Newbury Cricket Club and Loose Ends bowled over by new pavilion

The shutters have gone up on the renovated clubhouse at Newbury Cricket Club.

The building at Northcroft Lane was officially opened by junior cricketers, who pressed the button to lift the newly installed roller shutters during the event on Saturday.

More than 100 people – including current and former players and their families – all gathered to get a first glimpse inside the new pavilion.

The building will also now be home to charity Loose Ends Newbury, which offers food to the homeless and vulnerable in the town.

The chair of the cricket club, John O’Sullivan, gave a speech at the event, along with Linda Fergusson, chair of Loose Ends Newbury, and Newbury’s deputy mayor Gary Norman.

Mr Norman told those gathered in the sunshine that the building would help the development of young sports people as well as looking after the area’s most vulnerable.

Paul Monger, secretary of the cricket club, said the event had gone “really well” and they were looking forward to the new season in their revamped home.

“We had a lot of young players there and that is what this is all about; the future of the club,” he added.

“This is all for the guys who are going to be playing here in 20 and 30 years’ time.

“We had a whole season without a building last year so to have everything we need now is fantastic.

“It has been an unbelievable effort and we are absolutely delighted.

“It was really good to cement the partnership with Loose Ends too. We have got a good partnership with them and that’s really important to us.”

Linda Fergusson, chair of Loose Ends Newbury, said: “This is an important milestone for our charity and we have been bowled over by the support we have received from Newbury Cricket Club, our staff and volunteers, and all the local community groups of which there are too many to mention.

“Our new facilities will allow us to continue to provide the much needed support to those in need in our area and whilst we haven’t moved in fully today, we look forward to doing so in the not too distant future.”

The new building boasts an extension with kitchen and storeroom for the charity, as well as new showers, toilets and changing rooms.

Mr Monger said the day ended with a party in the clubhouse that evening and added: “We have never had so many junior and senior members and we are really looking forward to developing the cricket side of things now.”