Sponsors for Harleston Magpies Hockey Club

I am delighted to start this ‘Chat’ with the excellent news that for the new season the Ladies’ 1st team will again be sponsored by Kitchen Sense of Harleston and the Men’s 1st team, the defending East champions, will now be sponsored by Hunton Legg (Running Gear) Ltd. of Bruisyard, Saxmundham.

Kitchen Sense of Harleston is one of East Anglia’s leading kitchen design and fitting firms with over 30 years of experience. The company operates from its extensive showrooms at 62 London Road, Harleston where it displays a wide range of kitchen styles. Kitchen Sense is a family run business and is proud to be a member of the Kitchen Specialists Association.

Hunton Legg (Running Gear) Ltd. are manufacturers of agricultural and industrial machinery, including trailers and rotary spreaders, and the suppliers of spare parts, including axles and ‘Running Gear’, for a wide range of machinery. The company, which is still family controlled, has grown steadily since its establishment in the 1960s and in recent months has purchased the rights to Michael Moore Moles and the agricultural business of Paragon Parts.

The Club is indebted to Kitchen Sense and Hunton Legg for their invaluable support and looks forward to a mutually rewarding relationship in the months ahead.

Both companies are run by long-term and committed members of HMHC, namely Val and Sue Tolhurst of Kitchen Sense (Tel: 01379 852592) and Mark and Annie Legg of Hunton Legg (Tel: 01728 663010). Please give them a call if you require more information about their companies and services.

The new season
Preparations are well under way for the new season (please see website for fixtures and training details) and members, potential new members and former members wishing to play again are very welcome to attend the Club Day on Saturday 6 September. Games begin at 10.30am for Ladies and 1.00pm for Gentlemen. A BBQ will be held throughout the day.

Members are politely reminded (politely at this stage of the season!) that subscriptions and training fees are due before the first matches of the season. Invoices have been issued to all members.
The Handbook for 2008-9 is being printed this week and will be issued to members on payment of their subscriptions and training fees. What better incentive can there be to pay up?!

Congratulations and best wishes to Kathryn Hinsley and Paul Bullen on their recent marriage.

HMHC Golf Day 2008
This event held on a sunny 14 August at Bungay and Waveney Golf Club was a great success raising £1436 for club funds. My thanks go to the 100 players who kindly competed, everyone who gave raffle prizes and to the team of organisers/helpers on the day, namely Brian Perks (i/c), Irene Bicker, Ann Cunningham, Margaret Castle, Jose Tibbenham, Philippa Taylor and Tony Williams. The day consisted of a round of golf, an excellent luncheon, plenty of prizes (for the golf and raffle) and very brief speeches! Club President Mrs Bicker had the pleasure (and surprise!) of congratulating and making presentations to Mr Bicker and his winning team of gentlemen.

Petrol and the cost of travelling to away matches
Following increases in the price of petrol the club’s finance committee asks team captains to ensure that the cost of travelling to away matches is spread across their team (bearing in mind that the level of the club’s finances does do not allow for this to be subsided from central funds.)

It is suggested that this be done, as often in the past, by
a) reducing the number of cars involved by filling as many seats as possible,
b) players taking it in turn to use their own cars,
c) driving rotas (especially of parents of our younger members) being drawn up as early as possible and
d) members unable to help in any other way making a contribution to the cost.

Social and fund raising events 2008-9
Dates for your diaries please!

2008
Saturday 1 November - Cocktail Evening
Friday 7 November - Fireworks Spectacular (gates open 6.30pm)
Saturday 6 December - Club Christmas Crackers!

2009
Saturday 31 January - Social Evening
Saturday 14 March - Karaoke Evening & Spring Prize Draw
Saturday 18 April (tbc) - End of Season Bash
Sat/Sun/Mon 2/3/4 May - Magpies Tournament
Summer - Five evenings of mixed hockey
Sunday 21 June - Strawberry Luncheon by kind permission of Mr and Mrs M Blackham
Saturday 4 July - Summer Ball
August - Golf Day (tbc)

I look forward to seeing members, supporters and friends of the Club at Weybread in the next few weeks as we prepare for another season.