Two bay cricket nets
the small square, whilst also look after both the outfields. We do, however, get involved with the
day-to-day maintenance of the main square with watering, cutting and fertilising etc., as our part-time chap has only just started in earnest. We have also taken it upon ourselves to learn as much as we can regarding machine repair and maintenance, so it’s a great help with Chris being a long time serving Royal Navy Marine Engineer - you may have seen him in the recent HMS Manchester documentary ‘Caribbean Patrol’ - although there is a subtle difference between a Type 42 Destroyer and a triple mower... but we are learning quickly!
If honest, now that the season is
underway, we spend nearly all our spare time at the club, which is every weekend and four evenings a week, cutting, preparing and undertaking general
A dusty job!
maintenance around the club. We have the invaluable help of another team member, Graham Twine, who undertakes work such as hedge cutting, patio and wall maintenance etc. He is landscape gardener, and his wife, Pauline, is also the club treasurer and all round good egg, and their son is a first team regular. Post season, last year, Chris was away on nine months patrol with the Royal Navy so, sadly, was not around when we put the club to bed so to speak. It was a baking hot day on September 16th when myself, with the aid of volunteer club member, Paddy Horne, and Club President, Rosemary Barry, turned up at the club to start the works. We enlisted the help of Arundel Castle head groundsman Lee Farquar, and his spreader, plus NuLawn’s Pete Wilton and his deep scarifier.
Due to costs, we could only deep scarify the main square, which took about
TWENTYQuestions
Chris Clynes - witty good looker, allegedly, although don’t mention London drivers to him!
Who are you? Chris Clynes, Arundel Cricket Club Chairman and volunteer groundsman by evening and weekends, Level 2 coach, Level 1 umpire and U16 team manager … oh, and a Construction H&S Advisor by day
Family Status - Married to Carol, with a fourteen year old son, Matthew, a black Springador called Tye and a cat called Splodge!
Who is your hero and why? I don’t really have one. Why? Because life is full of every day heroes in all walks of life that never get the recognition they deserve.
What is your dream holiday? To do a complete Ashes winter tour of Australia.
What annoys you the most? London drivers … AARRGGHHH!
What would you change about yourself? My good looks … they can me a burden you know ... LOL
Who wouldn’t you like to be? A politician of any description.
Favourite record and why? Got loads,
but always go back to Summer of ’69 by Bryan Adams, the guy rocks.
Who would you choose to spend a romantic evening with? Reece Witherspoon …
If you won the lottery what would be the first thing you would do? Throw a huge party and take my friends on an all expenses paid holiday ... happy days.
If you were to describe yourself as a musical instrument, what would you be and why? Bongos … because I am!
What is the best advice you have been given? My Nan once said ‘try everything in life at least once’.
What is your favourite smell? Hot tarmac.
What do you do in your spare time? Spend it at the cricket club doing jobs.
What is the daftest work related question you have ever been asked? … WHY?
What is your favourite piece of kit? The
wicket mower. It still amazes me its possible to cut grass THAT short !!!
What three words would you use to describe yourself? Generous, witty, hardworking.
What talent would you like to have? Silly answer ... invisibility of course. Honest answer - singing ability
What makes you angry? People who put away dirty equipment. You know who you are!
What law/legislation would you like to see introduced? National Service.
The two Chris’s at work
two to three hours to do, then about another three hours or so to fully blow out with a very heavy duty blower. Whilst this was being done, myself and Paddy were cutting back the small square to about 3mm taking as much off as we could, whilst Rosemary kept the tea and biscuits flowing. The next process was to spread the seed over both squares, which we did by hand to ensure a full covering. Then Lee utilised his tractor and spreader to apply approx 2.5 tonnes of loam to the main square and approximately 1.5 tonnes to the small square. As this was in 25kg bags, and done ten bags at a time, it was a long, hard, back-breaking job. After that, we brushed over the squares to ensure an even spread and then rabbit netted them both off. At the end of the day, just Paddy and myself were left
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