THE future of cricket in Uplyme & Lyme Regis has taken a big step forward, after the town’s carnival committee donated £1,500 to the club appeal.

Representatives of the committee attended the Open Meeting of Uplyme & Lyme Regis Cricket Club and, after speaking with club officials and players, the committee has resolved to support the work and future plans of the club.

Acting chairman Alex Heath, said: “I was pleased to have the opportunity to meet members of the club recently. Club members and officials are so clearly not just passionate about cricket itself, but also totally committed to ensuring future generations of young people from Lyme Regis and Uplyme can continue to have the opportunity to play cricket, on a traditional English cricket green.

“The carnival committee is pleased to step in to support this valued community club which, whilst it is located in Uplyme continues, as it has done for decades, to attract players and members from both Dorset and Devon in equal measure.”

Ian Thomas, chairman of Uplyme & Lyme Regis Cricket Club, thanked the carnival committee.

He said: “As an amateur club, run totally by unpaid volunteers, cost pressures in providing the necessary equipment and running costs of preparing and maintaining such a beautiful ground have escalated rapidly.

“The immediate need to replace the club roller, without which cricket on the traditional grass wicket cannot safely continue, has put the future of the club in doubt.

“The club is very grateful to the carnival committee for its generous donation.

“This gives our club fundraising efforts an excellent kick-start toward ensuring the club can continue to offer cricket to all ages across the area.

“In 2019, the club will be directly supporting the carnival, with innovative cricket-related activities in Lyme and the surrounding area”

Heath concluded: “Looking to the future, the carnival will be looking to further support development of cricket in Uplyme and Lyme Regis and the work of volunteers who maintain both the cricket field and ensure that local schools and their children can continue to enjoy cricket, the essence of England.”