The Joker Draw

Published 19:57 on 21 Nov 2025

Dear Members,

We are very conscious of the comments on Facebook etc regarding the arrangements for next weeks draw. We absolutely understand members concerns, particularly around children and non - members and we are committed to finding a solution that lasts and works.

The draw was intended to fill a regular seasonal gap in club income, and those of you attending the AGM will have heard that at this time last year our funds were critically low. The Joker is intended to help fill that gap, but clearly it has been a victim of its own success and we need to rethink how we run this sort of event going forward. Therefore, if we run another round after this has been won, arrangements will be put in place to maximise the number of members and their families who can safely attend and enjoy the event.

Realistically, however, the club has a finite safe limit of capacity and last week we were at, or beyond, that - which made for a crowded, uncomfortable and frankly, unpleasant, situation for everyone. In this case the Directors and officers of the company have an absolute, and legal, duty of care for your safety, and others in the building, and it is about this, and not grabbing more money, which is behind the new (temporary) arrangements. The committee are obliged to consider the risks of holding any activity, or event, and to put in place controls to minimise them, and we are sure that members recognise this. We also considered that there could be potential issues with changing the rules and shutting the doors at short notice to non-members (who have also contributed so far) at this late stage.

Having said that, we can see that there is a strength of feeling and we propose for this coming weekend, and until this game is won, that families with children may have priority use of the Tamar lounge which is a somewhat less crowded and quieter environment. This will provide an alternative solution to our original risk assessment. We do ask that parents keep a watchful eye on the kids please, and that other visitors give families first dibs! We trust this will be seen as a constructive compromise and that future arrangements can be agreed that will enable us to return to family friendly normality!

Of course, we continue to have a physical safe capacity limit, so entrance will still be first come, first served, whilst the crowds continue to come for this game. In future we hope this is not likely to be a problem.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation and we will work with you to ensure that we get this right for you in the future.

TMSC Bar and Finance Committee.

Last updated 19:58 on 21 November 2025