Clubhouse still closed but public toilets open
Discussions are continuing with Cheshire West and Chester Council about re-opening the clubhouse and access to the toilets and hand washing facilities. They remain closed for the time being. However, the public toilets in the central café block in Westminster Park have re-opened. If lack of facilities has deterred members from coming to enjoy games of croquet, that constraint is now removed.
If members who haven’t played since the lawns were re-opened on 24 May would now like to enjoy some summer games, please remember that it is currently necessary to book a lawn in advance. It is also recommended that members bring their own hand sanitisers or cleaning tissues, any refreshments they may wish to have, and their own mallets and seats if they have them. Check here for more information.
Lawn bookings
Dear All,
The nice weather is with us again, thank goodness, and though we did need the rain on the lawns I think its the last time I will do the rain dance !
It is good to see more people playing, though there are still plenty of slots available during the week, and at the weekend, if you are thinking of joining us. Hopefully we will soon be able to welcome our members who have been confined to Wales.
I have a couple of favours to ask those of you who are currently playing or are thinking of booking in soon.
First: As you know we are not reserving particular days for either Golf Croquet or Association games, and none of the usual sessions are being held. However, you may have noticed that we only have two short lawns laid out at the moment, that’s Lawns 1a and 1b. Consequently those members wishing to play short lawn association croquet can only book one of those two lawns. It would be very helpful if those players wishing to play on a full lawn, whether playing golf or association croquet, would first look to book lawns 2,3 or 4, thus giving an opportunity for short association players to book a time slot. Of course if lawns 2,3 and 4 are all booked at the time you want to play, but lawn 1 is available, then do go ahead and book lawn 1. At the moment the demand for short lawns has not been high, but this is likely to change when our members can come from Wales.
Second: I appreciate that most people are booking lawns before they journey to the club as requested, but that sometimes it is useful to be able to make a last minute decision depending on the weather, and on the availability of the lawns. However, the booking system is also our register, so that we know how and when the lawns are being used, and we have a record of usage. So if you do decide at the last minute to play, and you have not booked, please could you make sure that you still book in on the system, even if this is done retrospectively.
Finally, the next committee meeting which was due to be held on the 7th July, has been postponed until later in the month. I will keep you posted on this, in case you wish to raise any matters to be discussed at that meeting.
Enjoy the sunshine.
Jayne
23 June 2020
Let’s play croquet !
All is up and running at the croquet club…..well almost all. The booking system is in full swing, though there are plenty of slots available to play each week. So if you have not yet registered on the system or booked a game then please do join us. Go on to the web site and navigate to the Lawn Booking System section, where you will be able to register (contact one of the identified administrators if you still need to get your username and password) and then log in each time you want to book lawns. There are clear instructions for booking on the web site.
A couple of requests…..please remember to book your 1.5 hour slots with a start time at 10.00 am, 11.30 am, 1 pm, 2.30 pm, 4 pm and 5.30 pm rather than at times in between, and identify whether you are playing golf or association. You will need to book the two short lawns identified on the system in order to play on a full lawn. Sadly Mondays are still not available.
Also please remember to follow the safeguarding procedures that have been sent to you with an earlier email, and set out on the web site. Following the amendments to Government and CA advice, we have updated the web site accordingly. So it is worth while reading the updated guidance. Never has the equipment been kept so clean ! Remember to move the balls with your feet or your mallet wherever possible, and to wash them in the bucket of soapy water in the storeroom before packing away. Apparently the use of chemical wipes and sanitizer is not good for the Dawson Balls.
If you do not have your own mallet but want to play, please contact Tom Grievson, our Equipment Officer, who will organize with you the loan of a club mallet for the next few months. If you wish to purchase keys, contact Sally Slater.
Unfortunately the main pavilion is still out of bounds, so no toilet or hand washing facilities yet. But David Guyton and John Dawson are using their best efforts to secure a change in this Council restriction.
There are a list of contacts in the members section of the website, if you are looking for an opponent. If you are having problems setting up games then let me know and I will see what can be done to help.( jaytay20ch@aol.com or 07810892311 )
Meanwhile having secured some rain with a suitable rain dance, let us hope we have not lost the lovely weather that May gave us to start off our season of play..
See you soon I hope
Jayne
4 June 2020
Possibility of re-starting croquet
Dear Croquet Players,
Now that the lockdown is being eased, and the potential for outdoor activity increased, we are hoping to start some form of croquet activity at Westminster Park. This will be dependant on the Council agreeing to access to the clubhouse and use of the lawns, albeit in a carefully controlled manner following government guidance.
We are waiting for a response from the Council, and hopefully the re white-lining of the lawns, which can then be followed by setting out the hoops.
We have been looking at how the activity might be managed on the lawns to ensure we do not infringe government guidance (and crucially keep everyone safe), and are drawing up our own specific guidelines which will be circulated to you and placed on the website. The CA have recently issued guidance, which we are taking on board. There will of necessity be some form of booking arrangement for the lawns, which we are working on !
So this message is by way of advanced notice ! Please keep an eye open for my next e-mail, and particularly watch out for changes to the information given on the web site. David Guyton will be doing his usual best to keep you all up to speed.
We also have a committee meeting (by Zoom) next Tuesday 19th May, so let me know on jaytay20ch@aol.com if you want a specific matter raised for discussion.
Hope to see you soon
Take care – as we venture forth a little more
Jayne
13 May 2020
… and the lock-down continues
Hello Everyone,
I hope you are all OK in the current lockdown situation we find ourselves. Please do keep in touch with me on jaytay20ch@aol.com and let me know how you are. I would like to hear from you.
The lawns are looking very inviting at the moment. Those of us who live close enough can at least take our daily exercise around the park and gaze longingly at the green sward. It is doubly frustrating as the white lining has been done. However the Council have also pinned up notices on the doors to the pavilion banning its use, to reinforce their decision to halt all group activities on the park. .
Nevertheless your Committee are continuing to think about all things croquet, and if you go into the members only area of the website you will find a summary of the matters addressed in the Committee Meeting on 31st March, held by video link. How 2020 is that !!
The current restraints will ease eventually, and hopefully we will manage to get out on the lawns albeit rather later in the season. We must look forward to that day.
Keep safe
Jayne Taylor
4 April 2020
Well, the croquet season isn’t starting just yet …
Dear Member,
We will all remember the 2020 season, that’s for sure !
I am sorry that we will not be seeing you on the lawns for a while. We had hoped to lay out the lawns this week so that play could start next week, though at a much reduced level. We as a committee felt that it should be possible to play singles croquet on a very low key basis (i.e. no group activities, matches or roll up activities) and maintain social distancing requirements. However, when the Council decided to cease all group activities on the park including croquet and bowls, and the government effectively put us all in the first stage of a total lockdown, this became impossible.
Your committee will continue to monitor the situation and thanks to David Guyton’s work on the website you can keep up to date with the evolving situation. We will be meeting as a committee electronically, so do let me know if you want to raise a matter with us. Please do look at the website on a regular basis. We will let you know when play can start again. It will!
Meanwhile, look after yourselves and keep safe. And please keep in contact with me by email, or WhatsApp if you are into that sort of thing. Enjoy the garden, and your “one piece of exercise a day”…….
All the best
Jayne
25 March 2020
The croquet season starts !
Hello fellow croquet players ! Spring is sprung, the grass is ris…. etc etc
As most of you will realise, the croquet season officially starts at the end of March, lawns and weather permitting, and hopefully April will bring lots of opportunities to play, the rainfall for April having already fallen in February !
Those of you at the AGM will have noted that I am now Chairman, hence this email from me, and I look forward to seeing you all soon. Meanwhile do please note my email jaytay20ch@aol.com should you need to contact me on any matter.
David Guyton will be issuing the new calendar for the year very shortly, and this, along with lots of other interesting information will be found on the website. Please get used to visiting this website regularly (advice to me as much as anyone!) to keep up to date with what is going on in the club. Access to the members area on the website is the same as the key lock on the pavilion door.
Our next committee meeting will be held on March 31st, so if you wish to place an item on the agenda for discussion by the committee please email it to me, preferably by the 24th March.
Regards
Jayne Taylor
Help wanted for taster day, 18 April 2020
Our taster day for newcomers this year is on Saturday, 18 April, 10.00 am – 3.30 pm.
We usually attract about 16 people or so and I would like about 6-8 volunteers, please, who could help out on that day. It is a structured day where we demonstrate the basics and golf croquet in the morning and then help the visitors have a try at a game; in the afternoon we demonstrate some additional shots and association croquet and likewise help the visitors to have a go.
Lunch and refreshments are provided and it is usually a good day. Volunteers wear whites and help put out and take down lawns if possible too. If you wanted to just help with the catering that would be lovely as well. If you preferred to just help in the morning (with GC) or the afternoon (with AC) that is equally fine.
If you could let me know that would be great. Thanks for your help.
Last call for dinner, Saturday, 8 February 2020
A final call for the Annual Dinner with a few details I forgot first time around. Firstly, non member partners are welcome at this dinner. Secondly the dress code is smart casual.
The Dinner will be held on Saturday, 8 February 2020, 7pm for 7.30pm at Chester Golf Club, Curzon Park.
We need to know numbers as soon as possible. The cost for 3 courses and coffee will be £27 to include staff gratuity. If you wish to come please send a cheque made out to Chester Croquet Club for £27 per person to
Sarah Andrew, 5 Parc Waen, Bangor Road, Conwy, LL32 8EL
Many thanks
Annual Dinner, Saturday, 8 February 2020
Chester Croquet Club’s Annual Dinner will be held on Saturday, 8 February, at 7 pm for 7.30 pm at Chester Golf Club, Curzon Park North, Chester CH4 8AR.
We need to know numbers as soon as possible. Please reply to Sarah Andrew (sarahm.andrew.sa@gmail.com) to let us know you are coming.
The cost for 3 courses and coffee will be £27 to include staff gratuity. There will be a choice of menu including a vegetarian option. Vegans and those with special diets will need to contact the Golf Club direct on 01244 677760 and ask for the Catering Manager to discuss meal options.
All the best
Sarah Andrew