2020 ANNUAL REPORT

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 11 “ON MANY FRONTS, THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST DIFFICULT AND CHALLENGING YEAR IMAGINABLE. OUR STAFF HAVE RISEN TO THOSE CHALLENGES TO NAVIGATE US THROUGH THE PANDEMIC THUS FAR. I FIRMLY BELIEVE OUR CLUB IS IN GOOD AND CAPABLE HANDS.” Richard Tennant to ensure that the correct balance of skills, experience, diversity and inclusivity is maintained. As Club Chairman, I sit on the panel along with my fellow General Committee member, Kate Davies. We have been joined by Dr Mike McNamara and Stephen Lehane, both longstanding members of the club, and Abby Brennan, who is our independent member. I would like to place on record my appreciation of the time, skills, experience, passion and expertise those individuals have given to help the club improve its selection process.This will assist us in tapping into the wealth of talent that is undoubtedly there amongst our membership. Despite access toTrent Bridge not being possible for either spectating or volunteering, the heritage team made significant progress during 2020. Helped by students from NottinghamTrent University, the volunteers researched and wrote over 400 profiles of former Notts cricketers and reports of 50 seasons, thereby completing both of these sections within the ‘History’ section of our website. The volunteers are also recording the impact of the ongoing pandemic on the sport of cricket, assembling a unique collection of information, images and material that will be of great interest to future generations of cricket enthusiasts and historians. In troubled times, it is important that we do whatever we can to help the most vulnerable in our society, and the Trent Bridge Community Trust, led by Mark Clifford, has continued to offer valuable support to young people within our community this year. This has included the creation of a digital support hub and adapted practices which have also allowed them to continue offering virtual work experiences online. I continue to be proud of the work of our charitable Trust, and am delighted that they have secured funding to continue the Positive Futures programme in Rushcliffe for the next four years. In concluding this report, I would firstly like to mention the sad loss of Brian Bolus, a man who was always ready to offer advice and support to those who asked. Although he also representedYorkshire and Derbyshire, Brian was Nottinghamshire through and through. Brian was one of my first cricketing heroes and when he walked out to bat, with his collar turned up, you always felt he was going to be in control.This was exemplified by his 100 from 159 balls againstYorkshire, the county he had recently departed, in 1963. We were equally sorry to hear of the passing of Brian Robson, a long-serving secretary of our club who continued to serve as a match- day volunteer at Trent Bridge long after his days as an integral part of the executive were over. I would also like to thank our Chief Executive, Lisa Pursehouse, for her leadership of the executive team. On many fronts, this has been the most difficult and challenging year imaginable. Lisa has led the team superbly, and I must also extend my gratitude to all of our staff, who have risen to those challenges and never given anything less than their best to navigate us through the pandemic thus far. I firmly believe our club is in good and capable hands. Thirdly, I would like to thank my Vice Chairman, Jeff Moore, and each of the members of the General Committee, for their support and for the role they have undertaken this year in the face of unique challenges. I feel more confident than ever that we are well placed to handle whatever is thrown at us in the future, in the best interests of the club. Finally, as always, I would like to thank you, our members, for your unstinting support and patience. We are lucky to have such a tremendous following and, as has already been mentioned, your contribution this year in particular has been truly exceptional.