St Georges Recreation Ground & Public Hall Prospectus 1922 -2021
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St Georges Recreation
Ground & Public Hall
(Registered Charity Number 522557)
Prospectus
1922 -2021
St Georges Recreation Ground & Public Hall 1922 – 2021
1. Introduction
This document sets out the history of St Georges Recreation Ground, the current usage
and our vision for the future, as we approach our centenary year. The Recreation Ground
is located on Church Street, St Georges, Telford next to the Parish Church (see Site Plan
– Appendix 3).
The grounds were left in trust to the villages of St. Georges and Priorslee and are
managed by the Recreation Ground Management Committee who administer the
maintenance of the grounds as a registered charity (Registered Charity Number 522557).
The “Object of the Foundation” as set out in the trust documents shall be:
“the provision and maintenance of a public recreation ground and of a village hall (to be
conducted in a suitable building to be erected on part of the land belonging to the
Foundation) for the use of the inhabitants of the Urban District of Oakengates and the
neighborhood thereof, and in particular (but not exclusively) those resident in the
Ecclesiastical Parishes of St Georges and Priors Lee and the surrounding neighbourhood,
without distinction of sex, race or of political, religious or other opinions, with particular
reference to use for meetings, lectures, and classes and for other forms of recreation and
leisure time occupation, with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said
inhabitants.”
The Management Committee is made up of a number of Trustees and Officers of the
affiliated clubs (see section 4), currently chaired by Mike Lowe, CBE. Jeff Fletcher,
Treasurer was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2018 for his voluntary work in helping
ensure the Recreation Ground continues to be such a valuable community asset. Despite
the impact of Corona Virus the Management committee continues to strive to meet its
obligations in difficult circumstances without significant support from statutory
organisations.
2. History
There has been a Recreation Ground in St. Georges since 1883, when annual athletic
sports were first held there. The Public Recreation Ground, stands on a site provided by
the Lilleshall Company. It soon had the best athletics track in the county. St. Georges
had one of the county's leading football clubs. It was formed in 1877, and by 1921 was
based at St. Georges Recreation Ground. The ground also provided for cricket, bowls,
tennis, and hockey, but no longer has a running track or
tennis courts.
The running track was one of the best in the country,
back in the 1920s, when St Georges hosted the Midland
Counties Amateur Athletic Association Championship in
1924.
Harold Abrahams competed in the 100 yards race at
these Championships, which he won and a week later
went on to win the Gold Medal in the 100 yards at the
Paris Olympic Games.
This plaque in the Social Club commemorates the event and was unveiled by his daughter
in 2014.
Key milestones:
1921 – Recreation Ground (currently the main cricket field) bequeathed by The Lilleshall
Company.
1924 – Recreation Ground Committee purchased field to the east (now the small cricket
field).
1924 - Harold Abrahams competed in the 100 yards race, which he won and a week later
went on to win the Gold Medal in the 100 yards at the Paris Olympic Games.
1930’s – Old Social Club built
1947 – Cricket Pavilion opened
1965 – New Public Hall & Social Club, second bowling green (top green) and redgra
hockey pitch opened. Thanks in particular to Bob Tranter.
1990 – Extension to Social Club opened by Billy Wright, CBE.
2004 – New all weather multi-use sports pitch with floodlights opened.
2006 – New drainage system installed on both sports fields with support from England &
Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
2007 – St Georges Recreation Ground was awarded the Queens Golden Jubilee Award
for Voluntary Service by Groups in the Community.
2012 – New Cricket Nets opened, thanks to a legacy from the late Jim Heath and ECB
grant funding.
2021 – All weather multi use sports pitch re-laid with grant funding from English Hockey
Association
2021 – Cricket Club awarded Disability Cricket Club Champion status by the ECB, the only
club in the county with this award.
Today the facilities include (See Appendix 3 - Plan):
• Memorial gates commemorating local people who died in conflict
• 2 sports fields used for cricket and junior football (Marked 1 & 2 on Site plan)
• 3 lane cricket nets (Marked 3 on Site plan)
• 2 bowling greens (Marked 4 & 5 on Site plan)
• All weather surface with floodlights used for hockey and football (Marked 6 on Site
plan)
• Children’s Play area (Marked 7 on Site plan)
• Toilet Block (Marked 8 on Site plan)
• 4 changing rooms (Marked 9 & 10 on Site plan)
• Steward’s flat (Marked 11 on Site plan)
• Social Club including Bar (Marked 12 on Site plan)
• Function Room - Public Hall (Marked 13 on Site plan)
• Car parking (Marked 14, 15 & 16 on Site plan)
3. Social Club & Public Hall
http://stgeorgesclub.co.uk
The Social Club provides a lounge bar facility available to members of the Social Club.
Today there are over 800 members. The general public can be signed in and use the bar
for a nominal charge on each visit. The Sports & Social Club Committee employs a
Steward & Stewardess to run the bar on behalf of the Management Committee.
As part of the ground’s obligations under its charitable status it is required to provide a ‘public hall’ and this can be found in the social club which was built in 1965 to replace a small social club now used as changing rooms. The main hall is available for hire and is used for a wide variety of events such as wedding receptions, birthday parties, wakes, old time dancing, blood donor sessions, weight watchers, pigeon shows, etc. The Parish Church situated next door has close links with the Social Club and parishioners use our car parking facilities. Our rooms are also used as the ward polling station at local and general elections. For detailed usage see Appendix 2 4. Use of the Recreation Ground The sporting clubs themselves bare a great deal of the cost of maintaining their playing areas through the voluntary input of their members. The bowling greens are maintained by it’s members, the cricket fields and wickets are prepared by volunteer grounds men and Cricket Club members and the all weather facility is maintained by members of the Hockey Club. The Recreation Ground Management Committee is also grateful for the support arranged through Telford & Wrekin Council, 4 times a year to help keep boundary hedges and edges under control, as well as occasional help from other organisations. The Recreation Ground is used for many and varied activities. There is a Children’s Playground well used by local young children. Dog and recreational walkers use the cricket fields every day of the year. As well as organised sports activity the Recreation Ground is used simply by many as an open space, a chance to get fresh air in a peaceful setting, aiding wellbeing within an ever increasing urban area. This has been really emphasised during the Covid pandemic and lockdown, showing just how valuable our green space is. Over 2500 events take place every year, with over 18,000 people using the facility, many several times in the year, amounting to over 100,000 episodes a year. For more detail see Appendix 2. These events include various sporting events (for detail see “Affiliated Clubs” section below) but also for example an annual fireworks display, summerfest (organised by St Georges Partnership), monthly quiz in aid of local charities, etc. providing leisure opportunities and entertainment for the whole family. The armistice ceremony also takes place annually on the Recreation Ground where the Parish’s Memorial Gates are locate commemorating the lives of those who died supporting their country during World War 1, World War 2 and subsequent conflicts. Affiliated Clubs: Today St Georges Recreation Ground is home to a number of affiliated Clubs, providing a range of recreational activities and volunteering opportunities for people of all ages. The affiliated clubs are: St Georges Crown Green Bowling Club https://sites.google.com/site/stgeorgesbowlingclub/
The St. Georges Bowling Club was founded in the year 1922 on the public recreation ground in Church Road, St. George's. The first green (the smaller bottom green) was laid in 1923 and opened in 1924 with the holding of the SCGBA County Handicap. In 1933 the Bowling Club became one of the founder members of the Mid-Shropshire Bowling League. The Club first won the Mid-Shropshire First Division title in 1941 and have gone on to achieve this feat no less than 24 times. In 1934 the smaller one of the two pavilions standing today was built. Floodlights were erected in 1963. In 1967 the decision was taken to lay a second bowling green, along with a new set of floodlights and another, larger pavilion. In 1989, the facilities were further enhanced with the provision of three weather shelters for players and spectators, making the Club one of the premier clubs in the Midlands for facilities and players. In 1980, the Ladies bowling section was formed. As a result of the hard work and effort made in providing these facilities, the Club has been graced by the finals of all the major events available to the Crown Green game. The Midland Masters has been staged on several occasions and in seasons 1994 and 1995 the Club staged both the Junior and Senior BCGBA All-Britain Championships. Today the Bowling section has over 100 members of all ages. There are 11 Teams playing in a number of leagues, including the Shropshire Premier League, Mid-Shropshire League, Ladies & Pensioner Leagues. For more detailed information about participation see Appendix 2 below St Georges Cricket Club http://www.stgeorgescc.org.uk The Cricket Club was founded on March 9, 1922 and has played matches at St Georges Recreation Ground since then. The Club have a proud history of providing cricketing opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. St Georges have played in the Shropshire Premier League since it’s inception and field sides in a number of their leagues. They have also won promotion to the Birmingham League on two occasions and in 2007 were Champions of Division 3. The Club has a large junior section (See Appendix 2) that has produced players who have gone on to represent Shropshire at Minor Counties level and played professional cricket. Over the years the Ground has hosted many minor county games, including the famous Shropshire NAT West Trophy victory over Yorkshire in 1984. Today over 200 people play or provide volunteer support for the 5 junior teams, 1 junior girls teams, 1 Ladies Teams, Disabled Cricketers Team and 4 Saturday Shropshire League Teams. For more detailed information about participation see Appendix 2 below The Cricket Grounds are maintained on a voluntary basis by members of the Cricket Club, which allows them to be used on a recreational basis by the local community (see below), when not in use for cricket during the summer or junior football during the winter. The Cricket Club have held the prestigious Clubmark award since 2003. This means it meets strict criteria laid down by the English Cricket Board as being children friendly and meets the standards required for safeguarding children. The Club is the only club in Shropshire to be awarded Disability Cricket Club Champion status in recognition of the opportunities it provides for people with a disability.
Telford & Wrekin Hockey Club http://www.telfordhockeyclub.co.uk Founded in 1895 as Shifnal Hockey Club, it was one of the founding clubs of league hockey in Great Britain. The club initially played at various local venues including St Georges, Telford Town Park & Thomas Telford School. In the early 1960s they started using grass pitches at St Georges and moved on to the new all weather redgra pitch in 1965. This was upgraded in 2004 and in 2021 the surface was re-laid thanks to grant support from the English Hockey Association. The club currently runs five men's team, two ladies teams and various junior sides with a membership approaching 300 of whom 180 are U18's. For more detailed information about participation see Appendix 2 below The club as had some notable achievements. They were members of the first hockey league and won the league on several occasions in the early 1970s and won an international tournament in Belgium in 1971. They reached the pinnacle of English Hockey playing in the National League in 2007 and 2008, our boy's U18's side reaching the national finals at Canterbury in 2011, as well as producing players that have gone on to represent England Wales and Scotland at both junior and senior levels. The club continues to grow in the Borough with links to both junior and secondary schools where our coach's run training sessions to introduce children to hockey. Football Historically football was played on the Recreation Ground on one full size football pitch. However by 2000 football use had declined and the affiliated football club ceased to exist. This was at a time when cricket popularity was growing and with grant aid from the English Cricket Board the Recreation Ground was able install a new drainage system on both fields, enhancing the drainage. This increased the use of the ground significantly for cricket but meant it was no longer possible to host a full size football pitch as it would impinge on the cricket squares, However the improved drainage meant it was now viable to host junior football (up to U12), by aligning 4 junior sized football pitches along side the 2 cricket squares over the winter period, which if used in rotation, means that the fine turf could recover for cricket use over the spring and summer. Therefore since 2011 junior football has been played on the outfields, with 5 junior teams playing organised games each Sunday through the winter. Of course the all weather surface is also used regularly for recreational football games on a hire basis when not being used for hockey. For more detailed information about participation see Appendix 2 below Pigeon Flying Club https://www.facebook.com/Stgeorgespigeon/ St Georges Pigeon Flying Club is the oldest in Telford. The Club is based in their own dedicated space in the old pavilion (marked 9 on Site plan).
5. Vision for next 5 years
We aim to:
• Continue to have a thriving Recreation Ground and Public Hall at the heart of St
Georges for use by the local community and surrounding areas (as articulated in the
Constitution).
• Protect and enhance our local green space available for all our community.
• Increase community participation in use of Recreation Ground & Public Hall to improve
individual and community physical and emotional wellbeing & happiness.
• Increased the number of volunteers supporting the Management Committee and
affiliated clubs in meeting these aims.
• Enhance the Recreation Infrastructure to support this vision.
• Maximise access to grant funding and external sources of volunteering
To achieve this vision the Management Committee will continually strive to upgrade and
maintain the Recreation Ground facilities. Priorities for the next 5 years are:
1. Maintenance/Replacement/Upgrading as necessary of essential parts of the Social
Club & Public Hall infrastructure (e.g. central heating, electrics, roof, carpet, curtains,
furniture – 12 & 13 on Site plan) – Ongoing.
2. Upgrading of car parking facility marked 16 on Site map – Surface material delivered,
levelling complete. In reality only a short term solution.
3. Re-surfacing of Burma Road surface marked with blue line on Site plan – complete
with support from T&W Council Pride High Street funding.
4. Hedge cropping and replace gaps in boundary fence & hedge along Burma Road –
complete with support from T&W Council Pride High Street funding and the Princes
Fund.
5. Renovation of NE corner of the ground marked 17 on Site plan – SITA grant
application successful and corner landscaped and planted with input from St Georges
Primary School.
6. Resurfacing of central pathway & lighting marked with red line on Site plan – to be
progressed
7. Refurbishment of changing rooms marked 9 on Site plan – now the priority. Grant
funding being explored. In the interim the building’s rendering has been repaired &
repainted.
8. Renovation of toilet block & water/sewage supply marked 8 on Site plan – to be
progressed
9. Resolution of remaining drainage issues on cricket field marked 18 on Site plan – new
French drain installed Nov 2016. Fields verti-drained in April 2017 & 2018 with positive
effect. Regular slitting by club volunteers
10. Installation of security camera system to improve health & safety for all users of the
Recreation Ground and reduce likelihood of vandalism – Now in place.
11. Tree safety inspection & work – a tree survey identified a number of trees which need
felling or cropping for safety reasons. £1000 grant funding towards the total cost of
£2,500 has been obtained and work was completed in Spring 2019.
In addition each affiliated club has their own list of club specific priorities that they raise
fundingfor in agreement with the Management Committee.
Last Updated: 03.08.2021Appendix 1 In recognition of his work at the club with our Junior Dragons group Sam Rowley was recently voted "Young Volunteer of the Year (2014)" at the Telford & Wrekin Active Lifestyles Award Evening held at The Place in Oakengates. Sam received his award from The Mayor. Sam, together with Malcolm Webster, has been actively involved in coaching this group, which introduces our youngest members to the game, for seven years now, having started as a young teenager. It's great to see a youngster giving his time to encourage the kids. Well done Sam - the club is proud of you!
Appendix 2
Usage of St Georges Recreation Ground and Public Hall
Activity Use Events People Annual Annual
per per number of attendances
year event people /footfall
PUBLIC HALL
Functions such as Birthday Parties, Wedding 30 80 2400 2400
Receptions, etc. mainly at a weekend – at least
30 a year with average of 80 people = 2,400
people a year.
Old time dancing – 30 people one session per 40 30 30 1200
week x 40 weeks.
Slimming World – 75 people one day (3 48 75 100 3600
sessions) per week x 48 weeks.
Blood donors – 10 sessions a year, 11am- 10 150 180 1500
8.30pm, of 150 people.
Charity Quiz Night – held monthly throughout 12 50 60 600
the year.
Breath Easy Support Group – 40 weekly 40 30 50 1200
sessions of 30 people.
Arthritis Society – Monthly Support Group for 30 12 30 35 360
people.
Kumon Education Class – 2 days a week for 40 80 10 20 800
weeks x 10 people
ANNUAL EVENTS ON RECREATION
GROUND
Bonfire night – annual event. 1 1000 1000 1000
Springfest & Summerfest – annual events. 2 1600 1600 1600
SOCIAL CLUB MEMBERSHIP & BAR USAGE
Members of Social Club with Bar open 365 days 365 122 850 44530
a year, with estimated average usage of one
visit per person per week by 850 members.
Elections – The Club is used on average at 0.5 1500 1500 750
least once every 2 years for Elections (MP, local
government and European Parliament, EU
Referendum).
Funerals - at least 40 a year with average of 50 40 50 2000 2000
people at each.
Domino Teams – 2 home teams (all SC 24 12 156 288
Members – 6 players per team) playing 12
home games per team against visiting teams.
DOG & RECREATIONAL WALKERS
Dog & Recreational Walkers – 60 people at 365 60 80 21900
least once a day.
PLAYGROUND
Children using playground with parents – used 350 10 100 3500
365 days a year (other than very inclement
weather by average of 5 children a day each
supported by a parent.
CAR PARK
St Georges Parish Church use the Car Park for 52 20 30 1040
car parking for their congregation, for at least 1
service, 52 weeks of the year.
CRICKET
Senior Saturday\Sunday cricket matches – 4 44 44 1032 2178
teams playing 11 home matches with 44 playersfrom St Georges and 44 players from opposing teams. Junior Cricket – 6 teams (boys and girls) with 66 36 22 418 792 players from St Georges and 66 players from opposing teams playing 6 home games each team. Parents watching junior teams – assume 1 36 22 407 792 parent per child. Ladies Cricket – 1 team playing 6 home games. 6 22 77 132 Cricket Practice – Juniors = 80 children x 20 20 112 Included 2240 weeks, Seniors = 20 adults x 20 weeks, Ladies above = 12 x 20 weeks. Disabled Cricketers Practice 15 weeks for 12 15 12 180 180 people. Spectators at League matches 50 30 1500 1500 Schools/Junior County games – 2 Junior County 3 50 150 150 games per year & Schools Kwik Cricket Tournament BOWLS 11 bowls teams playing home games made up 123 18.6 1142 2284 of home & opposition players Spectators. 144 12 1728 1728 Bowls Practice – at least 20 people once a 30 20 30 600 week over 30 weeks. Competitions – Internal Club and external 21 21 440 440 Comps (including County Games, etc.). HOCKEY 4 Mens teams, 2 ladies teams, 8 junior teams 140 22 1694 3080 (boys and girls) playing on average 10 home games a year. Parents watching junior teams 10 parents per 80 15 420 1200 home team & 5 per away team Spectators – 6 senior teams x 10 people per 60 10 305 600 game Hockey training. 20 20 400 400 FLYING CLUB Pigeon Club members – 25 members meeting 20 20 20 400 once a week for 40 weeks. FOOTBALL 3 junior teams playing 12 games on grass 36 30 585 1080 pitches, 15 per team with subs. Parents watching junior teams – assume 1 36 30 585 1080 parent per child. Football on All Weather pitch – 10 sessions per 360 10 100 3600 week for 36 weeks playing mainly 5-a-side football. TOTAL 2,751.5 5,371.6 20,362 112,482 Appendix 3
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