The Clare School in Norwich celebrates new sensory room

The new sensory room at The Clare School is one of a number of them being installed at various places across the country as part of a partnership between BT and the youth cricket and disabled sports charity The Lord’s Taverners. Actress Liza Goddard and Norwich South MP Simon Wright joined staff and students at The Clare School, in South Park Avenue, yesterday for the official unveiling of the special room.

After a ribbon cutting ceremony the guests enjoyed a tour of the school and watched the children have fun in the new environment.

The Clare School has nearly 100 pupils aged three to 19 years old who have a range of sensory impairments, learning difficulties and additional complex needs. The new £25,000 state-of-the-art computer-controlled sensory room aims to help enhance the children’s self-confidence, social skills and future prospects. Simon Minter, the school’s senior manager and head of sensory support, said the new facility offered pupils lots of different opportunities including the chance to enjoy interactive stories with special sensory effects and the chance to control their surroundings by allowing them to alter colours, project images and change other elements of the room through a variety of different types of switches. He said: “It is giving the pupils control over their environment which is important because some of our children have such little control over their lives because of their disabilities. “This is an opportunity for them to be in control of their environment and the things around them.” He added: “The sensory room is great for helping to develop sensory, visual and hearing skills. Mr Minter said: “We are so grateful for our new sensory room and would like to say a big thank you. It is a fantastic opportunity for the school and will help us to make a positive difference to our pupils’ lives – helping them develop those massively important foundation skills that will benefit them for the rest of their lives.”

NEWMARKET CRICKET MATCH

This match featured Mike Gatting’s Celebrity Team against a Newmarket Festival XI captained by Chris Silverwood.

This was also my first Match as a Manager of a Taverners cricket team (well to be truthful any cricket team).  This became immediately apparent as Chris effectively won the match for his team before a ball was bowled.

Chris arrived with only four of his originally declared team and seven players in total.  He then announced he had brought a few mates to make up the numbers, including Jaik Mickleburgh and Darren Cousins (both Essex County players), Mark Pettini (former Essex captain) and Tim Southee (current Essex oversee international player) to bring his numbers up to nine.  He also then borrowed my best two Newmarket Cricket Club young players (one of whom eventually won the man of the match award).  This left our team with three former international and county professionals with an average age probably on the wrong side of 45 (or even 50) against Chris’s team which consisted of 5 current international or professional cricketers and an average age the wrong side (for us that is) of 30.

Worse was to come as Chris won the toss and elected to bat, thereby requiring our Dad’s Army XI to bowl and field first.  This of course did not help as our lot had tucked into a large helping of a superb lasagne for lunch, kindly provided by the Bedford Lodge Hotel in Newmarket.  Unfortunately therefore instead of sleeping their lunch off our brave Taverners had to run around chasing a considerable number of shots destined for the boundary.  I must stress that running is a very generous description of some of our efforts in the post lunch session.

The Newmarket Festival XI rattled up 154 for 2 in their 20 overs, thanks to a half century by Ollie Rix the Newmarket Cricket Club ‘guest’, 42 by Jaik Mickleburgh and 31 not out by Mark Pettini.  Thankfully there was not time for Tim Southee or Darren Cousins to bat.

Mike Gatting proved to be the pick of our bowlers ending with figures of 1 for 11 off 3 overs, although Ryan Cummings (0 for 13) and Frazer Hines (0 for 26) also featured.

I must say that at this point the sky darkened and heavy rains were reported from a few miles away.  My spirits lifted as I thought we might get an honourable rain effected draw.  However, once again I had under estimated Chris’s competitive spirit as he marched his team of county cricketers and Newmarket trainers, including Ed Dunlop and David Simcock onto a dampening cricket pitch.

It is worth noting that David Simcock who had trained Dream Ahead, the winner of the Darley July Cup ridden by Hayley Turner the first female jockey to win a Group 1 race outright the previous day, was also a member of the Newmarket XI and he confirmed to me that he had refused to over celebrate in the evening to ensure his alertness and co-ordination for his big game on Sunday.  I cannot imagine what sanctions Chris had threatened if any of his team failed to perform or let him down on the day (I must find out for next year!).   

Our innings started surprisingly well.  Gus Mackay and Jonathan Cooke opened and although Gus was toppled early on we actually began to score a few runs.  A highlight being a beautiful pull to mid wicket by Jonathan off Chris Silverwood’s bowling which earned him a glare from the former England fast bowler which would have graced any international contest.

Mike Gatting joined Jonathan and proceeded to remind everybody what a class act he is finishing with a score of 62.  Ryan Cummings supported Mike ably after Jonathan’s dismissal and he scored a very entertaining 34 from 24 balls.

However, once Mike and Ryan had succumbed the rest of our gallant crew could not quite keep up with the asking rate and we finished just short of the target with 140 for 6.

Both sides then adjourned to the pavilion for more food and a very convivial evening discussing tactics and strategy for next year (including probably the recruitment of a new manager).

There are lots of people to thank of course, including Neil Vollenhoven and the Newmarket Cricket Club for hosting the fixture, Mark Edmundson and the Newmarket Committee for asking us to play.  Steve Wallis of Newmarket Racecourse for allowing us to hold a bucket collection at the races the previous day, Channel 4 for filming the match and Sir Michael Stoute for representing the Taverners and presenting a minibus to Impington Village College which was also broadcast on Channel 4.  Also thanks to Mike Denness and Paul Westerman for umpiring throughout.  Paul did so on crutches and another memorable moment was when he signalled a wide by extending his arms with the crutches attached, making the delivery a ‘very wide’.  Trevor Sturgess scorecard was a work of art and our thanks to him for his professional approach which certainly made the score look presentable on paper.  Michael Holding for attending and not least of course to Mike Gatting for his total commitment to the Taverners and his patience and encouragement during my first  (and last?) match as manager of a cricket team – it’s harder than it looks!

Bob Young

Chairman

East Anglia

KWIK CRICKET PRESENTATION FOR HUNTS SPECIAL SCHOOLS

Huntingdonshire Cricket Board in partnership with sponsors Hunts County Bats and The Lords Taverners held a presentation recently as part of their Disability Development Project with representatives from Spring Common Huntingdon and Samuel Pepys St Neots Special Schools. The Project is part of the Cricket Boards Improvement Plan for 2010/11.

Each school received a large bag of kwik cricket kit to support their development of cricket. The Project also received a grant towards the kit from The Baker Tilly Peterborough Fund. Cricket sessions have been held in both schools run by Hunts Cricket Board Development Officer David Summers and coach Matt Duncan. Funding bids were put together with the full support and backing of the local Coaches Association Committee and Chairman Mallie Bandaranaike.

The picture of the presentation shows Bob Young and Paul Westerman from The Lords Taverners, Steve Turnock of Hunts County Bats, Hunts Cricket Development Officer David Summers, Matt Tee and Mark Case along with pupils and other representatives from Spring Common and Samuel Pepys schools.    

As part of the Project, three further kit bags will also be presented to Pheonix, Heltwate and Marshfields Special Schools in Peterborough

6 A SIDE FINALS U12 AND U14 - 2ND APRIL

The Lord’s Taverners – Indoor 6 a side East Anglia Finals report – 2nd April 2011

This competition is run and administered by The Norfolk Cricket Board and has now been in existence for 15 years. Teams compete at two age groups – Under 12’s and Under 14’s with six Counties represented by their individual age group champions from Cambridgeshire, South Lincs, Huntingdonshire, Essex, Suffolk and the host County.

This year’s finals day was again held at The UEA SportsPark in Norwich which is an excellent venue providing three good sized halls with matches running concurrently. The teams compete against each other on a league basis with each playing 3 matches drawn at random with the 1st and 2nd placed team playing off for the championship and other play off matches held to determine the minor placings.

In the Under 12’s competition , defending champions Cambridge St Giles again established themselves as the team to beat winning all three of their group matches scoring a combined 634 runs and only lost 4 wickets in the process. Market Deeping CC, representing South Lincs were not far behind in also winning their three group matches and duly contested the final. A fantastic encounter followed with St Giles being restricted to a net score of 165 against the accurate bowling attack. In reply Market Deeping kept pace with the required scoring rate and were just ahead going into the last over. A wicket duly fell which cost 5 runs off the total which put St Giles back in front but the batsmen held their nerve and edged the match by the narrowest margin of just 1 run.

Vauxhall Mallards representing Norfolk edged out their Suffolk rivals Copdock to finish third and in the final match, Eaton Socon, who were finalists in 2010, were well beaten by Shenfield from Essex.

The Under 14’s took over in the afternoon with the competition played in the same format. Swardeston / CEYMS representing Norfolk looked to be the strongest team from the off and whilst Peterborough Town ran them close they comfortably won all their matches to head the group. The remaining places were closely contested with Copdock ensuring Norfolk and Suffolk rivalry in the final by beating Shenfield in their last group match.

The final was largely one sided with the host County club fulfilling their potential in winning by the comfortable margin of 61 runs in posting a formidable target of 217 having batted first. Waresley from Hunts beat Cokenatch from Cambridge to finish third with Shenfield edging out Peterborough to finish 5th.

Once again the whole day’s cricket was played in an excellent spirit enjoyed by all spectators and especially the players who took part. Official umpires again stood during the day which helps to make for the occasion.

East Anglian Regional Chairman Bob Young presented the annual trophy to the winning teams together with individual medals to the winners and runners-up. Each club also received a junior kit bag courtesy of The Lord’s Taverners which was especially well received.

Bob confirmed that The Lord’s Taverners are delighted to support this long established competition and hope to do so again in 2012.
 

LADY TAVERNERS SPRING SALE

On April 11th, the Cambridgeshire Region Lady Taverners repeated their usual Spring Sale of exclusive fashions by Sandra Kent, with shoes and handbags by Hotfooted also on offer.
Dame Ann Leslie, Special Correspondent at the Daily Mail, was the entertaining Guest Speaker on the theme of: "History, Handbags, and the Role of the Bra in a Danger Zone".
Regional President, Joan Morecambe, was present, lending her invaluable support to this sell-out event at Swynford Hotel, Newmarket.
 

CLUB EVENING AT THE HOTEL DU VIN

The Lady Taverners (Cambridgeshire Region) and the Lord's Taverners (East Anglia Region) combined to enjoy a Club Evening at the Hotel du Vin in Cambridge on April 6th. After a buffet supper and a talk on "Diamonds are Forever" by Lord's Taverner Jonathan Lambert, the members were delighted to welcome Special Guest, Robert Powell, later in the evening after his performance at the Cambridge Arts Theatre in "Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell".

 

THE LADY TAVERNERS U13 GIRLS INDOOR CRICKET REGIONAL FINALS - 29TH MARCH 2011

Pictured above: Lady Olwen Cass with the Captain from winning team, Godolphin & Latymer who won by by 6 wickets (52 for 2, in four and a bit overs)

THE LORD'S TAVERNERS JOCKEY CLUB DINNER, JOCKEY CLUB, NEWMARKET - 9TH DECEMBER 2010

East Anglia region’s Christmas Racing Cert

December 9th saw a full starting line-up of 100 Taverners and their guests at the majestic headquarters of the Jockey Club in Newmarket. Following a champagne reception, surrounded by fascinating (and original) horse themed works of art, the assembly sat down for an excellent Christmas dinner and entertainment provided by guest speaker Felix Francis assisted by Chris Tarrant in the role of celebrity auctioneer. Master of Ceremony’s and Regional Chairman, Bob Young, introduced the guests and played a DVD on the work of the Taverners reminding everybody why they were there.

Felix entertained the diners with tales of racing and concluded with a bawdy ode which had the audience laughing and blushing in equal measure! Unscheduled entertainment was provided by the Maitre D’ doing his best Manuel impression (“I am from France he said as he interrupted Felix’ speech to present him with a cup of coffee”).

Guests were persuaded and in some cases unashamedly bullied by Mr Tarrant into bidding for generously donated auction items, which, together will a well supported raffle raised a total sum of over £4000 . Thanks were given to Jack Merrell for organising the event and to the guests for their generosity. No doubt it will be odds-on favourite for a repeat performance next year.
 

THE LADY TAVERNERS LUNCHEON WITH CHRISTMAS IN MIND - 15TH NOVEMBER 2010

In November, Cambridgeshire Region (Lady Tavs) held a most successful luncheon "with Christmas in mind" at the Swynford Hotel, Newmarket, for 188 ladies, who shopped at the 6 stalls and were then entertained by Jane Lapotaire. Her masterly rendering of comical verses and prose had everyone shedding tears of joy and hilarity