|
BASS CHARITY VASE |
|
To Vice Presidents, Committee Members, Patrons, Sponsors,
Helpers and Supporters.
Patrons
Helpers
INTRODUCTION 2005 was another successful year
for the Bass Charity Vase, and once again our activities have raised the sum of
nearly £10,000, which we have been able to donate to Charities and
Organisations in our local area and those of the competing soccer clubs. MAJOR ACTIVITIES OF THE YEAR/SOCIAL EVENTS SPORTSMEN’S
EVENING Thanks once again to Brian Eccleshall who continues to organise this very popular and successful evening. This event always makes a sizeable contribution to our charity funds. Thank you to all those companies and private individuals who supported the event. This year the event was held for the first time at the Coors Visitor Centre. Brian is already planning for 2006 and details for the event will be released shortly. RACE NIGHT Marston’s Sports and Social
Club was the venue for this popular event, and once again very many thanks to
Nigel Peck and Ollie Daniels for their hard work in making a success of the
evening. Many thanks to our race
sponsors and supporters and we look forward to seeing you once again in 2006. QUIZ NIGHT This year the quiz night was once again organised by Olly Daniels and his team of helpers. This popular event held at the Coors Visitor Centre attracted a large number of teams who competed once again for the Lamas Cook Trophy. BANQUET AND BALL Bretby Conference Centre was the venue for this popular event organised by committee member Colin Ferriday. Clashes with other events saw a smaller attendance than usual. All those who attended had an excellent evening and many thanks to Colin for all his hard work to ensure that the event continues. Plans for next year are already underway and like the sportsmen’s dinner will be announced shortly. PRESENTATION EVENING Once again I am pleased to say that the hard working committee and its supporters have raised nearly £10,000 for distribution to charities and good causes. Once again thanks to Theresa Chell, and all our friends at Rocester Football Club who have made a generous donation via the Donald Hill Foundation. As in previous years presentations to the recipients nominated by the football competition competing and staging clubs have been made at matches during the past season. Sincere thanks to the Directors of the Football Clubs for giving us the opportunity to display the work of the charity to their supporters. These presentations are always important events but one must recall this year’s visit to Notts County when Chairman David Twigg and myself made the presentation to the ‘Danielle Beccan Memorial Trust’. It is remembered that Danielle’s life was sadly cut short when she was murdered on her way home from the Nottingham Goose Fair. David and I spent the afternoon with Danielle’s family and their determination and courage in the face of such adversity is to be much admired as they try to raise funds to build a performing arts centre in their daughter’s memory. All of our other presentations were made on Friday 2nd December at the Marston’s Sports and Social Club. This pleasant and successful evening saw presentations made to our nominated recipients by the Mayor of East Staffordshire Borough Council, Councillor M. Bowering, the Chair of South Derbyshire District Council, Councillor R. Jones and other Bass Charity Vase Committee members and helpers. Last year’s successful format was repeated with a wide range of music to open the evening being supplied by the students of de Ferrers Technology College. After the presentations a very enjoyable and successful Mini Race Night was staged. Feedback and numbers present tells us that this is a popular format, which we would wish to continue. Thanks particularly to our compere David Twigg, to Olly Daniels and Ray Holton for the organisation of the races and to Sue Cotton and her helpers for organising the evening’s raffle. MUSIC AND CAROLS Saturday 10th December was the chosen day for our town centre carol singing and collection event. This year there were fewer people about and as a result our collection was much less than last year. Thanks to the generosity of Burtonians a substantial sum was collected by our volunteers who were ably supported by members of the Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, young musicians from the de Ferrers Technology College and the Little Theatre Group Choir. Thank you to Ray Holton and Olly Daniels for all their hard work in the organisation of another successful Bass Charity Vase event. GRAND PRIZE DRAW Once again we have been able to add significantly to our funds from the proceeds of our Raffle. Many thanks to all who donated prizes, and to the management of the Cooper’s Square Centre, the Octagon Centre and Asda for allowing us to sell tickets at their venues. Ray Holton and Olly Daniels have once again undertaken all the hard work connected with the event and we are grateful for all their efforts. ANNUAL SOCCER TOURNAMENT 2005 was a somewhat disappointing year. Management changes and different pre season policies meant that Derby County, Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion did not participate in 2005. This was disappointing for the organisers and we hope that they will make a quick return to the fold. All best efforts failed to bring in other teams so this year Burton Albion, Gresley Rovers, Nottingham Forest and the holders Notts County contested the Charity Vase. A very competitive tournament eventually saw Burton Albion and Notts County contest the Final Tie. We were all thrilled to be playing our first Vase matches at Burton Albion’s new Pirelli Stadium. Sadly the inclement English summer offered up a monsoon on final day and the event was postponed for a week. The result after a hard fought contest saw Notts County emerge as deserved 2-1 winners over Burton Albion. Congratulations to Ben Robinson and his board of directors on bringing the Pirelli Stadium to our town which is a superb venue for many activities. Thank you to Mark Evans at Gresley Rovers and Alf Hawksworth at Rocester for their continued support in allowing us to stage matches at their grounds. As always we are indebted to the Referees who officiated at our matches (many stepped in at short notice) and to the Assistant Referees from the Burton and South Derbyshire Referees Associations who assisted throughout the tournament. Thanks once again to Dr. Phil Needham and colleagues from the Stapenhill Practice for acting as our tournament Doctors. We were not to know that 2005 would be the last Bass Charity Vase Tournament that Dr. Gandhi would officiate at on our behalf. Sadly Dr. Gandhi passed away recently and to his family we send our sincere condolences on your sad loss. All will sadly miss his enthusiasm and infectious smile. The Red Cross and St. Johns Ambulance have once again provided excellent service at our matches and we thank them for their continued support. Sincere thanks to all our Sponsors John & Anne Docherty, Auto Service Plus Limited Councillor M. J. P. Bale Burton Junior Football League Mrs. A. C. Clamp P. Spano, Cleerview N. J. Hardy, Hardy Signs Limited Alan Crawshaw, Instant IT Solutions Ian J. Mills Puma Sports Nigel Parker, “Royal Oak”, Church Gresley K. H. Stride, Russkwaye Light Carriers Darren West, Swadlincote Diesel Fuel Injection Service Company Limited T. C. Harrison Ford Trent and Dove Housing Mick Goodwin, Goodwin Building Contractors Limited P. Brown, Knott Limited East Staffordshire Borough Council, Meadowside Leisure Centre Ben Robinson Insurance Consultants Richard Hackett , Swiftsure Travel (Burton upon Trent) Ltd. Colin Ferriday, Trent Trophies David Haskew, B & D Sports ASDA Avenance Catering Georgian Crystal Tutbury Crystal With such significant changes taking place in the football world of Burton-on-Trent it seemed only appropriate that long time supporter and Chairman of Burton Albion, Ben Robinson should be our Chief Guest for 2005. Ben has done so much for the game of football in our town and we were pleased he was able to be with us on the occasion of the first Bass Charity Vase Final to be staged at the Pirelli Stadium. COMMITTEE Welcome to Peter Begent who has joined the committee this year and we hope that he has a long and happy association with the Vase. Thank you to Nigel Peck for all his work in promoting the Vase during his two years in the Chair. I am pleased that Nigel remains with us as a committee member. David Twigg, a familiar voice at our Presentation and Sportsman’s evenings, has now taken over the Chair. Best wishes to David and his Vice Chairman Alan Thompson. HELPERS It is with great sadness that I have to report the passing of Fred Jones ‘Uncle Fred’ to his many friends at the Vase. Fred was an unsung hero who worked hard in the background organising our raffles. It is a testament to his forward planning that we were able to use tickets that he had folded at our recent Presentation evening. Sincere condolences are extended to Fred’s family and friends. PATRONS Thank you to all who have supported our patron’s scheme this year, and to Pat and Paul Parker who have carried out the administration. For 2006 if you have any suggestions by which we could improve the scheme Pat and Paul will be pleased to receive them. THE FUTURE I anticipate that our programme of activities in 2006 will be similar to that of 2005 although all dates have yet to be confirmed. We anticipate that the soccer tournament will be in its usual pre-season slot and already the Football Sub Committee is working hard to increase the number of teams for next year. Sponsorship is essential for our continued success and packages for next year are already been finalised. On behalf of fellow Trustee Ken Fairbrother, and Chairman David Twigg may I thank all committee members and helpers who have worked so hard during the past year to ensure that ‘Charity in the Community’ continues to make a significant impact on our local area. Thank you to Sue Cotton who
continues to undertake much of our clerical work and for her help at many of our
other events. Best wishes to you all for 2006, which I am sure, will once
again be a successful one. David M. Mellor President |