New managers sought as Bretons stand down

In July, Ed and Alison Breton informed the OC Society they intend to move away to take up the day-to-day management of a golf club near the Forest of Dean they bought over the summer.

Initially, both sides hoped the Bretons would be able to continue to manage Thames Ditton, albeit relying more on others to handle the daily management of the facility. However, it was soon clear to the Bretons that they needed to devote more time to their new business and, consequently, they decided to give notice that they would be terminating their management contract at the end of March 2010.

The OC Society will be looking for a suitable person or persons to take over from the Bretons and it is hoped interviews will be carried out later this year.

The OCS would like to go on record to thank the Bretons for the excellent job they have done in the last five years to help build TD into a profitable and well-run business.

Car Park work over the summer

Work to the car park including the rebuilding of the groundsman shed, has been agreed which will improve drainage and increase capacity by approximately 30 vehicles.

There will also be a new log-burning stove replacing the old gas fire in the clubroom.

All this will be undertaken over the summer and will be co-funded by the Bretons and fund-raising from the OCHC and OCRFC.

Renovation work completed

All renovation work to the changing rooms and shower facilities has now been completed.

UCL sign ten-year agreement

A ten-year contract has been signed with University College London for them to use the astroturf on Wednesdays and Sundays.

"The move provides us with funds to invest in the club as well as allowing UCL to develop a long-term commitment to Thames Ditton," said liaison officer Martin Williamson. "We hope that UCL will fully utilise TD and that will in turn have a mutually-beneficial impact."

£200,000 investment in facilities

More than £200,000 has been spent on relaying the carpet on the Astroturf as well as installing new drainage and improving the surrounds, including tarmacing the area in front of the grandstand as carpeting the path from the clubhouse to the pitch.

The investment, which has come entirely from the OC Society, is a sign of its commitment to Thames Ditton.

During the redevelopment it emerged that the issues with the pitch flooding came about because the drainage from the astro to the ditch on the permimeter of the grounds was crushed by work done to the telephone mast.

We are currently in discussions with the mast owners over compensation.

Internal improvements completed

The bar area has undergone a major refurbishment which has seen the bar itself reduced in size to make the capacity in the main bar greater. A new 42” plasma TV will make watching sporting events that much easier.

New men’s toilets have also been built in the corridor leading into the club.

New bar, new toilets

There will be improvements carried out to the clubhouse at TD in the coming weeks.

Ed and Alison Breton will be looking to relocate the main men’s toilets so that they are outside the changing-rooms and situated where the disabled facilities now are and will expanded to take some of the kitchen area. This is being done with financial assistance from the RFU.

The bar area will also be altered, with the bar being reduced in length by about a third, providing more seating/standing space at the far end.

We are also talking to several contractors about the drainage in the car park as this is a major factor in the regular flooding of the astroturf and the mud which blights the near corner.