My first year has passed with another successful season on and off the field of which will be explained in more detail later in the captains reports. The first year back in the Beds League on Sundays proved an excellent decision with both teams gaining promotion and the first XI winning their league and the second XI finishing runners up.

It has saddened me with the losses of so many individuals associated with the club this year, hopefully we can show our appreciation by honouring their names into the future in different ways.

The club is moving forward from strength to strength on and off the field which has enabled us to increase, from one side each day to two sides each day for next season, also we have arranged a midweek side for next year and we have a side competing indoors over winter at the moment. This has been possible due to the new members and the colt sections growing and been able to offer colts the opportunity to play in the adults teams at the weekends. We are hoping that the parents will get involved and want to play themselves in the future with their children.

I would like to mention the finale to last season being the benefit match for Tim Hancock from Gloucestershire CC, who brought down a strong side to face us. It was always going to be a difficult challenge but with hard work from the whole club and some divine intervention from him up there, the sun even shown all day, which was a blessing after camping overnight in my car protecting the marquee, ably assisted by Adie Crawley, who had a proper single bed to sleep on in the marquee. The day went without a hitch and when all the money has been collected the club will have made over £600 profit. I would like to thank some people personally for their efforts in helping with the day, Stephen Purdew, Steve Dixon, Lee Sinclair and everybody else that helped in some way down to the girl who sold the bats. Gloucestershire CC also enjoyed the day so much that Jon Lewis star of England 's one-day triumph over Australia has asked if he could return in 2007 in his own benefit season.

I'm looking forward to seeing you all in the coming season, new and old members alike for another successful season.