BASS CHARITY VASE

www.basscharityvase.com is the latest step forward that we have taken to widen the scope and interest in our activities. Thank you to Ken, Wendy and Robert Fairbrother for initiating and setting up our web site. Visitors to the site will see that it is still being developed, and Ken will welcome any contributions. 2002 has again been a somewhat mixed year with the hugely successful soccer tournament being offset by the disappointment of a smaller than average profit from the Firework extravaganza. However we have once again been able to allocate nearly £10,000 to the nominated recipients who we know greatly appreciate the support that they receive from the Charity Vase.

Outlined below is a survey of the year's events in 2002.

This year the Race Night was held at Marston's Social Club. Many thanks are due to Nigel Peck and Ollie Daniels for all their efforts in once again making this an enjoyable and profitable evening with over £500 being raised for our funds. Thank you to the Burton Junior Football League, Hardy Signs, TAG Sportswear, M. W. Cripwell Electrical Contractors, Marstons Social Club, Hi-Line, W. B. Eccleshall, and Burton Referees’ Association for sponsoring races. By popular request Ollie and Nigel have been asked to organise two race meetings next year.

This was held at the Burton Hospital’s Social Club and was another very successful evening raising £3,000 for the charity funds. Very many thanks to all those local companies, and individuals who once again supported this major fund raising event. Our great appreciation goes to Brian Eccleshall for all his hard work in making this event happen. Thank you Brian and we hope to see you all again at the 2003 Sportsmen's Evening which is already well advanced in the planning stage.

This year we had seven entrants for the tournament - Burton Albion, Derby County, Gresley Rovers, Notts County, Nottingham Forest (the holders), Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion. The committee and their loyal local fans were pleased to welcome Derby County back to the competition. This year we were pleased to return to the
Moat Ground (Gresley Rovers) where three matches were played; three more games were played at Eton Park (Burton Albion) and two were staged at Hillsfield (Rocester). Sincere thanks to Ben Robinson, Mark Evans and Alf Hawksworth and their clubs for once again allowing us to stage our games at their grounds.

The matches were well supported and produced good entertainment, slightly fewer goals and not a little drama. Burton Albion made it to the final but unfortunately, for the first time, their opponent had to be decided by the drawing of lots. Nottingham Forest and West Bromwich Albion finished equal on points, goal difference, and goals scored. One could not help having great sympathy for West Bromwich Albion when they lost the chance of appearing in the final by the toss of a coin. As an organising committee we shall be looking carefully at our rules to see if we can find a more acceptable way of resolving such situations in the future.

The eagerly awaited final between Burton Albion and Nottingham Forest was a hard fought entertaining game with Burton twice coming from behind to equalise, and just when the game looked to be heading for a penalty shoot out, Tom Groves grabbed the winner for Forest.

Very many thanks to all the football clubs, players, and management who participated in 2002. We were privileged to have Brian Clough as our Chief Guest. I am sure he must have had some mixed feelings as he presented the famous old trophy to the Forest captain after the defeat of son Nigel's Burton Albion. Brian chose Forest's two-goal substitute Mikael Antoine-Currier to receive the Man-of-the-Match trophy provided by Georgian Crystal.

Once again very many thanks to the Premier League and Nationwide League referees who officiated at this season’s matches, and to the referees from Burton and South Derbyshire who acted as Assistants and Fourth Officials. Thank you gentlemen for your help and we look forward to seeing you in 2003.

Medical cover for the tournament was once again provided by Dr. Gandhi, Dr. G. Butler, Dr. P. Needham, St. John Ambulance Brigade and the British Red Cross. To all of you our sincere thanks.

In recent years, Peter Stamps has been a familiar figure at our Final Tie presenting the Jackie Stamps Trophy. This year Eddie Walker of Gresley Rovers was the chosen recipient. The Schoolboy Penalty Prize again provided entertainment during the half time interval at the final tie and our thanks go to Tutbury Crystal for once again providing the winner's trophy.

This year support for the tournament reached a new level when for the first time we received help in the form of footballs from Nike International. The committee wishes to thank Nike for their support. Thanks also to all the local companies (listed below) who sponsored matches and match balls in 2002. Thank you also to catering company Avenance who provided post match buffets at seven of the matches.

Thank you to everyone who helped, and supported the 2002 Tournament which almost raised £7,000 for Charity Funds.

This year during the typical autumn rains, we were lucky to choose a clear fine night for our display. The slightly smaller than usual crowd was treated to an excellent display provided by 'The Firework Company', and all the fun of the fair was again provided by Billy Bates Funfairs, who have supported this event since its inception. The committee wishes to thank co-sponsor 'The Burton Daily Mail', East Staffordshire Borough Council, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and Age Concern for all their help in staging this event.

Sadly a combination of greatly increased overheads, and a slightly smaller attendance meant that the profit margin was much less than in previous years, with only about £650 being added to the Charity coffers.

This very popular event has been firmly established on the Burton calendar since the Centenary year. Its continued popularity is without doubt due to the hard work of Vice President, Brian Eccleshall. Thank you Brian, your work and support for 'Charity in the Community' is greatly appreciated by all those who attend the events that you organise so successfully. As in previous years music was provided by the Stapleford Big Band. Thank you also to Able Engineering, Container Recovery Services and Sellar Services for their sponsorship of this event.

This year we were able to achieve our aim of having £10,000 to distribute to the nominated causes. Thank you to Theresa Chell and all our friends at Rocester for their financial support via the Donald Hill Foundation. For the first time all presentations relating to the football clubs have been made at matches. We as a management committee see this as a major step forward as this has given the clubs and the charity the chance to show to the local communities the benefits of the Charity Vase work. Sincere thanks to all the clubs for their invitations to make these presentations, and the hospitality shown to our members when we visited your grounds.

The Presentation Evening took place at the Burton Hospital’s Social Club on 28^th November. Because of the absence of the Football Clubs numbers attending were smaller than usual, but nevertheless this was a very enjoyable occasion marking the end of another successful year in the history of the Bass Charity Vase. Thanks to the 'Hurd family' for continuing to donate Christmas goodies for auction, and to David Twigg who acted as compere for the evening.

It gives me great pleasure to continue as President, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those that have helped and supported me during another busy year.

Sadly I have to report the death of two very good supporters of the Charity Vase, Arthur Haywood and Tony Smith. I wish to express our sincere condolences to their families, and record our thanks for all the hard work put in by Arthur and Tony on our behalf.

It is with great regret that I have to inform all supporters of the Charity Vase that Mark Thornewill has informed me that he will be standing down as Chairman. Mark has been Chairman for the last eight years during which time the work of the committee has expanded considerably. Mark has led from the front and inspired all those he has worked with to continue the achievements of the Charity Vase in raising much needed money to helpmany worthy causes. Mark, thank you for all you have done, and I am pleased that you are going to continue as a committee member.

Welcome to new committee members Colin Ferriday, Geoff Gazzard and Ray Holton who are already taking an active part in our work.

Thank you for all your hard work to Terry Day and David Walsh who unfortunately are leaving the committee due to work commitments.

The Burton Hospital’s Social Club and Marston’s Sports and Social Club have greatly helped the charity during the past year by allowing us to use their excellent facilities for many of our events.

We must not be complacent, and it is vital that the committee carefully examines our future programme of fund raising events. Thank you to all our sponsors who make it possible to carry out our large programme of charitable events. Thank you very much to all our sponsors whose financial help has made it possible for us to carry out our large programme of charitable events.

Enclosed with the Annual report are details of the Patron's Scheme which is proving to be successful with £300 being added to funds from donations. Thank you to all our Patrons and I hope that you will be able to continue to support us next year.

No report would be complete without recording our sincere thanks to Sue Cotton who continues to provide the vital clerical work for our activities.

I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at our events in 2003

David M. Mellor