The community of Bishops Cannings, Wiltshire, is today celebrating the news that Bishops Cannings Cricket Club has received an £8000 funding boost from the Hills Group Limited.

The money has been made available through the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF), which is administered for Hills by Community First, the Rural Community Council for Wiltshire.

The funding grant has been used to upgrade the fencing around the picturesque ground at Coate, Bishops Cannings. Over the years, various wildlife (including cricketers retrieving cricket balls from beyond the boundary!), has caused significant wear and tear on the fence surround, so it’s been fantastic to be able to carry out extensive repair and renewal work at the ground.

Ed Davies, Chairman of the cricket club, said: “The club is extremely grateful for the support of Hills and Community First , which has enabled this essential work to be carried out to our club facilities.”

Thanks to two generous grants, the ground at Coate will soon benefit from upgrades to both the water supply – making Ed and his team’s job just that little bit easier when it comes to watering the square – and the fence surround – no more balls disappearing under or through gaps in the fence. While various club members eschew the classical strokes that ensure the ball stays on the ground, the time saved searching for and retrieving these boundaries will be welcomed by many. Not least that less time on the pitch means more time for ‘refreshments’.

The first grant is for £8,000 and comes courtesy of The Hills Group Limited. The money has been made available through the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF), which is administered for Hills by Community First, the Rural Community Council for Wiltshire.

The second grant, for £5,000, comes from the Wiltshire Cricket Area Board.

The club is extremely grateful to both organisations for their generous support to enable these ground improvements. Those who have played there will know just how good the facilities are. Not least the pitch itself, which was awarded top marks by the two Wiltshire League divisions in which Potterne 3s and 4s (who use our ground on Saturdays) played last season. This included a perfect 20 out of 20 – major recognition of the work that Ed puts in throughout the year.

Following on from the water supply and other ground improvements planned over the next few months, the club is to carry out an extensive ground levelling/landscaping project this autumn.

It’s been over six months since we sadly had to cancel the 2020 BCCC Charity Clay Shoot, but we trust you have all survived the various lockdowns, variants, vaccines (delete as applicable) thrown at us by Covid-19, Dr Chris Whitty and the PM?!

Some may call it madness, but in the interests of giving everyone something to look forward to and, essentially, to raise vital funds for our chosen charities – Julia’s House, Ataxia UK and Devizes Opportunities Centre – we have a date for the re-arranged Charity Clay Shoot.

Thursday 10th June, 2021 at Wellington Barn

In the midst of all this uncertainty, we are delighted to announce that Gore Browne Investment Management (GBIM) has generously agreed to be our title sponsor.

The head office of GBIM is in Salisbury and the company is a supporter of other local initiatives and charitable events, both locally and nationally. GBIM aims to deliver truly personalised investment solutions to clients based throughout the UK as well as overseas.  Their focus is on service and consistent investment returns, delivered with traditional values but modern views. We are most grateful for their support and if you would like more information about their services, please visit their website: www.gbim.co.uk

What do you need to do now?

At this stage, please put the date in your diary (may be sensible to use pencil!!). Subject to what happens over the next two months and the Government guidance in place at the time, we will review the viability of the event after Easter. Hopefully by then, we will have a clearer picture of the likely situation in June and be able to meet outdoors (socially distanced of course) and fill the skies with lead. Whilst we must all accept that restrictions can be changed at the last minute, if we green light the event in early April, we will have just two months to get the organisation completed – something that typically takes nine months!!

What do you need to do next?

We would be most grateful if you could just drop us an email to confirm your availability for the 2021 event. No monies are required at this stage – we will let you all know what we need once the event has been confirmed. Some teams are fully paid, some have rolled their deposits over to this event, some very kindly donated their payments to the charities last year and the remainder received refunds of monies paid – we know who you are and I don’t think “Uncle Ed” has spent the money (Yet!!)

Fingers crossed we can all meet in June and once again, thanks for your amazing support … this does not happen without you.

At the third attempt, and with fingers, toes and other body parts firmly crossed, we are planning our 30th Annual Sportsman’s Dinner. The event will be held on Wed July 7th at Dauntseys, with Mike Tindall England Rugby World Cup winner 2003, and legendary comedian, Ian Irvine, booked to speak. As ever, the event will be hosted by the irreplaceable, irrepressible, (irresponsible?!), evergreen Roger Dakin – if we shout loud enough he’s promised to talk us through all the goals he let in during the first half of the now famous England v Germany hockey international! And Ed has also lined up a ‘surprise act’  to entertain.

As a special bonus to Wiltshire sports fans, the club is also delighted to announce An Evening With Kevin Keegan, taking place at Dauntseys, on 27th October this year. This promises to be another brilliant night, with one of the best speakers on the circuit right now, and a great coup for the club and Ed.

Tickets for both events are anticipated to sell rather quicker than hot cakes, so make sure to contact Ed to book a table or an individual ticket for both events (or make sure that your usual table organiser is on the case).

Wednesday 1st April, 2020

Bar Opens: 6:30pm Dinner Served: 7:30pm
Dress Code: Collar, tie & jacket
Ladies welcome

Now in its 30th year, the Annual Sportsman’s Dinner will be taking place at Dauntsey’s School, West Lavington on Wednesday 1st April, hosted once again by our adopted “Bad Grandpa” and ex-England hockey goalkeeper Roger Dakin. Master of the “double entendre” and, according to some, omnipresent, Roger will be keeping the evening moving along and introducing our speakers.

There will be a large bar offering a selection of ales, lagers & ciders (kindly staffed by the Devizes Round Table). We are promised an excellent three-course meal prepared by the catering team at Dauntsey’s School all to be washed down with Ed’s plonk (if you must) or The Peppermill’s fine wines.

Mike Tindall, MBE
Hailing from Otley, West Yorkshire, Mike played club rugby for Bath & Gloucester and made his England debut in the 2000 Six Nations against Ireland (scoring a try). He went on to play for England for the next 11 seasons – including being part of the 2003 World Cup winning team. Shortly before retiring from the game in 2014, he enjoyed a brief amateur career in Dwarf Throwing before returning to grass roots rugby at Minchinhampton RFC.

Apart from breaking his nose on 8 occasions, his other claim to fame is being married to Princess Anne’s daughter Zara Phillips – 18th in line to the throne.

Today he works with a number of charities including the Matt Hampson Foundation and Rugby for Heroes.

Ian Irving
One of the first black comedians on the UK circuit, Ian’s humour is as fresh, original and contemporary today as it was when he first came on the scene. Rising to prominence as a stand-up comedian in the eighties, Ian first appeared on Cilla Black’s Surprise Surprise before going on to perform on talent show, New Faces.

The resulting success catapulted him into his very own theatre tour where he captivated audiences nationwide. Since then he has never looked back.

More to Come
I am informed by “Uncle Ed” that there will be more surprise entertainment to celebrate this 30th year. I have secured assurances that this does not include any brass bands or opera singers but he is keeping his cards close to his chest (for once!)

Tickets £50 per head (Tables available)

For tickets and tables, contact Ed Davies – 01380 860305 / 07967 022137 / edthevetdavies@gmail.com