BANK OF ENGLAND

Thank you to my Sussex agent who brought this news item to my attention.......No this is not his gaff in the shadow of the South Downs, this is the Bank of England Sports' Ground on Priory Lane, near Richmond Park, first established in 1907. It is sited in a part of south, suburban London, with easy access to anywhere, on 32 (or more) acres of flat, perfect grounds, manufactured for the use of employees of the Bank, families and friends (and for public hire). There are superb indoor facilities, both social and sporty, which rate very highly too, available to employees and on hire to the public at a competitive rate.

I have been privileged to play and coach there on occasion, at both cricket and football, indeed the Independent Schools FA (then known as the Public Schools FA) used the grounds for their final trials at Christmas to play a "Masters XI" and eventually, annually played the FA Youth XI and Berkshire Schools FA.
Other activities available include rugby, a huge number of indoor sports, a pool and 16 tennis courts where qualification for Wimbledon also takes place.
The Football Association hired the facility prior to the FIFA World Cup in 1966. It worked! and Women's Cricket began a venture there in 1949 when the South played the Women's Cricket Association.

During the Second World War, the land was turned in allotments and the clubhouse was destroyed by bombs. The clubhouse and additions were rebuilt and the grounds returned to an excellent standard which has served the Bank of England employees, members but over time only 13% of BoE employees are now members. This "special club" comes from another era, some might say.
Of course the Bank has other attractions near its site in London and so there is no need to venture down the suburban line to Roehampton or Richmond.
There is a "company" gym for employees in Threadneedle Street, much nearer the Bank, of course.

So common sense may prevail as Lord King of Lothbury (age 71), Governor of the BoE, recollected putting a deal in place to safeguard the Sports' Ground and as a "reward" played an annual cricket match at the club with employees and friends until he retied in 2013.

Mark Carney, 54, his successor at the BoE, however wants to sell the facility, to save money and to raise capital. It's up for grabs. It is shown below with the old Records Office overlooking the main pitches.

Needless to say "social matters" come into play with an objection by some members who object to the "exclusive" annual staff cricket match, each summer, originally held by the Lord King (clearly only a few can take part) but as you can see in the photograph a jolly time can be had around the boundary and there were tennis courts and the pool to enjoy for family members!  Mind you the summer party recently cost £100,000, a reward for the Bank's 2,500 hard working staff. Annual travel expenses for Bank employees, nipping out to the States to make deals, should not be looked at but would put the summer party cost into perspective. A drop in the ocean? Not so, say the BoE, it was all accounted for...I should hope so!

Objectors would prefer the more inclusive rounders games (probably non-competitive), tug of war!!, a football kick around, Scottish Dancing and slumping in deck chairs. But there were many other activities on offer , ensuring social correctness, including a bake off, fun run, bouncy castle, BoE band and choir.

Richard Branson has his eye on the facility as "Virgin Active" could turn the whole thing into a massive money making Leisure Centre with expensive and exclusive membership.