Apprentices super-charge club’s transformation

The future is looking bright for Teignmouth and Shaldon Cricket Club in Devon after its facilities were transformed during a hectic week-long DIY SOS-style makeover.

About 40 National Grid Electricity Distribution apprentices revamped the pavilion, changing facilities, scoreboard and other parts of the Hazeldown Oval as part of a community volunteering project.

Three buildings were re-clad to improve weather-proofing, internal walls were repainted, faulty doors were repaired and fencing was moved to extend the boundary for the ground which hosts two playing areas.

Henry Wilkins, who led the National Grid apprentices, said: “The team put in an amazing effort to get the work done, they’ve been awesome.

“Projects like this are a great way to support the community and encourage teamwork. It was a brilliant project for everyone.”

Club chairman Glynn Ballman said: “Teignmouth and Shaldon Cricket Club prides itself on being a community club so we were delighted when National Grid selected us for their amazing community project initiative.

“I was so impressed by the professionalism and teamwork displayed by everyone from National Grid throughout the week and they have left us a lot stronger as a club. We have a burgeoning youth section and we were in danger of our success outgrowing our facilities, but National Grid have future proofed our club for hopefully the next 10 years.”

The improvements are a vote of confidence in a club which has nearly 200 boys and girls playing in teams from under-10s upwards.