these Open Championship Clubs choose to relief grind - Pitchcare

Schools & Colleges
Ransomes 305 a godsend Victorian pavilion overlooks the main cricket square
required to keep pupils and members of
the public safe when entering the
campus.”
“All the groundstaff now attend yearly
Health & Safety training sessions, but I
still say to them, ‘just use your common
sense, if you think it’s wrong, then don’t
do it!’”
And what about advances in machinery
and equipment? “There’s been loads,”
says Eric. “The Ransomes 305 has been a
godsend, for example, but if I had to
choose one, then it would be the laser
line marker, with its tank of ready-mixed
paint. When I look back and recollect
unloading eighty bags of whiting powder,
mixing it up in a wheelbarrow or drum,
and pushing it around the campus,
today’s staff ask me “was that for real?!”
I ask Eric what he intends to do when
he retires. “I haven’t a clue at the
TWENTYQuestions
Eric Burford - his romantic night out could lead to a
lengthy spell in the Tower of London!
Who are you? Eric Burford - Head
Groundsman at Bromsgrove School.
Family status? Married with three children
-two sons (37, 36), a daughter (34), six
grandchildren (18, 16,11, 8, 5 and 3).
Who’s your hero and why? Ian Botham -
always had a will to win.
What is your dream holiday? To lie on a
Spanish beach watching the grandchildren
enjoying themselves.
What annoys you the most? Queue
jumpers!
What would you change about yourself?
To be six foot five instead of five foot five!
Who wouldn’t you like to be? A referee -
to have abuse constantly must surely affect
your home life!
Favourite record, and why? Bridge Over
Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel. I
loved the sound of the sixties. Music today is
okay, but I can’t understand some of the
songs that are written today - I must be
getting old!
Who would you choose to spend a
romantic evening with? I need to think
about this - the wife might read this article!
Kate Middleton, she’s so natural.
moment, I'm still to talk to the school
about it. Whether I can do part time, or
even if they want me to stay on. With
pensions losing money all the time, I
might be forced to stay on!”
I had to have three operations in
2008/9/10 and I was advised not to do
any major manual work. So the school
kindly asked if I would only do office
work and delegate more, which I was
extremely grateful for. I do go around
the local football and cricket clubs and
advise on certain aspects of their
grounds. But, when I tell them how
much the work is going to cost, they look
at me a bit non-plussed!
Chris Edwards is happy to quote the
recent successes of the school; “Of
course, people are more important than
buildings, and brilliant teachers should
be able to run a good school in a pig sty,
If you won the lottery, what is the first
thing you would do? Make sure my three
children’s mortgages were paid off.
If you were to describe yourself as a
musical instrument, what would you be
and why? I’m not into music - Asked
someone, “do you know anything about
music?“, “why?” he replied - “well the leg of
my piano’s fell off!”
What’s the best advice you have ever
been given? Always have the ability to see
the obvious, and, if you’re honest, you’ll
always be poor!
What's your favourite smell? Lavender.
What do you do in your spare time? Go
to watch my grandchildren play football, and
I’m also partial to horseracing.
What’s the daftest work related question
you have ever been asked? When
Complete Weed Control had sprayed all the
grounds, I was asked what are the white bits
of foam on the fields. I said the weed man
had been in. She replied; well he hasn't
pulled many weeds up!
What’s your favourite piece of kit? Must
be the Ransomes 305, a godsend in the
summer.
but mercifully it’s a point we don’t have
to prove at Bromsgrove.”
“Knock all these wonderful buildings
down and the essence remains: we are
committed to nurturing moral young
people who make a difference for the
better. Also, as the constituency’s largest
employer, we have a duty to community.
We never forget that. Unashamedly, we
expect all staff and pupils to set sky high
aspirations in and out of the classroom.”
Eric Burford and his team
certainly help foster those
aspirations.
Pitchcare would like to
wish Eric all the best for the
future.
What three words would you use to
describe yourself? Funny, but serious.
What talent would you like to have? To
have been good enough to be a professional
footballer or cricketer.
What makes you angry? - People who
moan about our National Health Service.
What law/legislation would you like to
see introduced? To change old peoples
care home bills, not to take it out of their
savings, homes etc. To find some way that
they could live the rest of their lives with
dignity and not have to worry about where
next month’s monies come from!