Club bowled over by volunteer help (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Club bowled over by volunteer help

OFFICIALS at Cirencester Cricket Club were bowled over when volunteers gave their clubhouse a Changing Rooms-style makeover at the weekend.

More than 60 people stepped up to the crease to revamp the club's Cirencester Park pavilion and grounds as part of the National CricketForce weekend.

Cirencester was one of 650 clubs in the UK to take part in the event, which is designed to encourage support for cricket within the local community.

Club chairman Brian Hudson said: "When you get 60 people turning up to work for the weekend you have to plan it like a military operation. It was a huge success."

Cirencester Cricket Club has been based in picturesque Cirencester Park for more than 160 years and the club's freeholder, the Bathurst Estate, set the ball rolling for the latest work by replacing the roof.

At the weekend, volunteers redecorated changing rooms, the kitchen, bar and lounge.

Practice nets were also repaired, the wicket was rolled continuously for two days and a new sightscreen was set up, donated by Equimedia.

Many of the materials used were also donated by local firms.

Now after several rocky years, Mr Hudson says the club, which endured five relegations in consecutive seasons, is on the way back up.

He added: "Cirencester Cricket Club was on its beam ends but we got promoted last year and have now got a facility we can feel proud of so progress is being made again."