by admin | Nov 2, 2020 | News
Dear Members,
Apologies for the late publishing of this the October Newsletter. On the 14th October Nottinghamshire was placed in the “high risk” tier for Covid-19 – Tier 2 and we have recently been waiting for confirmation that we were included in the move to Tier 3. Sadly we are now in Tier 3. – very high risk. You can read more detail at www.gov.uk/guidance/local-covid-alert-levels-what-you-need-to-know.
Not only do we have to adhere to all the pre-existing rules but follow new rules as well. With effect from Friday 30th October and until further notice the Club will be open at the times listed below for the purchase of substantial meals. This will be by table reservation only. Please ring Miles on 07738 628668 to make your booking. Vegetarian options available on request at time of booking.
Temporarily Revised opening times
| Mon |
Tues |
Wed |
Thurs |
Fri |
Sat |
Sun |
| Closed |
Closed |
12.00 – 2.30pm |
12.00 – 2.30pm |
12.00 – 2.30pm |
12.00 – 2.30pm |
12.00 – 3.00pm |
| Closed |
Closed |
6.00 – 9.00pm |
6.00 – 9.00pm |
6.00 – 9.00pm |
6.00 – 9.00pm |
Closed |
Members and their guests will not be able to come into the Club for a beverage alone, alcoholic or not. Members and their guests will only be able to purchase a drink, alcoholic or otherwise whilst they are eating.
Sunday Lunch will continue as normal but the legal restrictions on purchasing drinks will apply.
The Snooker Room will be closed with immediate effect. No more bookings will be taken whilst we are in Tier 3 and until the Committee deem it safe and legal to take bookings.
The Meat Draw, Play your Cards Right etc and both quiz nights are all temporarily suspended
In spite of all the regulations Miles, I and the Committee are determined to carry on as normally as the Law allows. We should all abide by these new rules in the hope that the infection rate comes down and for the greater good. I read a quote yesterday “We isolate today so that no-one is missing when we meet up again” I thought it was very apt. The Committee is well aware of what is required to ensure the health and safety of Members and we are extremely grateful for the goodwill and patience of Members as we try to navigate through the ever-changing land-scape of the pandemic. It is not easy for any of us.
On Saturday 17th October we held a Bingo Night – this is proving to be a very popular fixture on the calendar. Starting with a basket meal at 6.00 pm and eyes down at 7.30 pm when Dot Town, our favourite Bingo caller had us laughing in our seats. Dot was ably assisted by Tony Lawson – thanks to both of you for a very enjoyable evening.
The Billiards Tournament to be held on Sunday 18th October was cancelled because of our move into Tier 2 but we are hoping it will be re-scheduled when the organisers feel it is safe to do so.
About 20 Members all enjoyed a “trip” to the Mediterranean on Saturday 24th October. Miles’s menu included moussaka, lasagne and tiramisu. All the diners agreed that the food was delicious. Well done and thank you Miles and his team. The entertainment was provided by the Kim who serenaded us with his keyboard and trumpet whilst showing off his karate moves. What a talented entertainer.
As October draws to a close we are looking forward to welcoming our staff back to work. Andrea in the kitchen, George outside and Jo on the early morning cleaning shift. Welcome back to you all. Regrettably, Michael Combes has decided not to return. I am sure you will all join with me in wishing Michael all the best for the future. We will miss his friendly smile from behind the hot-plate.
Disabled Parking
You will all be aware that the three spaces to the left of the entrance in the front car park are designated for disabled parking. In order to use them Members are reminded that they should display a blue disabled badge. Please do not park in these spaces unless you have a “blue badge” you never know when a fellow Member may need to use the space. These spaces attract the same fees as the others in the back car park.
Coming up soon in November!!
Commencing Wednesday 4th November Miles will be offering the usual lunch menu from 12.00 pm until 2.30 pm on Wed/Thurs/Fri and Saturday and will be tempting your taste buds with an extra special evening menu available from 6.00 -9.00 pm every Wed/Thurs/Fri and Saturday. For £15.00 you will get two substantial main courses and two desserts. For an additional £5.00 you can have a small glass of wine each to wet your whistle.
TEA TIME SPECIALS TWO COURSES ONLY £7.50
SERVED 6-9pm WEDNESDAY-SATURDAY
2 COURSES & 2 SMALL GLASSES OF WINE
£20.00 PER COUPLE
MAINS COURSES
COD CHIPS PEAS AND SALAD
SCAMPI CHIPS PEAS AND SALAD
STEAK & ALE PIE CHIPS OR MASH & VEGETABLES
CHICKEN HAM & LEEK PIE CHIPS OR MASH & VEGETABLES
LASAGNE CHIPS PEAS AND SALAD
GAMMON EGG CHIPS PEAS AND SALAD
3 LINCOLNSHIRE SAUSAGES MASH, PEAS, VEGETABLES & GRAVY
CHILLI RICE AND WEDGES
6oz SIRLOIN STEAK CHIPS PEAS AND ONION RINGS
DESSERTS
APPLE PIE
STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING
CHEESECAKE
CRUMBLE
ALL SERVED WITH CUSTARD, CREAM OR ICE CREAM
BOOKING REQUIRED ring Miles on 07738 628668
Menu also available at the Bar and on the website.
Monday 2nd November – Ladies Night at 7.30 pm – unfortunately due to the pandemic this meeting is now cancelled.
Tuesday 10th November – AGM – unfortunately this has had to be postponed until December at the earliest. Selected attendees will be notified of the revised date.
Saturday 21st November – unfortunately the scheduled Race Night has been cancelled owing to Covid- 19 regulations.
Saturday 28th November – Bingo Night – again this has been cancelled. We are hoping that it might be possible to hold this event on Saturday 5th December.
Wednesday Night Quiz and Open the Box cancelled until further notice.
Friday Night Meat Draw – cancelled until further notice.
Sunday Lunch – is definitely ON!!! enjoy a choice of meats and vegetables for £6.95.
Vegetarian option available on request. You can’t go wrong. Table reservations available from 12.00 pm to 2.30 pm.
Sunday Night Quiz and games – temporarily suspended until further notice.
Don’t forget to book your table for Miles’s Christmas Day Lunch
A five-course menu served at the table for only £49.95 per person. Pre-booking including payment in full is essential. Don’t delay – places are restricted. Bookings can be made over the Bar where the menu will be available for you to make your choices. You can also see the menu on the website and we will be sending a separate email about this event as soon as possible. Places are still available.
Here is the Christmas / December Calendar of events which unfortunately will have to be confirmed at a later date due to the current pandemic.
Christmas Calendar of events 2020
| DATE |
EVENT(all events are dependent on Covid-19 rules permitting) |
| Tues 1st – Fri 4th |
Open as usual |
| Saturday 5th |
PM Bingo Night with a meal in a basket |
| Monday 7th |
AM Open as usual
PM Ladies Night |
| Tuesday 8th |
Open as usual |
| Wednesday 9th |
AM Open as usual
PM Quiz |
| Thursday 10th |
Open as usual |
| Friday 11th |
AM Open as usual
PM Xmas Draw and Play your Cards Right |
| Saturday 12th |
AM Open as usual
PM Entertainment Night and light refreshment £15.00 |
| Sunday 13th |
AM Open as usual Sunday Lunch will be served
PM Quiz |
| Monday 14th |
Open as usual |
| Tuesday 15th |
Open as usual |
| Wednesday 16th |
AM Open as usual
PM Quiz |
| Thursday 17th |
Open as usual |
| Friday 18th |
AM Open as usual
PM Xmas Bottle and Meat Draw |
| Saturday 19th |
AM Open as usual
PM A glass of Prosecco and Xmas Cabaret with Kieran |
| Sunday 20th |
AM Open as usual Sunday Lunch will be served
PM Quiz |
| Monday 21st |
Open as usual |
| Tuesday 22nd |
Open as usual |
| Wednesday 23rd |
AM Open as usual
PM Quiz |
| Thursday 24th |
AM Open as usual
PM Entertainment by James Courtney and luxury Xmas buffet |
| Friday 25th |
Closed until 5 course Xmas Lunch |
| Saturday 26th |
Open as usual |
| Sunday 27th |
NO Sunday Lunch / Evening Quiz as usual |
| Monday 28th |
Open as usual |
| Tuesday 29th |
Open as usual |
| Wednesday 30th |
Open as usual |
| Thursday 31st |
2 Course meal and entertainment by Pete Brogan |
| Friday 1st |
CLOSED until evening/Kath’s jackpot draw and Play your Cards Right. NO Meat Draw |
For all reservations / event enquiries please phone Miles, our Steward on 07738 628668. This is particularly important at the moment to ensure that we have a safe number for social distancing in the Lounge.
Please remember:
Do not enter the Club if you are experiencing any of the symptoms of Covid-19
Your continued support is absolutely critical to the business. We really need you to come in, buy a meal and have a drink with that meal. We also require you, as Members to abide by the law and Covid-19 regulations to ensure the health and safety of other Members and to “do our bit” to reduce the infection levels in the County. All pre-existing Tier 2 regulations still apply.
Thank you so much for your support, co-operation and patience – it is really appreciated in this difficult time.
The Committee really value your support and thank you for your patience. See you at the Club soon.
Best wishes
Ruth
Acting Chairwoman – Ruth Lockwood
Secretary – Tony Lawson, Treasurer – Helen Andrew
Committee Members – Sheila Andrew, Alan Card, Ian Stonier, Darren Willson and Vaughan Wright.
If you would like to comment on this Bulletin, please do so by email. The Club email address (info@newarkconservativeclub.org) is being monitored and you will receive a reply.,
If you know of a Member who has not given us their email address please ask them to email info@newarkconservativeclub.org with their name and address
by admin | Oct 9, 2020 | News
NOTICE
- Due to the coronavirus, this year’s A.G.M. Will be held in line with the legal advice issued by the association of conservative clubs
- There will be a limited agenda.
- In order to adhere to the present social distancing, only 30 members plus the 8 officials of the club will be at the meeting.
- The A.G.M. Will be held at 7. 30pm on Tuesday 10th November 2020 in the Alexander Lounge and on that evening the club will be open at 6. 30pm.
- The notice stating the time and date of the A.G.M. Along with the agenda will be placed on the club’s notice board on Wednesday 7th October 2020.
- The agenda can be found below.
- The nomination forms for the election of all officers of the club and the club’s examiner will be placed on the clubs notice board on Wednesday 7th October 2020. These will be taken down on Sunday 18th October 2020 and re-posted on Wednesday 21st October 2020. Should a ballot be required then the times and dates of the ballot will be circulated by email and exhibited on the clubs notice board.
- A copy of the 2019 accounts, minutes of the 2019 A.G.M, minutes of the special general meeting held on the 9th May 2019, the 2020 Chairwoman’s address will be placed on the clubs notice board on Wednesday 7th October 2020.these documents will remain on the clubs notice board until the morning of the actual A.G.M.
These documents are not to be taken off the premises.
Should anyone wish to obtain a copy of any of the aforementioned documents, please contact the secretary.
- The system to select the 30 members who will be entitled to attend the A.G.M. Will be as follows:
On Wednesday 7th October 2020, forms will be placed on the table in the main hallway. These forms, which will be self-explanatory, are to be completed by those members who wish to attend the A.G.M. And placed in the appropriate box on the main hallway table.
On Wednesday 21st October 2020 these forms and the appropriate box will be withdrawn. The committee will then draw 30 completed forms out of this box.
The 30 successful members will be informed by telephone or email as soon as possible after the draw that they have been selected to attend the A.G.M.
Any member that unfortunately has not been selected to attend the A.G.M. Will also be informed by telephone or email as soon as possible after the draw. However, any of these members that are not entitled to attend the A.G.M but wish to raise a point relating to anything on the agenda, should put this in writing to the secretary by Wednesday 4th November 2020. Any such correspondence will be read out at the actual A.G.M. In due course, the secretary will reply to the individuals of such correspondence by either telephone or email.
Members are politely reminded that they must show their paid- up membership card for 2020 to gain access to the actual A.G.M. on Tuesday 10th November 2020.
AGENDA
- Apologies
- Deceased members.
- To agree the minutes of the 2019 Annual General Meeting.
- To agree the minutes of the S.G.M. held on 9th May 2019.
- To receive the report of the examiners. (2019 Accounts)
- To pass the Examiners Report.
- To receive the Chairwoman’s address.
- To elect Officers for the ensuing year.
- To elect the Examiner for the ensuing year.
- To receive notice of life members elected in 2020.
Chairman’s Address March 2020
Darren Willson
Introduction
I along with the Committee have tried very hard to ensure that the last year, 2019, has been “business as usual” for the Club and Members. There have been many challenges along the way, however, with the help of the Committee and a few willing volunteers we have met these head on and overcome them.
The last year has certainly been a steep learning curve for the Committee as a whole and particularly for me. I am more determined than ever to ensure that the Club becomes the best it can be, both in terms of what we offer the Members and the fabric of the building.
Challenges
During the past year the biggest challenge we faced was keeping the business going following the resignation of the Club Steward in July and the ensuing recruitment of a successor. Add to this the loss of various other members of bar staff, for various reasons. Regrettably one of our Cooks went on long term sickness absence and our Handyman has been off sick awaiting surgery since December and has now returned. Our long-standing stock-taker decided to give up work due to ill-health – luckily, we were able to find a replacement fairly swiftly.
During this period one Committee Member sadly passed away and another resigned. This naturally added to the remaining Committee Members’ workload. Can I appeal to all Members of the Club to consider becoming a Committee Member themselves? Anyone interested should contact Tony Lawson, (Club Secretary) in the first instance. All in all, 2019 was an extremely busy year.
Thanks
Thanks as always to Tony Lawson, Club Secretary for his tireless work and for being the “font of all knowledge” regarding the Club’s official matters. We would struggle without him.
A big vote of thanks has to go to Helen Andrew, our Treasurer who has been in post since the AGM last year. She keeps a tight hold of the purse strings and also strives hard to actively pursue money saving avenues which keep the Club as financially stable as is possible.
I cannot forget the committee members who have assisted me, in the face of adversity, to keep the Club running as smoothly as possible. Your assistance has been greatly appreciated.
I need to put on record my gratitude to Michael our Cook who stepped up to the plate, working mostly on his own, in our busy kitchen, particularly over the Christmas period. Thank you, Michael. Also, to all our staff, without whom we could not operate, including those who work behind the scene namely our cleaners Jo and Sheila who do a wonderful job keeping the Club clean.
Last but not least are the willing volunteers upon whom we relied greatly. Without their help and support we would have struggled even more. My grateful thanks go to all of you.
Finance
In October due to financial circumstances the Club faced a problem with cash flow. In order to alleviate this problem and prevent a crisis it was agreed that the existing ACC loan should be increased by £20,000, our application was accepted and the crisis averted.
Recruitment
The most important job vacancy I have faced this year is that of the Steward. I think you will all agree that this is the key role in the Club. After a committee discussion it was decided that the vacancy should be residential, and it was advertised as such. After three months of hard work and a lot of wasted time due to candidates not turning up, we successfully appointed Miles Murphy. Miles has a lot of relevant experience and we are confident that he can help us develop the business.
After several months of staff changes and consequent recruitment, we have a core team of bar staff to call upon as and when required.
Communications and advertising.
Now that things have returned to normal as far as staffing goes, we can focus our attention on promoting the Club as a priority. To this end I have already held a meeting with our web-site manager who has suggested various improvements. I plan to action his ideas and various others in the next few months. Watch the website as it develops. During this exercise the hitherto neglected Face Book page will also receive our attention ably assisted by Andrea Murphy.
It has recently been decided that a monthly newsletter will be sent out electronically advising members of upcoming events and changes. There will also be copies available in the Lounge for those who prefer to read paper documents.
Winchilsea Avenue
I can report that both flats are now occupied and the rents are being paid on time. The committee has decided that the Club would be better served by changing Letting Agents and the flats are now managed by a different local firm.
Conclusion
I am really looking forward to working alongside Miles, the Club Steward and the committee in 2020 to maintain and develop the business. In order to ensure success, I am asking for your support by continuing to use the Club facilities, introducing family and friends as new members and spreading a positive message about the Club.
Any ideas, comments, suggestions are always welcome. Please do not hesitate to bring those to our attention.
Darren Willson, Chairman (March 2020)
Postscript
Ruth Lockwood (Acting Chairwoman)
After this address was written, in preparation for the AGM to be held in March 2020, Darren resigned as Chairman because of personal commitments and I became Acting Chairwoman. Thank you, Darren, for all your hard work and commitment. I had been a member of the Committee for about two years prior to this and felt that I had to step up and find out what I could do.
I have learnt an awful lot in the past couple of months. I have much appreciated the support and encouragement given to me by Committee Members and Members alike. I am committed and determined to ensure that the Club is successful and provides Members with what they want from their Club. I am very proud to be the first woman in the Chair albeit “acting” at present”.
Miles, the Club’s new Steward took up post in late January 2020 and the Committee was looking forward to allowing him to develop the business. However, Covid-19 hit us nationally and by March we were in “lock-down” which was frustrating to say the least. At the time of writing the Club is open again and, operating within the Covid-19 regulations. The Committee, I and the Steward, Miles are trying to be flexible and imaginative in what the Club offers you whilst keeping you safe when you visit the Club. Miles is constantly striving to tempt Members back to the Club.
I want to take this opportunity to thank both Miles and Andrea, his wife who, whilst settling into their new home and a community they did not know and once lockdown was lifted, have kept the Club operating with hard work, good humour and enthusiasm under extremely difficult circumstances. Their commitment to the success of this Club has been self evident and second to none.
My Goals
My first and immediate goal is to find a way to overcome the negative impact the pandemic is having on the Club. We (Miles, the Committee and our staff) have all had to learn to be extremely flexible and think outside the box during lockdown and since re-opening. Without your continued support we would have fallen at the first hurdle, however our situation is beginning to improve and we can now see light at the end of the tunnel. We all want to say a sincere thank you to all our Members.
Following on I want to follow Darren’s lead and to improve communication between the Committee and Club Members. As a first step I am writing a monthly Newsletter and try to report on what has happened in the previous month and notify Members of what is happening the following month. Secondly, I have personally delivered the Newsletter to Members for whom we do not have an email address. We are now sending 200 emails, so it was well worth-while. The web site is also still under active review by Helen Andrew – thank you for all your hard work Helen – and Andrea Murphy has agreed to keep us all posted on Face book.
Secondly, I aim to try and develop the Club in a way that maintains the interest and support of Members who come into the Club and to attract the interest of those who may never attend. This will be a difficult balancing act and there may be mistakes made along the way. However – nothing ventured, nothing gained. Your feedback will be really important and helpful in this. At the moment we are more than a little hindered because of the pandemic.
I am looking forward to working with Miles and the Committee with your continued support to make this Club successful.
Ruth Lockwood
Acting Chairwoman
October 2020
