The proposed Tour window is planned for 1st to 23rd February 2009 for a two Island option of Barbados and St Lucia.
Following a presentation to The Forty Club Cricket Committee we want to offer some flexibility to try to attract younger tourists to the experience of XL touring by creating an opportunity for a ten day, two week and three week option.
Guide prices will be three weeks @ £1,950, two weeks @ £1,450 and ten days at £1,100. The third week will be the add-on to St Lucia.
We have costed the options based on the Virgin Holiday brochures adding on the cricket itinerary and second guessing the surcharges for tax and fuel increases.
Accommodation in Barbados is based on self-catering apartments and the St Lucia add-on is based on an all inclusive package.
Please confirm you interest by sending a £150 per person deposit, payable to The Forty Club to:

Peter Robinson,
The Bailliff's Cottage,
Park Road,
Addington,
ME19 5BQ.

This will be refundable initially until we have assessed the take-up and make a firm booking through our Agents, Baldwins.

The Annual Northern Festival will take place on Monday and Tuesday 7th and 8th July between Scotland District, NW District and NE District. The tournament will make a welcome return to Netherfield Cricket Club in Kendal, Cumbria where 6 years ago Scotland won the inaugral presentation of the Reubans Trophy. 

Anyone interested in helping make up a fourth team to play on both days would be very welcome. There will be a dinner after the first round on the Monday at the Club. Please contact any of the three district Chairmen for details.

The third Spring Luncheon held by the Club was at Cardross Golf Club in Scotland under the chairmanship of Colin Neill. Forty (appropriately) members and guests enjoyed a marvelous lunch and some excellent Forty Club company and were superbly entertained by Sandy Strang’s cosmopolitan repertoire of jokes and impersonations. The early focus on his Paisley roots warmed us all up to such an extent that we were still reeling with laughter as he homed in on 60 minutes of rich and extremely humorous entertainment.

Earlier in proceedings Colin Neill presented Robin Leake, on behalf of the Dollar Academy, with the Scotland District’s award as best rated School/Academy in 2007 competing for The Forty Club Trophy. Robin is the match manager of the Dollar Academy fixture and will be presenting the award to Dollar at the fixture in May. Finally, the Club’s Hon. General Secretary, Barry Aitken, wrapped up the formal part of the lunch with thanks to the staff at the Golf Club and the lunch organizing committee and particularly to the members of the Club and their guests - some of whom had travelled a long way to attend. The majority of the party adjourned to the bar where some new friendships were formed over a pint or two of Scottish beer.

The Scotland Forty Club golf day was held on Monday 14th April at Cardross. Ten members and guests played the undulating and picturesque course. Robert Gray, a past Captain at the Club, co-ordinated proceedings and the three groups teed off in glorious Scottish sunshine. Top prize went to a Forty Club guest, Tom Sherlock, with a Stableford score of 39 points followed closely by Ian Witchell with 37 points. The North East’s District Chairman, Tony Sheppard, scooped the nearest the pin prize and the only lady golfer, Murrae Ross-Eskell, was awarded the longest drive prize narrowly beating Robert Gray’s effort. The prizes were announced and awarded by Robert Gray and Colin Neill summed up a thoroughly enjoyable day wishing all golfers a safe journey home.

• the Club total membership stands at 3197
• the UK membership stands at 2967
• the Overseas membership is 230
• the Golf Society membership is 390 UK members and 10 overseas members
• there are 68 umpires on the Club's UK register, all of whom have been CRB cleared

Playing membership by District is as follows