Good Evening and welcome to the 51st AGM of Lawrance Park Recreation Ground and Community Association.
This year has been filled with the usual running details with a few odds and ends thrown in to add interest. We followed advice and had trees felled in the park that had signs of fungal disease and others that had been damaged by the wind. Some of the stumps have now been ground out, we are waiting for drier weather for the rest to be done, and four new trees planted. We had been offered free trees from the Woodland Trust but they were very small and going to take years to grow so we decide to buy some larger specimens. Hopefully they will flourish and the remaining trees grow and and fill in some of the spaces.
After lengthy consultations with EON Energy Alan Thomas masterminded the installation of 6 new solar lighting columns on the footpath from Chapel Lane. Compared to our other path lighting this was much easier to fit with no need for cable laying, and it is obviously environmentally friendly and will benefit the village.The cost of this project was met by the Causeway Estate Charity for which we are very grateful. We have also had floodlighting fitted to the MUGA which will allow it to be used during the winter months by any hirers.We have gone big on lights this year as we had the hall ceiling lights changed to LED which should cut costs and they should also last longer before needing replacement . Changing lightbulbs in the hall is a major undertaking with scaffolding or a cherry picker necessary.
As usual there have been minor works on the play and gym equipment on the field but the roller barrel needed major repairs involving new slats , again dealt with by Alan Thomas. We’ve had new bins fitted outside. Most of our very smart metal bins did not survive being used as a dog’s toilet and had rusted badly so the replacements are plastic financed very kindly by the parish council. On the subject of dogs, we have had big problems with dog mess being left on the field and surrounding paths causing problems for Thurlby Tigers and school. Since lockdown there has been a massive increase in the number of dogs in the village and dogs accompanying children to school. Dog mess can be left in our bins so there is no excuse for owners not cleaning up after their animals. The problem has been so bad we have made it known that dogs should only use Lawrance Park on a lead and if the problem continues dogs will be banned totally. Lots of signs have been put up asking owners to clean up after their pets and advising them that dogs need to be on a lead. A sign has gone up on the MUGA stating it is a resource for sports and dogs are not allowed. We have recently made contact with a dog warden who has been and placed his own signs and is planning on future visits to try and find the offenders.
We have some new seats for the park. Caroline Pearce has purchased one in memory of her husband Steve, which is now in place and Alan has delivered three donated by Papworth Hospital for the children’s play area. These will be sited in drier weather.
Bonfire Night was well attended again this year and as well as people having a good time we raised a healthy amount of money £4,212.09. We are really well supported on this evening by lots of family, friends and neighbours who lend a hand to make it a success and we are very grateful for their input.
John Reynolds organised and ran a Ceilidh for Lawrance Park and donated the profits to the charity. Thanks to him and Elaine.
The hall has three main hirers of the hall: Kid’s Club, Tai Kwan-Do and Scouts, Beavers and Cubs with Thurlby Tigers using the field and toilets and Smart Fit using the MUGA. Since lockdown we have had less people asking to use the hall so the committee has redesigned the charging policy to make it simpler and easier to understand and implement and keeping it in line with other local halls. We are advertising this on social media so we shall see if this makes our facility more attractive to possible users.
Once again the Parish Council has been generous in its support of Lawrance Park providing money towards the upkeep of the field and trees. Thurlby Runs also donated money following their successful event in July. We are always very appreciative of such financial help. Before I finish I just wanted to briefly touch on what King Charles has stated as one of his wishes to celebrate his coronation - for people to spend a day volunteering in their communities. Which is what this committee is all about. Just listening to list of things that have happened around Lawrance Park during the year makes one realise that without volunteering much of this wouldn’t have happened. Workers and companies are paid for their goods and time but all the other bits are done by the committee members in their free time. I am very grateful to all those who give up hours on Lawrance Park work, be it running bonfire night, organising signs, mending things, sorting out money, writing up minutes or organising employees. The list goes on. Without you we wouldn’t have a functioning hall or park. I feel you have fulfilled your volunteering quota already.
There is one person though I feel needs a special mention. This person, unfortunately for him understands lots of practical things and is very generous with his time and skills. You’ll have noticed his name mentioned a few times already. Alan Thomas, thank you for all that extra knowledge, time and effort you give to the Charity. It does not go unmissed.
Thank you for listening.
LAWRAI4CE PARK RECREATIC4 GROUND • COMMUNITIASSCKIATK ACCOUNTS FOR YEAA ENDING 31 PAIRCH 20Z4 INCOME Oeanirvd Park Maintenance Property Maintenanc• Playground Maintenance £2,460.54 £4,069.37 £3.994.43 £1.190.32 £2.065.86 £510.63 £122.10 £210.00 £512.48 £345.60 £48.99 £435.32 £927.60 £16m3.24 Thurlby Parith Council Facillty HiTe Ch4r8e5 Flrework$- Net Pro¢e¢ds Football Relreshments. Net Proceed5 Donation NaUon•l Gr6d Wayleaves f4,C.00 f 14,039.10 £4.212.09 £757.85 £460.15 £8.05 Insurance tK Busin Rate5 IloSPA Ilnd Cr$e$l Consumables Tfees Sur¥ey + Fellir Grfts PPUPRS Licenr Oerk Tot•1 Ew)thuf• £6.SMIX) £23,47124 JA77.24 Trthto CIMF Deposlt Recoupment P•yThent To Pettycash EO.C E113.33 £O.C¥) Tr•nsl•rfrom Bank AcuArrt £iu.33 P41¢ Inrr••* kn B•nk¥J21n2 £4470.57 £8,477.04 Net Increase In aank 202V22 £6.470.67 a051 8a £14947.71 Open1 Flo•t Ex Bank Iler•lnedfrom T•kln aoslrq Flo•t £50.Q) £0. Oynl Translertocc Bank Interest Received £29.513.58 420.000.( £153.24 £9.666.82 Cambrldp &CoundN b•nk £O.fJ) £20,000.IXI E365.46 £20.365.46 From COIF Deposlt IntereH rth¥¢d aosi 267.72 unlts 31 Marth 3J23 £2X9179 £6L285.90 ASAT AUdIt byMrCYo Date 12/4/A%
LAWRAI4CE PARK RECREATIC4 GROUND • COMMUNITIASSCKIATK ACCOUNTS FOR YEAA ENDING 31 PAIRCH 20Z4 INCOME Oeanirvd Park Maintenance Property Maintenanc• Playground Maintenance £2,460.54 £4,069.37 £3.994.43 £1.190.32 £2.065.86 £510.63 £122.10 £210.00 £512.48 £345.60 £48.99 £435.32 £927.60 £16m3.24 Thurlby Parith Council Facillty HiTe Ch4r8e5 Flrework$- Net Pro¢e¢ds Football Relreshments. Net Proceed5 Donation NaUon•l Gr6d Wayleaves f4,C.00 f 14,039.10 £4.212.09 £757.85 £460.15 £8.05 Insurance tK Busin Rate5 IloSPA Ilnd Cr$e$l Consumables Tfees Sur¥ey + Fellir Grfts PPUPRS Licenr Oerk Tot•1 Ew)thuf• £6.SMIX) £23,47124 JA77.24 Trthto CIMF Deposlt Recoupment P•yThent To Pettycash EO.C E113.33 £O.C¥) Tr•nsl•rfrom Bank AcuArrt £iu.33 P41¢ Inrr••* kn B•nk¥J21n2 £4470.57 £8,477.04 Net Increase In aank 202V22 £6.470.67 a051 8a £14947.71 Open1 Flo•t Ex Bank Iler•lnedfrom T•kln aoslrq Flo•t £50.Q) £0. Oynl Translertocc Bank Interest Received £29.513.58 420.000.( £153.24 £9.666.82 Cambrldp &CoundN b•nk £O.fJ) £20,000.IXI E365.46 £20.365.46 From COIF Deposlt IntereH rth¥¢d aosi 267.72 unlts 31 Marth 3J23 £2X9179 £6L285.90 ASAT AUdIt byMrCYo Date 12/4/A%