The Hearn Group | Local Community

Editorial – March 2009

The Cricket Score board is coming!

Dorset cricket teams at all levels of the game will welcome the news that Dorchester Recreation Ground is set to have a new scorebox for the start of this year’s cricket season – six and a half years after the demise of the previous one.

Construction company the Hearn Group, which sponsors Dorset County Cricket Club and Dorchester Cricket Club, has begun work on the Doug Read Scorebox, while fundraising continues. The firm is making its own contribution to the costs involved.

The plan for the new box dates back to 2002, when Dorchester Cricket Club stalwart Doug Read worked on it with Peter Tucker and John Sibley. Mr Read was president of the town club as well as the Dorset Disabled County Cricket Club and treasurer of Dorset County Cricket Club.

The project now has Mr Read’s name firmly attached to it, and his widow Judy was among those who gathered at the recreation ground to make the start of building work.

Hearn Group managing director Shaun Hearn said: “For the sake of all of the clubs who use the ground, including the Dorset Disabled Cricket Association, we want to get the ball rolling and have the job completed before the start of the season.”

The Hearn Group is also sponsoring a fundraiser in aid of the scorebox project – a Comedy Night in the Marquee at the Avenue Stadium, Dorchester.

Said Shaun Hearn: "This should be a very enjoyable evening, and I hope plenty of people will join us.

In the picture:

Ground work starts! With the shovels are Judy Read, Kate Hebditch, Mayor of Dorchester and Tony Foot Dorchester Cricket Club chairman. Keeping a straight(ish) bat are (left) Peter Tucker, who is Dorchester CC 3rd team captain and chairman of the Doug Read Scorebox Committee, and Martyn Richards, Dorchester Cricket Club first teamcaptain.

Also in the picture are (left to right) are John Travell, Dorchester Cricket Club vice president, Gordon Pickersgill, chairman of the Dorset Disabled Cricket Association, Gerry Stickley, Dorchester CC president, John Hopkins, Dorchester CC Secretary, Shaun Hearn, managing director.

Thursday 9th July 2009

The Score Box is Completed – Doug Read remembered

THE Dorchester & District Evening League Select XI claimed the honours in a commemorative match that celebrated the unveiling of the new Doug Read score box at the Rec.

Doug Read, who sadly passed away last year, was president of both the Dorchester & District Evening League and Dorchester Cricket Club.

Therefore it was fitting that a DDEL Select XI should take on a Dorchester CC representative team in the first match played using the new score box.

Read’s widow Judith and sons Adam and Gordon, were on hand to officially open the memorial in front of more than 200 invited guests and spectators.

Winning captain Sean Walbridge, a former Dorchester skipper as well, was presented with the Doug Read Memorial Trophy while team-mate Simon Ross of Dewlish received the Hearn Group Man of the Match award from Shaun Hearn. Pete Tucker, who played for Dorchester in the Twenty20 contest, said: “It was sad that Doug was not here to see the completion of the score box but his wife Judith and sons all agreed that Doug would have approved. “The score box had been at a draft stage for seven years and the first plans were drawn up following a conversation with Doug, John Sibley and myself.

“However, if it had not been for our sponsors the Hearn Group and Inspired Home Improvements, and in particular Shaun Hearn, the score box would still be a dream. “Any building project needs financial help and we have been extremely lucky to have had the backing of the Hearn Group. “So many other local craftsmen have been involved in the building project, which will benefit the Dorchester community for years to come. They are Paul Toms Carpentry, Richard Drake, Andy Beasley and Mat Chalmers from Premier Partitions and Ceilings, Jewsons, Will Hicks Electrical, Nick House from Mitie and Pete Lucas Painting and Decorating.