As many of you will be aware, a decision was taken recently by the FP Executive to sell the Grammar Club House. The cricket section while agreeing that the long term best option was to sell the premises, strongly opposed the sale on the terms offered and did not agree with a sale during a global pandemic, but as David Leighton (Club Centre Chairman) highlights below the decision to sell was passed by a majority. We attach David’s note which conveys the sadness over the decision but you will see that encouragingly there is a tentative agreement in place with the new owners of the Great Western Hotel to relocate the Sports Sections and the Club Centre memberships. Officials of both the Club Centre and the Sports Sections have inspected the facilities on offer and all parties have been hugely impressed with what they have seen. More details will be confirmed in due course but this should still give us a suitable base to meet before and after games, store kit and display selected memorabilia. As the picture becomes clearer, we will follow up with further updates.
Our ability to continue to play at Rubislaw is unaffected and we are hopeful a cricket season will commence in early to mid-May. We look forward to seeing everyone again soon.
If you do have questions on the situation please reach out to Geoff Morrison or Rob Swiergon and they will attempt to clarify.
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Note from David Leighton – Club Centre Chairman
As some Club Centre members may already know, the FP Executive voted by majority at their meeting on 24th February 2021 to proceed with the legal completion of offers received for the clubhouse and associated land and buildings at 86 Queens Road and 1 Bayview Road. At that same meeting it was intimated that this process would take 6-8 weeks.
A quorum of the Club Centre committee has subsequently met and determined unanimously that as the prospect of the Club Centre being able to resume normal trading was unlikely they decided, again unanimously, that the Club Centre will formally cease trading on 31st March 2021.
Sad and disappointing as it is after over 50 years as our clubhouse and home, we have to move on and I am pleased to advise the membership that tentative agreement has been reached with the new owners of the Great Western Hotel to relocate the Sports Sections and the Club Centre memberships. Officials of both the Club Centre and the Sports Sections have inspected the facilities on offer and all parties have been hugely impressed with what they have seen.
Further details will follow in the next few weeks and all will be confirmed and be in place in time for the reopening of hospitality post lockdown.
The Club Centres only employee, Elson Silva has been offered and has accepted an enhanced redundancy package and will leave our employment on 31st March 2021. We are all indebted to Elson for his pleasant demeanour, efficiency and diligence for the past 11 years. Every assistance is currently being provided to Elson in his search for suitable alternative employment.
Although the Club Centre will officially cease trading on 31st March 2021 your committee determined that it is appropriate to appoint a sub committee to oversee the formalities and to ensure an equitable, efficient and orderly handover of the property to the FP Executive. This sub committee will comprise of myself, Chairman, Colin Brown, Treasurer, Mike Murray, immediate past Chairman with Gordon Thomson and Geoff Morrison representing the Sports Sections. We believe that this process could take up to 3 months.
Regards to you all, and please remember that buildings are irrelevant, it is the people inside that matter. The aim is that the Club Centre and Sports Sections unite and stick together.
