Issue 34

When did you first come to Carlton? When Tom was about 7 years old and attending Wednesday practices - I had no contact with Carlton before then and we wouldn't have known anything about the club if Calum Everitt hadn't told Tom about it in the South Morningside playground. Pretty soon after, I got involved with the Junior Section running one of the U13 teams then the Primary School team - which David and I are still looking after. Kerry was confirmed as President of Carlton CC at the AGM last week. As with so many at Carlton, Kerry and David were brought into the club when Tom and Harry and Grace were part of the junior section. Tom and Harry have gone through every level of the club to star in the top teams while their parents have become vital parts of the off-field team. Kerry successfully built on the great achievements of John Boyd as Junior Convenor - a daunting challenge - for which she was rightly awarded the Jappy Trophy in 2019. Now she seeks to build on the similarly daunting legacy of outgoing President Andy Macpherson. Kerry sets out more about her long association with Carlton and her hopes for the future. Many congratulations to Kerry Simpson Had you any contact with cricket before then? Growing up I had no contact with cricket - apart from when the Test Match was on TV. The only live cricket I saw was passing the ground in Hawick when I was on holiday visiting my grandparents. Then I moved to Australia. A group of us from work used to go to Day/Night matches at the SCG - which was always a great atmosphere. (I did manage to avoid watching David playing any club cricket in Sydney though). /cont’d over Our Lady of the Beer Garden - Kerry on duty at the first Beer Garden last year - with ‘First Gentleman David.

it more inclusive and involved more families. That's definitely positive change. The Beer Gardens last year were a bit of a necessity but they have been a positive move in engaging more of our non-playing members and bringing families down to the club. How do you see the club developing? We need to continue to be welcoming to families, players and other members and non-members. This is the vital base on which we can build high performing teams and maintain our standard of excellence and ensure exciting cricket at Grange Loan. It always surprises me how many people in the local area have never noticed the Club or been in the ground. I would like to get more children down and introduce them to cricket. We need to keep working with local schools to help them have cricket in the curriculum and then give them the chance to see cricket played on an actual ground. If we don't introduce them, how will they know if they like the game? After all, Leigh Kasperek had no background in cricket but came to Carlton with a neighbour who played then she joined the City Academy.... and the rest is history! Andy has done a great job in restructuring the committees at the Club and I would like to keep that going, increasing the number of volunteers. Without the hard work and enthusiasm of volunteers there would simply be no Carlton. We need to keep thinking of ways of expanding the social side - any ideas gratefully received. I would like to see us welcoming players and opposition after matches, families to encourage the feeling of being part of a club, and non-playing members especially those in the local area. /Madam President cont’d What’s your favourite memory during your time with the club? The U15 ECB cup run in 2014 - the team had some well fought and exciting victories on the way to the Northern final in York - where we didn't quite get the fairy tale ending that the large Carlton entourage was hoping for - but it was a great experience for the players and nervous parents. Another favourite moment was seeing the Scottish Cup victory in 2017 up at Forfarshire - very exciting and a great day out for the supporters. What has been the biggest change in your years with Carlton? The growth of the Junior Section has been one of the major changes at Carlton - all started by John Boyd. His impact at Carlton can't be underestimated. When Tom started, John was ever-present at the Wednesday night sessions as well ordering the polo shirts, organising the U11 teams, sorting the fixtures for all the junior matches, running Kwik Cricket festivals, organising social events and probably making the cakes too. It took a whole committee to replace John! The Junior Section has grown a huge amount and it is so satisfying to see the number of children engaged in cricket and the number of junior teams playing matches every week. The growth in Womens' and Girls’ cricket has also been a fantastic development. I am very proud of how many of the Carlton Juniors are playing in the senior teams and staying involved as coaches. There's also been change in the social side of the club. Putting on more BBQs and taking the junior end of season social event and prize giving outdoors has made

Success on the field 2019 - Women’s Scottish Cup,U15 ECB Qualifying Cup 2018 - Masterton Trophy, Under 13 ECB Qualifying Cup 2017 - Scottish Cup, Women’s National Premier League, Under 13 Scottish Cup 2016 - CSL National Club Championship, Eastern Premier League, Women’s National League, Women’s East League 2015 - East League Div 7 (4th XI), U15 ECB Qualifying Cup, U15 Lothian League, U11 Lothian Indoor League, U15 Lothian Indoor League 2014 - U15 ECB Qualifying Cup, Women’s National League, Women’s Scottish Cup Following a reign that delivered success on the field for seniors, juniors and women alike, and growth in the club, retiring President Andy Macpherson reflects on his time in office. What are you most proud of during your term? Changing the governance structure - with Carlton continuing to grow, the single club Committee had become over-stretched, trying to cover a huge amount of club business. It was no longer an efficient way to use Committee members’ valuable time or properly run the big club we had become. Our new structure still requires further development, but the changes have encouraged more volunteers to get involved and concentrate their energies which has benefited the club. It gives greater flexibility and has freed up the Management Committee to spend time on strategic planning. Also, change in personnel is a natural aspect for volunteer-run clubs. But handling change properly and getting the transition process right is not easy for those involved. I believe we have been very fortunate in finding people with energy and commitment, together with an understanding of what makes our club successful and who care deeply for Carlton. They are helping to uphold the culture that makes the club special. I am proud that we have been able to do this smoothly and particularly in the club’s new (and first woman President) Kerry Simpson. She has great energy and passion for Carlton, and she has excellent volunteers supporting her. Developing the pavilion has also been positive. In 2014 we took the bold decision not to renew the children's nursery lease that had provided financial support for the club for 10 years. The subsequent change in tenant to a fitness venture is a much better fit for the club and importantly allowed us to redecorate and reconfigure the pavilion to meet the needs of the cricket club. ‘It has been a privilege to have been President for the last 7 years and I thank everyone for their collective hard work and fantastic support. We are very fortunate to have such a committed Carlton person as Kerry as new President, and I look forward to supporting her and the club in the future.’

Andy cont’d/ Though the pavilion still requires to be dual purpose, adding an umpires’ room with shower, opening up the area to the side of the bar, and making the place more welcoming with a new floor and a repaint throughout, has made the space more welcoming for members and visitors. What would you have liked to make more progress on? Teas for all and another home ground! We pride ourselves in being one club, which we do well in so many ways. So when the women's, 3rds, 4ths and 5ths teams get to play at Grange Loan, they too should have teas provided. Unfortunately this is not the case at present. I know it is something the new Management Committee will try to resolve, one way or another, for 2022. When we started the 5th XI we knew that finding suitable “home” grounds for our many teams had already become a challenge. The thought of having a second Carlton ground is very appealing though currently remains on the wish list! Maybe there is a brown-field site somewhere. Or perhaps we will come across a friendly cricket loving farmer who may wish to help us out! Only if we continue to aspire will it become real! What are your hopes for the continuing development of the club? First, we are getting close to the ceiling of where we can get to in our present form and capacity. We have a small, though beautiful, ground but not much space outside the boundary and we have a pavilion that is small for the size of club we are. We are part of the local community, but there is still much scope to get closer to and integrate further with that community. Are we simply content with the progress we have made, so that without looking at further change we will soon hit that ceiling? If so, we can battle hard to stay where we are, but the constraints we face will remain and challenge that position. Do we want to look at developing the pavilion further? An enhanced pavilion should attract new members and in due course help generate additional funds that can be reinvested in the club. This would take careful planning, budgeting, more work for our already stretched volunteers and some years to achieve. However Carlton has been a forward thinking, progressive club for many years, and I am sure we will continue to look at different ways to build even stronger foundations. Second, we must continue to educate and develop our younger members. Holding onto our culture and key values requires ongoing hard work and it is important we educate and instil these values in future generations of Carlton youngsters, as they grow up and move through the club. They are our future. This is a win-win situation, we continue to be the club we want to be, helping secure its future well-being but importantly playing a part too in helping develop rounded young people. It is important that we encourage our younger members to look out for and support their team-mates and fellow members, to take pride in being part of the wider Carlton family and, when the time is right, start to help out more, putting something back into a club that has been good to them. If we can help develop our young people in this way then the club will continue to thrive. Finally, and not least, I strongly believe in the hugely positive impact women's and girl's cricket has had in making Carlton a more rounded, friendly and better club. It is great to see such passion behind women's and girls cricket at Carlton, how they have stuck together against many challenges, with the women's game in Scotland not as developed and integrated as we would wish. For Carlton to continue to be a welcoming and growing club, it is vital that we have a vibrant women's and girls section, who truly feel welcomed and encouraged to integrate further into the fabric of the club.

‘I started my cricket career as opening batsman with Uddingston U13s and U15s in the Western Union before switching to Glasgow Accies. I played West District age grade and several seasons for Accies 1st XI in the Glasgow League - now as an opening bowler who had forgotten how to bat. ‘I played 1990/91 season at Kowloon Cricket Club in Hong Kong opening the bowling for both KCC Crusaders (Saturday 30 over league and cup) and KCC Infidels (Sunday 50 over league). When I came back to Scotland and I had a couple of years at Corstorphine CC before moving to London with work for 10 years, ending my cricketing days or so I thought. ‘I live round the corner from Grange Loan and my son, Daniel, has been involved in the juniors for a few years. I’m now a fully signed up member myself and hoping to turn out reasonably regularly for the 5s. ‘I think Carlton CC is a phenomenal club and very much looking forward to being part of its continued success. I have spent the last 7 years coaching junior rugby at Heriot’s/Vikings and know all too well how reliant clubs are on volunteers to keep them running, so I am delighted to take the opportunity to step into Brad’s shoes.’ Moneyman Introducing David Mowat who takes over from Brad Mackay as Club Treasurer With a monthly prize worth between £20 and £100 it’s worth getting a ticket for the Carlton Lottery. You’ll also have a chance of a bigger prize in the biannual draw. Just £5 per month or £60 for the year. The Lottery provides additional funds for the club’s activities particularly those of the junior section. The more members, the bigger the prizes and the more funds for the club Full details can be found on the club website along with news of the most recent lucky winners. Tempted? You should be. Just fill in the application form and wait for the prizes to roll! Cricket is for Everyone That is the Carlton ethos and the Carlton way. So it is always good to find stories which confirm our commitment to the widening understanding of and participation in cricket. Follow this link for a couple of heartening stories which do just that.

Many congratulations to Brian Forrester, Ann McConnell and Martin Robertson who were awarded Life Membership of the club at the recent AGM in recognition of their long years of dedicated work to Carlton. Between them they have given over 100 years of service to the club - as Membership Secretary, Bar and House Convenor and Fixture Secretary respectively. But the job titles don’t give the half of their outstanding and continuing contributions. Brian can be seen most weekends tending to Grange Loan’s surrounds, Martin continues to demonstrate his explosive approach to batting and running between the wickets and Ann, in company of Alex and their faithful hound Buddy, regularly circle the boundary to make sure that all is well at the place that Ann first knew as a schoolgirl. Honours richly deserved.

Summer is Coming (honest!) Stevie Gilmour’s ever popular Summer Cricket Camps are now open for booking. Full details are now on the club website http://carltoncc.co.uk/2021/05/04/stevie-gilmours-summer-cricket-ca mps-2021/

Thanks to Gavin Murray for the video highlights of the 3rd XI’s friendly with Edinburgh South (on the link above). Gavin is considering how to make this a more regular feature - any one interested in becoming the next Steven Spielberg should contact him. Sign Up Here Prayer on the night before FB's first match of the season Oh Lord, who created all things in earth and heaven including cricket (and I suppose even the IPL) Let me not swing across the line Let me get my front foot to the pitch of the ball And let me keep my hands soft that I may do your will And caress it through the covers And Lord if it is your will that I should snick one let the ball fall just short of the fielder Oh Lord shouldst the ball smack against my pad like a sounding brass Let that umpire judge that my pad is outside the line even if it is not really and not out is the true and just verdict And Lord Let not the stiffness of my back and slowness of my chasing and totally pathetic arm be the source of ridicule and contempt in the field particularly from the juniors But let my bowling action be high and straight with just that bit of late swing that the batsman doesn't expect And Lord if any catch shouldst come to me let it stick, even though that be a miracle, and let not the ball drop onto the grass as if it were a burning ember. For thou art good. But most of all Lord - in amongst all the other things you have to sort out tomorrow - can you make sure it doesn't rain. League Cricket Starts this weekend! Many years ago Fantasy Bob welcomed the start of the season with the following invocation. He shares it again with all Carlton friends and wishes each of them well in the new season.