MARK Salter is the new chairman of Wellington Cricket Club. He was appointed at the club’s annual meeting last week and becomes only the fifth person to hold the post in 70 years.  

Mark, a former club and 1st XI captain, takes over from Duncan Short who has vacated the role after 16 seasons in charge and becomes president in succession to Roy Hutchings, himself a former chairman of the club, who takes on the newly created role of Immediate Past President.

The meeting received business reports for the past 12 months from club administrator David Derrick, whose role had already changed in so far as he has absorbed both fixture management and welfare duties during 2016 and these now sit alongside his regular secretarial work.

Club treasurer Marc Holloway reported on the financial activity undertaken in the period 1st December 2015 – 30th November 2016 and the main points of his report were:

The annual accounts demonstrated reinvestment at all levels especially with youth development and Ground and Facility Improvements.

The overall financial status of the club remains stable to meet its liabilities.

A commitment to purchase a new roller for 2017 had been made and payment for such had commenced

Making an application for funding for the provision of a new net solution was to be a core deliverable in 2017

Significant investment was and is being made for the benefit of club members, but this needed to be supported by ALL involved with Club if it was to be delivered as desired; wider involvement was paramount in 2017

The meeting accepted the general committee’s proposal that both membership subscriptions and match fees for both senior and junior sections be retained at their 2016 levels and these amounts still represent an excellent value package when compared to other clubs in the locality and for what members have access to - bo on and off the field.

Roy Hutchings announced that he was to stand down from the role of president after 16 years; at this point both Duncan Short and Simon Spalding gave a glowing tribute to and of Roy’s time with the cub that spans well over forty years in a variety of roles that included 32 as Chairman (1984 – 2000) and President (2001 – 2016).

In recognition of his work and dedication to the cub since 1974 Mr Hutchings was appointed to the newly created post of Immediate Past President. He will continue to support and be involved with the club..

Current Vice Presidents were reappointed and then it was the turn of Duncan Short to advise that he was to stand down from the role of chairman and he gave a moving statement on his time in the Chair and how the club had evolved since he had taken on the role from Roy Hutchings; the club’s growth in this period of its existence was a major topic as was thanking those who had been present at all stages of his ‘journey’ as chairman.

At this point Simon Spalding proposed that Mr Short be elected as the club’s new  president and this was duly carried.

Mr Short’s final action was to advise the meeting that he wished to propose Mark Salter as the new chairman and this, too, was duly carried and he took over the chair for the rest of the meeting.

Steve Symons, Kevin Crout, Simon Rudd and Tony Rudd stepped down from their current roles with the club and they were all thanked for their efforts in areas such as fixture and membership management, ground works and special projects.

Team officials and club officers

Club and lst XI Captain Alex Sparks; Vice Captain Luke DeSave; 2nd XI Captain Rob Moysey; Vice Captain; Ben Evett; 3rd XI Captain Des Campbell; Vice Captain Richard Henwood; Sunday XI Captain Arron Campbell; Vice Captain Jack Beal; Mid-week Captain Jack Beal; Midweek XI Vice Captain Macaulay Campbell; Under 11 Team Manager Mark Salter; Under 13 Team Manager Tony Hutchings; Under 19 Team Manager Des Campbell. 

Officers elected included: President Duncan Short; Immediate Past President Roy Hutchings; Legal Adviser Chris Close; Selection Adviser Bernie Burnett; Chairman Mark Salter; Vice Chairman Simon Spalding; Administrator David Derrick; Treasurer Marc Holloway; Membership Secretary Trevor Brooks; Bar and Clubhouse Manager Amanda Moysey; Groundsman Des Campbell and Mike Beal; Junior Section Secretary Tony Hutchings; Junior Section Membership Secretary Clare Hutchings; Development Officer Simon Spalding; Sports Federation Officer Ivor Mitchell; lst XI Scorer Shellie Jarman; Financial Verification Officer Duncan Short.