Work starts on the Ridley Stand at Taunton

Work at the County Ground is progressing at a pace, and today the Ridley Stand was the next focus of attention for the builders.

The Stand, which is situated next to the Old Pavilion, is a favoured spot with a number of vice-presidents who gain an elevated view of the action on the field from the the top level where they sit in the old cinema seats.

A group of its spectators once entered a team called the "Ridley Stand" on a television quiz programme. Where and when that was I can't quite remember but I'm sure that one of the regular readers will put me right.

The stand was named after Colonel H.M. Ridley who resided at Maperton, which is situated just few miles west of Wincanton.

Colonel Ridley was President of Somerset County Cricket Club in 1926 and 1928, and in the early 1930s donated the funds to build the stand which now bears his name.

The club health and safety officer Peter Robinson told me earlier today: "Taunton Fabrications have started work this morning on the Ridley Stand, and will be replacing the safety barriers which probably have been there since it was built back in the 1930s."

Work also continues on the redecoration of the Colin Atkinson Pavilion, and today the painters were hard at work in the cloakrooms off the main entrance.

The new carpets for the interior of the pavilion also arrived today, but the rolls had to be carried from the other side of the ground by Bars Manager Mike Smith, Brian Lee and other members of staff because the Priory Bridge entrance was closed due to the new turnstiles being built.

With just 62 days until the first home match these are busy times at the County Ground.