Somerset
The Thoughts of Chairman LoL
By Grockle et al
October 24 2013
A forum conversation about the nature of the ground and its developments brought up a discussion one of our posters had with the club a few years ago now (around October 2009 in fact) and so I thought it might be good to put his open letter to the club up for view - with his permission - and discussion. Thanks LoL for taking the time to do it then and the quality of the content. Enjoy
"I made my first visit to the County Ground this season for the four-day match against Nottinghamshire and I trust you will permit me, as a Life Member who has been watching cricket at Taunton since 1949, to make a few comments about the new developments.
Firstly, let me assure you that I am very positive about the need for change and for expansion and the ambience of the ground remains very much as it always has been and will do so as long as the lovely church towers are visible and a good sprinkling of people can afford to spend a day at the cricket, particularly four-day cricket as far as my personal preference is concerned.
As for the new developments, I find most of them pleasing, though I must first comment on one that is not. Appreciation of architecture is a very subjective thing, but I failed to find a single person who had anything positive to say about the external appearance of the Club Hub, though I understand that the facilities inside meet the standards deserved by professional sportsmen and women. The building in its present form was not, as far as I know, part of the overall development plan and its presence has come as something of a surprise, mostly because it lacks elegance and simply does not blend with the other buildings on the ground.
The Somerset Stand and the Pegasus flats are more tasteful than some feared they would be. The old Ridley Stand had its charm but was not a thing of beauty and we need not mourn its loss; Gimblett's Hill is a near perfect place in which to watch cricket, but it would perhaps be good if this area had its own bar for the use of Platinum members and their guests. Having personally known the great Harold and watched many of his post-war innings, I feel he deserves a little more than the small stone on the mound beside the scoreboard when compared with the massive writing that surmounts the Sir Ian Botham Stand.
This brings me to a very personal viewpoint: I am not keen on naming anything after anybody who is still alive, not even Nelson Mandela (and I wonder how the people at Northampton would feel now if they had named part of their ground after Wayne Larkins). I certainly feel it inappropriate to name buildings after men who are still playing cricket, even such splendidly loyal county men as Marcus Trescothick. All have feet of clay and even the great Marcus is capable of dropping a catch in front of the stand that bears his name. Perhaps the club ran out of ideas when it came to naming the Somerset Stand, but I would like to suggest it is renamed the Woods and Wellard Stand, commemorating two of the county's finest all-rounders, men who had in common that they both came from elsewhere but totally identified with the .Somerset style of cricket, always committed to entertaining the crowd. The career of one started in the Nineteenth Century and of the other ended after the Second World War, a very large slice of our history.
I have not seen the plans for the new Long Room, but hope to do during my visit next week for the championship match against Sussex.
While the old scoreboard beside the CRMA pavilion is not part of the development and serves its purpose well, it really needs to be raised by a yard or more because the two bottom lines of information cannot be seen from most parts of the ground if people are sitting at the top of the stand in front. The new scoreboard beside Gimblett's Hill is, frankly, an embarrassment and has drawn unfavourable comment from among others, visiting commentators, whose words are spread widely via the internet. The absence of boxes for recording the total in more than one previous innings is simply not good enough. I was told that these scores would appear from time to time on the running strip below; I never saw that happen when I was there and, in any event, spectators simply want to look at stationary figures on a board between action on the field, not stare at a running strip in case they miss something.
In that same area of the ground I was mystified by a banner bearing the words:
'Welcome to Legend's Square
If you would like to order a paver please visit the Commercial Office'
I do not understand who or what this legend is (it must be a singular one because of the position of the apostrophe) and the word paver leaves me very confused. The only dictionary meaning suggests someone who lays paving, but I greatly doubt that SCCC is advertising on such a person's behalf.
But let me end on a positive note.
The County Ground remains one of the most delightful places in which to spend one�s time, with old friends or making new ones; it retains almost all its former charm and we will get used to most of the new buildings. The Museum, which perhaps deserves greater publicity, for example during rain breaks, is as good any of its kind in the world. The cricket itself, as played by SCCC, is currently of a very high and exciting standard and Brian Rose, Justin Langer, the players and all the support staff are to be congratulated. In addition, I have always found the staff with whom I come directly in contact, at the gate, in the offices or in the bars, unfailingly friendly and helpful."
THE REPLY
The club replied to LoL's comments. We've changed the reply slightly as people involved in it are no longer County officials but the general 'gist' is still there I hope;
" Very many thanks for your letter. We are always pleased to receive constructive advice and feedback, and your letter contained a great number of valid points.
We share your concern that the Club Hub does not blend with its surroundings. Unfortunately the local planner were insistent that it be a building of its time (sic) because of its close proximity to Barnicotts which is a Grade 2 listed building. It appears that they opted for a policy of differentiation rather than blending. However, the inside of the building works superbly, and we would be pleased to give you a tour when you next visit. We think you will like the refurbishment of the Colin Atkinson Pavilion, which begins next month.
With regards to the naming of features around the ground, We are afraid we have to disagree with you. We don't think we should have to wait until players have died before we can acknowledge the contribution they have made to the club, Our club President, Roy Kerslake, chairs a sub-committee that comes up with a list of players that should be acknowledged in some form. The wall behind the Somerset Stand will shortly become a walk of fame which will be used to commemorate the best players throughout the decades, many of whom may not have received international recognition but were great players for Somerset, hence the stand's name.
Very many thanks for your continued support."
I personally had never related the Walk of Fame to the Stand but I now understand the thinking behind it and the name makes more sense.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:11:06:07:26:58 by Grockle.
I think I heard that the new old pavilion was designed by the same architects. Whilst it looks good from the viewpoint (which only birds can share) used for the current web page the previously shown ground level view was a different matter. In my humble opinion of course.
But thankfully we are there to watch the cricket!
Wasn't the Ian Blackwell stand the first like it at Taunton? That got demolished and the Caddy Shack replaced it.
The Woods and Wellard Stand sounds right just like The Worrall,Weekes and Walcott Stand at The Kensington Oval in Barbados.
The original idea for Gimbletts Hill was to be a grass bank.I don't know why the idea was changed but it certainly meets with my approval although I think it could be improved.
I put the idea to Guy Lavender that it would be better to put the walkway at the back of Gimblett's Hill, put those benches down the front and run a walkway along the back.
This would put a stop to having people constantly walking in front during an over.
He wasn't in agreement saying that it would affect disabled spectators but if they ran a ramp from where the end wall is and at the scoreboard end there would be no problems.
We have also been told, although not officially, that the "flower beds" will be filled in.This needs to be done before somebody has an accident.
It will be interesting to see if that is done over the winter.
One thing which has disappeared are the hanging baskets that used to be on the CA Pavilion. I thought that they added a nice touch to the ground. I'm not sure why that ceased.
My apologies if this is incorrect, but it may have been that to which LoL was making reference.
It's quite easy you know.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2013:10:25:10:06:22 by BristolRob .
I wondered if it was something untoward but cricket related.
Agree entirely re the main scoreboard. I could never understand why it was built three feet short of a height suitable to allow people to read the bottom part of it.
As for the Caddyshack, whilst I'm not a fan of HRH ('His Royal Hypocrite'), Prince Charles, his 'carbunkle' comment does seem entirely appropriate for this particular architechtural monstrosity.
Grizzzly
Main Scoreboard 1982
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:10:26:19:44:56 by Mike TA1.
He could easily have come by taxi from the nearby railway station.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Edit - I have several photos of it myself, the one I looked at first had the building underneath called "Prime Time Recruitment Business Club" they must have had a sponsor.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:10:26:21:17:34 by Mike TA1.
Quote:Loyal of Lhasa.
My first encounter with HRH ....- in a helicopter!
He could easily have come by taxi from the nearby railway station.
Wait till he becomes King - there will be half the army as well next time!!
Very good Tractor, - so, how many JCB's does it take to change a light bulb ?!
Re HRH, I just think the man should practice what he preaches viz e.g.
Flying aroung the world preaching to everyone about (non existant) Global warming & telling everyone else to go by bicycle.
Espousing arhcitechturally & environmentally friendly construction schemes, whilst being responsible for the utter abortion that is Poundbury.
Generally screwing Duchy of Cornwall tenant farmers into the floor with hideous rents.
Being an interfering buffoon of the first order.
All of course allegedly.
Sorry, off topic rant over !
Grizzzly
Obviously, I don't know whether decisions are taken directly by HRH himself.
LoL - at least he came by helicopter and not Time And Realisation Dimensions In Space..
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Not sure about the reference to "vandals" in this piece. The description seems pretty accurate to me!:
[www.telegraph.co.uk]
Grizzzly
where I wouldn't want my wife to belong to the local branch of the WI.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:11:02:17:35:09 by Loyal of Lhasa..
Ugley Man marries Nasty Woman.
LoL
Sixty-six Seasons a Somerset Supporter
I always found Godmanchester somewhere I couldn't drive past without a smile and Peasedown St John used to have my kids in fits on a regular basis.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:11:03:08:41:05 by Grockle.
PS Did you know the school's on Lusty Hill?
[Edited to add PS, just enough battery...]
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:11:02:20:58:19 by SheptonPaul.
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