Centre Reports Club Centre

Centre Reports

Club Centre

In 2017 the Centre continued to be the focal point of FP social activities and Aberdeen Grammar Sport, and it is pleasing to advise the membership that a reasonable surplus in trading was achieved. Full details of the accounts are printed elsewhere in this Magazine.

It is disappointing that the negative trading factors, as noted in detail in last year’s report, remain and the profitability and sustainability of the Centre has been further compromised with the loss of the rental income, which was shared with the FP Club, following the loss of the long standing tenant of 1 Bayview Road.

The Centre is fortunate to have a very vibrant and diverse committee and I am indebted to my fellow members for their support and the huge commitment which they make in running the Centre in a diligent and professional manner. Our staffing levels have remained constant for the last few years now, but given the current sale process which 86 Queens Road is undergoing and the continued negative trading conditions, all areas of expenditure will again be examined with whatever savings necessary being invoked to allow the Centre to continue to trade in the most cost effective manner possible.

The Rugby Section continues to be the Centre’s largest customer and our biggest contributor to bar turnover. The dozen or so home games during the season give us a very noticeable boost to trade. Ladies’ and Gents’ Hockey and the Cricket Section are also very regular and loyal customers. Special mention and our warmest congratulations are extended to our cricketers who, in season 2017, won the Aberdeen Grades Association league 1 for the first time since 1942.

In recent years we have encouraged the use of the Centre for external lets for events such as gin-tasting nights, BBQs, quiz nights, charity fund-raisers and group re-unions. The success of these events do make a significant contribution to reducing the Centre’s running costs and all FPs are encouraged to make more use of our outstanding facilities, especially for any external function with which they may have an involvement.

Sadly, FP membership of the Centre is waning, and given the impending major change in the circumstances that both the FP Club and Centre will face in the near future I would encourage all FPs to rekindle their interest and commitment to the Centre by renewing their membership. It is in all our interests to support the Centre for the next year or so and perhaps beyond.

David Leighton

Club Centre Chairman