RCC Round Up: February 2025 Edition

Welcome to our February RCC Round Up. It’s a been a busy few months since our Christmas newsletter, with the committee working hard behind the scenes to ensure the club hits the ground running for the upcoming season!

The refurbishment of the bar area is well underway, with significant progress made in just a few weeks. The entire space has been stripped out and a wall has been removed to extend into the old storeroom, creating a more functional layout. The optics, previously mounted on the wall, will be relocated to the back, with a dedicated serving area at the front. Upgrades include a new ice maker, a double fridge, a fitted boiler, new outdoor light and rewired electrics. A huge thank you to Ben Francis, Trevor Nunn, the Mayfield family, Terry Martin, Dave Turner, Paul Harmsworth, Dave Archer, and the Frost’s for their invaluable support in bringing this project to life. More work is planned in the coming weeks. Keep your eyes peeled for dates for working parties in the next few months.

The club is pleased to announce the creation of two new non-committee roles to further support our operations.

Dave Archer has taken on the role of Club House Manager, overseeing key responsibilities related to the pavilion, insurance, and hire agreements. His support will be invaluable in ensuring the smooth management of our facilities.

Additionally, Alan Brown has been appointed as the club’s official Club Photographer—a role he has informally fulfilled for many years. Alan is currently working on collating club photos to celebrate and preserve our rich history, with plans to display them in the pavilion. This project, alongside the outstanding work done by Phil Wolff on the club’s history, will help transform the space into a true reflection of Rayleigh CC’s legacy.

A huge thank you to both Dave and Alan for stepping forward and supporting Ben, Tom, and the rest of the committee in their efforts to enhance the club.

We’re pleased to announce that, following the success of our live stream in recent seasons, the club has invested in a new camera—thanks to the support of our sponsors. The camera will be mounted on the far side of the pavilion, providing a more traditional ‘broadcast’ viewing experience. We hope this upgrade will enhance viewership and create new commercial and partnership opportunities for the club.

If you’re interested in becoming a live stream sponsor, you can find out more on our website or contact us at sponsorship@rayleighcc.com.

We have a number of club socials planned for the next few months, including:

• Quiz Night: Saturday 29th March at 7pm. We only have a number of tables / spaces left for the evening, so get in touch should you like to reserve a place.
• Chairman’s Night: Friday 18th April. Join us for Chairman’s Night as we gear up for the new season! The newly refurbished bar opens at 19:00. Expect pool and darts tournaments running throughout the night, plus a rumour is swirling that the Chairman might be putting some money behind the bar for a limited time to mark his first season in the role… Light snacks will also be provided. Don’t miss out on a great evening to kick off the season in style!
• Golf Day: Friday 29th April at Mardyke Valley Golf Club. We have reserved 8 tee times and the event is nearly fully booked. Contact Tom to check if any spaces become available.
• Newmarket Race Day: 26th June. Places are still available for our race day and a coach has been reserved, leaving Rayleigh around 10am. All those who expressed interest will be contacted with full details in the next few weeks. Get in touch if you wish to attend – all are welcome, including partners, friends and family.

We have a number of club socials planned for the next few months, including:

Well done to the winners of the February draw of the 100 club:

• £100 – Steve Adams
• £40 – Richard Nolde
• £25 – Jason Ox

If you would like to be in with a chance of winning, sign up today by emailing Lorraine (treasurer@rayleighcc.com) or find our more on our website.