued its previous successful form on and off the
courts. A Babergh district CIL award has allowed planning a new tennis hub
project to commence. And thanks must go to Councillor Joan Miller and
tennis club member Brian Wilshire for steering the plans past difficult
obstacles, to get to todays position “advantage EB Tennis”.
East Bergholt cricket club was also successful with a CIL grant to
build a new 4 lane cricket cage. The new cricket nets will prove to be
among the finest in the county and especially help our young cricketers
hone their talents. This work starts in May this summer.
In addition to these two projects, the parish council also funded a
new perimeter fence and club house exterior for the East Bergholt Bowls

club Their spectacular ground surrounded by floral borders is worthy of a
place at the Chelsea flower show!
Terri Catchpole told me she was chair of bowling. I asked “Tenpin ?” ,
She said “No, its permanent !”.

The parish council financed the Sports council project to replace and
upgrade the pavilion kitchen and sundries with all new
equipment and units, which should now last for many years of cooking !
The Parish council also records its thanks to Dennis McGrath who
stepped down at Easter, after chairing the Sport Council for the past
eventful 7 years.
The children’s two playgrounds continue to receive 3 monthly safety
checks and we also installed a new outdoor table tennis table at Gandish
road. East End playing field has greatly improved all play areas through
monthly mowing, and a ‘games’ picnic table now sits next to the play area
for families to enjoy. A ‘Broom Knoll Community Noticeboard’ was put in
place for residents to use for their own communications.
Finally, the committee extend their thanks, to Michael Hall, our
groundsman, for another fine job this year, to Councillor Sallie Davis for her
help with obtaining our district grants, and to Graeham White and Louise
Smith, our parish clerks who have helped (and rescued) the committee in a
variety of ways!
I also thank Councillor Lyn Matthews for her interpreting skills in
‘minuting our meetings’ this year,
and to Councillor Michael Hockley who gave invaluable help and prevented
me from getting ‘a red card sending off’ on many occasions !

Graeme Woodcock
Playing Field Committee Chair