May 2005 Newsletter of the Cheltenham Area Civil Service Sports Association

SMOKING WITHIN THE CACSSA CLUBHOUSE

On Monday, 23 May 2005 the smoking policy at the clubhouse will change.

• "No smoking preferred" signs will be displayed throughout the club.
• There will be a total ban on smoking in the hall, toilets, kitchen, General Purpose room, office and committee room.
• During weekday mornings and afternoons there will be a total ban throughout the building.
• During Mondays to Thursdays there will be a ban on smoking in the Lounge.
• During Friday evenings, Saturdays and Sundays smoking will be permitted in the Lounge but not next to the bar.
• For private bookings of the Geoff Hardy Room and the Function Room in the evenings and at weekends the bookers will be asked to choose whether or not to permit smoking.
• When the members' clubs are using the Geoff Hardy Room in the evenings and at weekends smoking will be allowed.

Receptacles for cigarette ends will be provided near the entrances to the building. Should anyone need to smoke during the no-smoking times, they will be asked to go to the patio area. Here there is protection from the weather and is away from the entrance.

Smoking has been allowed in the main public rooms of the CACSSA clubhouse, though not next to any of the bars and a "no smoking" sign is displayed in the upper seating area of the Lounge. Because of plans to refurbish some parts of the clubhouse and to provide an improved food service in the Lounge, but also with an eye on recent government proposals on smoking in restaurants/pubs/bars which prepare and serve food, the Management Committee deliberated on making these changes to our current arrangements. We hope everyone will co-operate with this new policy.

WHAT ELSE?

From May 24 we shall have a caterer on the premises every Monday to Thursday evening in order to offer a more extensive range of food. We intend to trial this using the dais of the Lounge bar as a restaurant area. The bar snack menu, which has become so popular in recent years will continue to be available unchanged. If you like you may pay using debit and credit cards.

New furniture and curtains have been purchased for both the Geoff Hardy Room and the Lounge Bar, and the décor of the Geoff Hardy Room has been improved. A new 42" plasma widescreen television will soon be installed in the Geoff Hardy Room. We hope to widen members' usage of the clubhouse as a result of these changes. Our intention is that the Geoff Hardy Room should revert to the original concept for use as the home for all our sports teams. If we achieve that satisfactorily, then it will open the way for further development of the lounge bar as a quieter area which can be the focus for members and their families who wish to use the club for social purposes.

There has been refurbishment of the children's play area and patching the tarmac in the car park. The tennis courts, resurfaced last year, have now been colour-coated in time for the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Tennis Club.

To improve the security of the grounds gates have been installed at the front entrance and these are locked at night. Concrete blocks and fencing have also been placed to help prevent access to the grounds by joyriders and travellers.

Social Events

Do you know a little about music? Then come with your friends to the

Music Quiz: on Friday 24 June 2005 at 7:30pm:

booking details as for General Knowledge quizzes, and ...

Charity Music Quiz in aid of St John Ambulance on Friday 9 September

General Knowledge Quizzes

These are held monthly on Friday evenings starting at 7:30pm at the Tewkesbury Road Clubhouse. There is a maximum of 4 people in a team and costs £2 a head. These are getting popular and you are advised to book your team to avoid disappointment. Contact Brian Partridge (01242 704720 or  quizcacssacouk  or bapartr@gchq). The dates for the remainder of the year are:

10 June; 15 July; 12 August; 23 September; 14 October; 11 November; and 9 December.

Jazz on a Sunday evening with the JB Quintet

Playing to a high standard under their leader, John Beckingham, the JB Quintet covers jazz and blues from the 30s, 40s and 50s; visit www.jbjazzandblues.com to learn more about them. The admission charge is £3 for members and £3.50 for non-members. They will play on the second Sunday evening of each month: next on 12 June 2005.

Jazz in the Lounge Bar at Tewkesbury Road featuring Peter Davies

The sound of acoustic guitars and clarinet is to be heard once a month in the bar playing quiet, tuneful music in an informal setting to accompany the eating, drinking and chatting. The music includes popular melodies of the Swing era, with a touch of Django and a smattering of Latin. Starting around 8:00 pm on Thursday 9 June and 14 July.

Rugby

CIVIL SERVICE RUGBY LEAGUE SEVENS - Tuesday 10 May 2005 @ Tyldesley RFC

A team from the Health & Social Security Recreational Association (HASSRA) Yorkshire & Humberside Region emerged as the winners of the inaugural Civil Service Rugby League Sevens at Tyldesley RFC's St George's ground, which was seeing rugby league for the first time in just over a century.

Five teams from Scotland and the north of England fought out a round robin competition, which saw some superb action. The finalists weren't decided until the very final game when HASSRA Yorkshire & Humberside took on CSSC North. A heavy defeat for the North would send HASSRA Scotland through to the decider but the North edged in despite losing 20-6. In the final, Yorkshire & Humberside repeated their 14-point win, this time by 14-0. Chris Dawson, Dan Tate and Danny Price, with his sixth of the tournament, scored tries, Price kicking two goals. The winners proved to be the superior outfit on the day, conceding just two tries in their five matches.

The Scotland side began with a draw against CSSC North before losing to Yorkshire & Humberside. Wins over DWP Bradford (18-12) and Bradford & District Inland Revenue (12-10) took them to within touching distance of the medals.

The CSSC North side contained players from Newcastle and Scotland and following their opening draw, enjoyed wins over DWP Bradford (14-10) and Bradford & District Inland Revenue (12-4) before their final, unsuccessful, showdown with HASSRA Yorkshire & Humberside.

It was not a happy tournament on the field for the Bradford sides. DWP went down in all four of their matches, though they made both the eventual finalists work hard for their wins, while the Revenue boys recorded a single win - 22-0 over their city rivals in the opening game of the competition.

Played in dry but cool conditions, the event was superbly organised and thanks go to referee Walter Johnston of the Wigan & District Referees Society, touch judge Nigel Wachs of the Southern Referees Society and Tyldesley RFC for their generous hospitality.

FINAL:

HASSRA Yorks & Humb       14 – 0       CSSC North

Chris Wilson
Media Manager,
Civil Service Rugby League,
Tel: 01242 221491 x32885

Skittles (as seen on TV)

We are in a 6-week period of no CACSSA skittles as the Cheltenham Skittles League are playing their Hospital Cup and Front-Pin Finals at the clubhouse. Because the skittles committee and CACSSA have agreed they may use our alleys for at least five years they have paid half of the cost of installing the CCTV over the diamonds.

The Presidents Shield games will be starting on 24 May. Finals Night is on Friday 17 June 2005.

The Player of the Year competition is to be held on Wednesday 15 June 2005. This popular knock-out competition is open to all CACSSA members and is free this year. The qualifying nights are Wednesday 8 June and Monday 13 June. To enter send an e-mail to skittlescacssacouk or pjphair@gchq by 1 June stating your name, the name of your team (if you would like to play with your teammates), and state if you cannot make any of the dates mentioned here.

The Summer League will start on 20 June. This will involve teams of 9 players. Enter your team by the end of May by contacting Brian Wood or other committee member.

Contact Brian Wood, skittlescacssacouk or on 01242 515941. if you would like to play but are not part of a team, there's room for everyone. More details are available on our websites: http://www.gchq/societies/cacssa/skittles/index.shtml and www.cacssa.co.uk/skittles

Skittles Club AGM will be on Tuesday 19 July 2005 at 19:30. All winter league teams are requested to be represented.

Ladies Hockey

CHELTENHAM CIVIL SERVICE LADIES HOCKEY CLUB

This is a well-established club with a good reputation. We run two sides, one in Severn Division I league and the other in Severn Division III. We play on astroturf pitches and most of our games are played on Saturdays and are local. We have a good, friendly club atmosphere and welcome new players. It doesn't matter if you haven't played for some time you'll soon get back into it. Why not come along to one of our training nights at East Gloucester club in Old Bath Road on Wednesday evenings at 20:00 - 21:30 and give it a try with no obligation to join? At these sessions we offer excellent coaching at very low cost (£2 per session). If you're interested (or if you know someone who might be) and would like further information contact Carol Febry on ext. 33773, home 01242 242160 or Lorry Butler on ext. 30427 or home 01242 522328.

• Offshore Regatta • 2006 October • 2006 May • 2006 March • 2005 December • 2005 May • 2005 April •

• Social • Conference • CACSSA News • What's on • Clubs • About CACSSA •

• Home • Feedback • Links •