Oh what a night, sweet November back in '18!

Can another year have passed that quickly? Did we really have a boiling hot summer, those days where we sweated in whites at The Common and on far flung wickets such as those in Salisbury?

Answer - yes. Now get on with it!

A cast of over 60 gathered at Mannings Heath Golf and Wine Estate for a pre-dinner drink last evening in anticipation of the Annual Dinner and Awards celebration. There has been much to cheer about for our wee band of Nutters. The club continues to go from strength to strength with notable milestones over the last 12 months being:

Site clearance and erection of the new store shed
Pavilion Demolition
Tree felling
Continued Fund Raising
Major end of season wicket repair

All of those successes have seen the majority of the club membership get involved, shoulder to the wheel to make stuff happen.

At 7.30pm, the masses moved up to the Latilla Campbell Suite for their traditional Christmas three course supper: vodka cured salmon, roast turkey with all the trimmings and Christmas Pud! What a delicious meal the staff at MHGC produced and served with skill and care.

Having demolished quite a lot of the cellared Benguela Cove grape juice, the President introduced Club Chairman, Kevin Barnes, who cantered through a brief 'off field' summary of successes, most of which, as set out above, centred around progress with the Nutters' legacy project, the new pavilion.

A close to 9.55pm Richard Walter introduced Club Captain, Bob Samways, for his summary of the year's proceedings. Of course, Gail, Bob's significant superior other half, had 'run the book' for the sweep stake on the speech length. Samways nailed it again. A splendid speech, delivered at pace and with much humour. He has a marvellous skill when writing speeches and that is the inclusive nature of them. Everyone got a mention, no-one left out (even Jonty...!).

One poignant moment arrived with a toast to Bob 'T.C.' Weston who has finally hung up his booties after 30 years with Nuthurst. He remains a life member and has promised that he will still be connected with club life... just not on the field of play. There was a suggestion that he might be our umpire. Someone then pointed out that he loves exercising that forefinger and that we might ask him to score instead!

After 17 minutes and 20 seconds, Gail called time on the great man's broadcast and then set to work to establish who had bagged the pot. Jo Willis and Jon Bearman were the winners! Great guessing you two.

Then came the awards - see the attached list of winners from the 2018 season or click this link. Well done to Rob Keen, Jez James, Stuart Catterall, Ollie Prior, David Thompson and Jonny Willis.

Click this link if you wish to check out the post war award winners.

One name is missing from the above list. That name is Ben Hewson, the recipient of the President's Award. Ben has been instrumental in managing most, if not all, works projects at The Common this year and without his commitment, enthusiasm and effort the machine store would not have been built, the pavilion would not have come down and the two oaks would remain in situ. Thank you, Ben, for your fantastic contribution over the last twelve months.

The evening closed at the Golf Club but continued back at the Willis's for 20 hardy souls. At approximately 2.30am the last of the Nutters pottered down the drive to flop into their waiting taxis for their journey home.

Click this link to enjoy photos of the evening's highlights.

It has been a vintage season on the field and off it. The club spirit remains as strong and as robust as ever. Fellowship connects our cricketing kin and one bold Heathen even suggested if you cut him in half it would spell 'Nutter' through his core. Long may this continue.

We wish our supporters a wonderful close to 2018, and health and happiness for 2019. Here's to our new pavilion...