SHILLINGTON MEMORIAL PLAYING FIELD REPORT FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE TRUSTEES 13[TH] MAY 2025
The main focus during the year was identifying and completing grant applications suitable for the refurbishment of the Social Club. Local funds have been accumulating with contributions from Parish Council, Playing Field Committee, local Club fund raising through the weekly meat raffle and generous donations from the Social Club committee. Phase 1 of the refurbishment was completed in December. Works included re-felting and tiles cleaned, replaced and pointed up. The loft was insulated to building regulations specification. New LED lights were installed replacing the old fluorescent tubes and the inside pillar by the bar has now been removed and old timber beams and upright steel beams installed, which had to be adjusted to fit the sliding door. This phase cost £25,148.80.
Updated quotations for phase 2 have now been received and are being analysed. This phase is for refurbishment of toilets and installation of disabled facilities as well as improvements to bar, cellar and kitchen areas. If there is not quite enough in the funding pot, it is hoped that some works (internal painting, etc) could be done by local volunteers. This phase is coming in at around £110,000.00.
User Groups have been busy - AFC football are having to make use of other locations due to the number of games during the season, as well as a mixture of inclement weather preventing some games not being able to be played on home ground. The Club has been looking at floodlight improvements as well as trying to resolve parking issues due to insufficient space in the current car parking facility. It is hoped to make the old play area usable as a level car park in the future.
The Spitfires Cricket Club has been growing over the season with new members and a good voluntary maintenance team working hard on the square to make it playable. During winter months members have been netting at Robert Bloomfield Academy and started training at the Playing Field from April. Their first home match was against Watton-at-Stone on 20[th] April. 12 friendly home games are scheduled for the coming season. The Club can’t join the Cricket league until they have changing facilities. This is another project requiring funding. Possibly a portacabin shared with AFC football located on the old play area.
The Shillingfest event at the end of June proved to be very successful with village organisations, local voluntary groups and businesses coming together raising their profiles as well as fund raising – a great community event, which was well supported. Plans for Shillingfest 25 are now well underway with plenty of fun and music for all and high hopes of another successful day, more particularly since we’ve received confirmation of a flypast by a Hurricane. The event to be opened by our local MP – Blake Stephenson. There will also be a flypast by both Hurricane and Spitfire on the following day - 29[th] June – times to be confirmed.
The annual fireworks spectacular at the beginning of November last year saw the village community coming together again and was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended. We continue to fund raise for this event with BBQs run by a great team of volunteers. This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday, 1[st] November.
The Social Club continues to flourish with monthly live bands, fund-raising activities and the occasional party, whilst offering beers, wines and spirits at competitive prices for locals to enjoy. A great dedicated team of volunteers supporting village activities on the Playing Field.
Gavin Jenkins
Chair
13[th] May 2025
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