NEW PAVILION OPENED

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29177, 11 April 1960, Page 20

NEW PAVILION OPENED

* Linwood Club’s ! Efforts After a short ceremony a new sports pavilion was opened h> Linwood Park on Saturday which will be used by Rugby League players in the winter and cricket players in the summer. The Linwood Rugby League Club has been planning for g number of years to erect a buildIng at its home ground, Linwood Park, to provide suitable facilities for its players, and Saturday’s ceremony was the culmination of this planning. The patron of the Cantetbuiy Rugby League (Mr W. E. De*, mond), who is* also a life member of the league and the Linwood club, opened the pavilion. He said that it was a far cry from the conditions under which players had had to change years ago. Ha said he could recall when they had to change under the trees, waiting for traffic in Linwood avenue to pass. Mr L. R. Huston, chairman ct the Canterbury Rugby League, said he hoped that this building would give the other clubs an incentive to provide their players with similar conditions under which they could train at nights. Representing the Christchurch City Council, Mr H. Gilpin, Director of Reserves, said h« wished to congratulate the Linwood club on the step it had taken. He remembered when a member of the club, Mr A. Atkinson, had come to him with tha club’s suggestion and the com-’ mittee had got on with the project as soon as possible. He also wished to thank the Marist Cricket Club, which bad come into the scheme in the later stages. “I wish there were more clubs like these two that would try and help themselves* said Mr Gilpin, r "It was gratifying," said Mr Gilpin, "that two clubs should get together in raising money for a building such as this, and thus assure that it would be used the whole year round. The council is always ready to help such' clubs.” Mr D. Guthrey, president of the Marist Cricket Club, thanked the Linwood club for allowing his club to co-operate, and said that the pavilion would be a great boon to his club as well. ‘ The president of the Linwood club (Mr H. R, Woodham) also spoke. The pavilion Is built of con. Crete blocks and has a concrete floor. Hot and cold showers art available, and there are lockers’ built" under the seats which i extend round three walls of the interior. TJiese lockers will allow players to leave practice gear at the ground and will also allow cricketers to lock up their equipment. A water heater and bench and sink with cupboards have been installed to allow for the making of afternoon teas during the cricket season.