Presidents Report 2006

I begin by expressing my appreciation and thanks to all those who work week in week out in so many different capacities for the benefit of Birchfield Harriers.

I also acknowledge with grateful thanks the support of their partners and their immediate families for allowing them the time to contribute so much sustained effort for the benefit of the club and its members. On a personal note, I record my thanks to my wife Carol for her support and understanding without which it would not have possible to devote as much time to either athletics or the club.

We do not always recognise how fortunate we are to be blessed with dedicated high quality coaches. Allied to this we have experienced and skilful Team Managers, Technical Officials and Administrators.

Just before last Christmas, Dave Skelcher who worked tirelessly for this club as athlete, Coach and Team Manager for more than forty years, died one month after his 61^st birthday following four months as a patient in the Heartlands Hospital. The club Committee have accepted my recommendation that we perpetuate Dave’s memory by presenting a trophy for annual competition for one of the Young Athletes races at the Warwickshire Cross Country Championships.

Early this year the club lost another direct link with our roots with the death of Jimmy Alexander, who was the sole surviving male child of W. W. Alexander.

At the request of the families, I delivered eulogies for both Dave and Jim at their respective funeral services.

I was involved in discussions over several months in arranging a match with Guernsey AC to celebrate the progressive Channel Islands club’s Channel Islands sixtieth anniversary. The fixture was extremely enjoyable and the relationship between our two organisations has considerable potential for the mutual benefit of both clubs.

I pay tribute to our Chairman, Dave Billiard who has worked tirelessly for the past two and a half years since he stepped into the breach caused by the sudden and premature loss of Roy Tilling. Although his new role with UK Athletics limits his ability to always attend our Committee meetings, our Deputy Chairman, Andy Paul continues to make a significant contribution towards our club.

As if his dual roles as Chairman of Finance and Trustee do not constitute a sufficient enough burden on his already busy business and family life, Ainsley Bennett has also taken responsibility for the Catering portfolio.

Dave Newnham deserves our thanks for devising and successfully introducing the Athlete of the Month Award initiative as does Ann McEvoy for leading the AGA Academy.

Marianne has returned rejuvenated after her hip operation to work with Betty checking on membership in the club reception on club nights. Hazel and Roger also do a great job running the club shop. 

My heart felt thanks are extended to Lyn and her young and enthusiastic team consisting of Adam, Hannah, James and Louise for all their hard work in organising not one but two Club Dinners and Award Ceremonies this year as well as several other social functions.

Thanks go also to every one who has worked behind the scenes, marshalling or stewarding at our promotions under the chairmanship of Stuart Paul. Peter Bushell continues to perform a most capable job as Webmaster of our club website. Peter, Dave Newnham and I will meet shortly with Lee Fear to initiate further improvements to make the format more attractive and user friendly.

Sue Lynch has grow into her role with the club

Farewell with our thanks go to our Treasurer Suphi and our Catering Manager Steve.

Our small but enthusiastic Race Walking section scored an unprecedented hat trick of National team titles in long distance races as well as flying the club colours on the continent. Very well done!

Many congratulations also to Ed Cockayne on managing his team to the club’s first victory for ten years in the Nike National Women’s Four Stage Road Relay Championship at Sutton Park.

Congratulations to all concerned in retaining the Midland Women’s Track and Field League title after winning it for the first time in five years in 2005 and our first ever win at the Midland Veterans Women’s Cup Final at Solihull.

Well done to Dave Lawrence who has been Senior Men’s Team Manager for more than a quarter of a century and his female counterpart Lyn Orbell on their joint team placing runner up in the Jo Smith trophy at the Golden Jubilee Cup Final after victory in the two preceding years and for retaining our status in the top flight in both National League Competitions.

Although both Ken Etheridge has been greatly troubled by serious medical conditions in the last two years, we are extremely pleased that Ken frequently communicates with the officers of the club on the telephone or by email.

I make no apology for unashamedly plugging the new club history “Fleet and Free.” If you are still thinking about purchasing appropriate Christmas gifts with only one month until “the big day”, I suggest that you look no further than buying a copy of this excellent publication from the club shop at a reduced price of £15:00, which will still allow a significant proportion of the proceeds to go to club funds rather than to a bookshop.

Once again, I express our thanks and appreciation to William McGrath and his team at AGA Foodservices for their advice and practical assistance over an unprecedented two decades, Dave Scott at Nike UK, Mike Kendrick at Renault Print and the City of Birmingham for their continued support.

I accepted an invitation to be Guest Speaker at a meeting of the Great Barr Rotary club on 9 October. I am pleased to be able to report that their President and some colleagues will visit the club on Thursday 30 November to present what is intended to be the first of annual donations until 2012.

As I complete my second three-year term as President, I still consider it to be a role that is extremely important both within our club and the wider community.

Although this club has only had thirteen Presidents in our 130 year existence, the role has evolved particularly in recent years. Ken Etheridge made a significant contribution in helping to determine how the club was run and the direction in which we should be moving in his tenure as President.

In nominating me as his successor, Ken made reference to the need for a “hands on” approach. I have always tried to honour this election pledge by being accessible to all our membership and an ambassador for this very great club.

I appreciate the opportunity to have served as your President, which I deem both a very great honour and privilege.  

Tom McCook

17 November 2006