Willowers all,
The 2020/21 season was a watershed season for The Willows. The shadow of Mike’s deteriorating health lay upon us, but he fought on to the end of the season, to close up the pavilion in style. His struggles were apparent only to those who knew him well, because in his inimitable way he carried on work for The Willows, and for the Salvation Army, as if his condition was no more than a distraction. When he realised the path ahead, he addressed the future of the Club, extracting assurances about delivery of coaching to schools, resumption of tours to the sub-continent, and developing scholarship relationships with English cricket clubs, which began with Matfen, extending to new discussions with Arundel and Tillside Cricket Clubs. He saw inter-club relationships in New Zealand and abroad as vital to camaraderie among Willowers.
He asked us to support Alex Reese and Cricket Live in Sri Lanka, and to foster the relationship with Merrill Fernando and his family, so close to his heart.
The Willows operates on tight financial margins and Mike wanted the Club to be relieved from the pressure which he felt keenly, to sustain it comfortably through sponsorship, donation, and subscription. In short, he wanted to ensure its financial wellbeing, and to recognise those who contribute in so many ways.
With his departure, it is apparent how much of his everyday life was taken up by The Willows. The Management Committee (now called ‘the Board’), has identified the multiple roles which Mike carried out, and has delegated these to experienced members. While the unmistakeable figure of “North Canterbury’s Napoleon” (John Wright’s memorable appellation) will not be marshalling us at Loburn, everything there will remind us of him, and what he created.
The deck chairs will be in the same position, with the sun umbrellas. The lunch will be to the high standard he required. The pavilion will be sorted out, in order to find the cricketing taonga, much of which he said, had “gone missing,” but is there somewhere.
During the off season I organised a gathering of the match managers who now select and manage teams for each match. They responded magnificently. Although Mike thought it would take many years to bed down, the system is in place, and working very well. We now have match managers dedicated to ensuring a high standard of selection and organisation of Willows teams, and Match Day hosts will in the same way now become closely associated with all of the annual fixtures. This will develop a strong sense of continuity for schools and clubs which come to Loburn each year.
In short, the Club’s fundamental objective that first elevens play against experienced cricketers, in a country atmosphere, with families and friends present, will not change one jot, but there will be refinements. There will be a permanent reminder of Mike’s legacy, when later in the year he joins his great friend Peter Nancarrow, resting peacefully and watchfully at the ground. This will be a Club Memorial Day. We will sustain and expand his legacy, and we are grateful for what Mike, Winsome, Ben and Pete have created.
Ben has been handed the keys to the pavilion as Mike’s successor, and has the will, skill set, and the experience to take the Club forward. We congratulate him.
A challenging year
Covid-19 always threatened to strike at our season, but remarkably we did not lose a fixture.
Once again, the school principals, staff, coaches, and cricket managers, with more and more families in support, have backed what The Willows aims to provide on the day; competitive cricket played “In the V,” in a sociable country atmosphere. The links between individual schools and The Willows are such that they now have their own traditions, and regular attendees on the day. Not all schools have the same resources, but the standard of play, and conduct of the teams who come to The Willows is outstanding. We applaud them, and the dedication of those who stand behind the XIs.
Although Mike did not dwell on such matters, he was plainly not impressed by pre-Christmas results, with seven defeats including a 149 run loss to Christchurch Boys’ High School. Galvanised to lift their game The Willows then won the next 14 games on end. The Willows should not win every game but should give the opposition something to aspire to. I am struck by the enthusiasm and ability of playing members who make themselves available on a regular basis, and whose positive influence is felt in every game, on and off the Oval.
Isabel McRae, with John, has the arduous task of ensuring our membership records are current. We welcome new members each week. There is an emphasis on an up to the minute website about fixtures, and other Willows events, and messaging apps will send out a steady flow of news.
I thank Alistair Sheard who year after year as Treasurer, provides instant financial records and analysis, (even if Mike had complete control of the cheque book, which I never succeeded in prising from him). I also thank the (former) Management Committee who have had to address the hard reality of life in Covid times and the inevitable transition. Andy Ellis is in New York and we look forward to his return.
There are those who are dedicated each match day to ensure everything is in order. Di Woodward and Jim Stringleman ensure all runs smoothly and Rex Hayward is our outstanding photographer, with umpires under Dave Stuthridge, and scorers under Howard Fowler.
Peter Devlin maintains the Oval with expertise, with its first-class block and wicket, crucial to the success of The Willows, and Ben as his father’s designate now carries Board responsibility for the ground. At his own cost, with the help of John Gardner, he is putting water on the outfield for the first time, and is also installing a section of picket fencing. Ben is reviewing the extensive schedule of equipment which Mike was so fond of accumulating.
Riley and Brooklyn, long term loyal match day helpers, have moved on and their place taken by Harry and Lauchie. In the pavilion Tash, and Wayne on the BBQ, are stalwarts.
All of the people mentioned have come under Mike’s benign influence over the years hence the new division of responsibilities and the high expectations on those with weighty portfolios to maintain such standards. These delegations will be put on the website, with contact details.
Cricket
The bare bones of wins and losses are set out above, and there are highlights to mention. Dave Kelly and Phil Harris reached 2,000 runs and Andrew Nuttall 1,000 runs. Others are on the cusp. Andrew is far ahead in wicket taking with Richard McGuire, who seems like Andrew to become more threatening with each passing year, bustling in behind him.
A feature of the season is the Kindred Cup (over 35) team winning the national title for the third time in a row, under Sam Davis’ captaincy. Performances of note are recorded separately. The relationship with the other Kindred Cup teams, Seddon CC, Wellington Wanderers CC, Queen Street CC, and North Shore CC develops each year. The Kindred team are excellent ambassadors for The Willows.
Evan Gray, Mike’s great friend, brought his Wellington Youth XI to play a Canterbury Youth XI and Dan Vann (through Evolution Sport) ran a very successful Years 7 and 8 day at the ground, and a coaching clinic at Mainpower Oval.
We look forward to resumption of the exchanges with I Zingari in Sydney in September, and the return match at Loburn in February 2022. Please read the fixture list for games which interest you and on a good day come and enjoy the company at Loburn and watch excellent cricket.
The ’49ers Cup
The cup remembers the ’49ers, Walter Hadlee’s great team in England. It goes to the school which exhibits grit, and determination, “playing in the V.” This year St Andrew’s College was awarded the trophy for chasing hard an imposing Willows score of 341, falling short, but never giving in. The day yielded over 600 runs.
Initiatives
Much of The Willows’ historic activity has been on hold and may not resume for some time. The scholarship exchange to England may begin next English summer. Mike developed conceptually an exchange with India, involving schooling and cricket in Canterbury, and vice versa, much assisted by John Durning.
We have exciting and overdue initiatives for women’s cricket. Mike became proud of the St Hilda’s v Christchurch Girls’ High School annual fixture and recognised the skills of, and very strong support for these teams. Slowly he was coming around to the first Women’s Willowers team, playing an invitation team from the school XIs supported by experienced cricketers. This is planned for early 2022. A real first is that Molly Loe will play for The Willows against Otago Boys’ High School, on October 17th this year.
Rebecca Rolls, double international in cricket and football, kindly wrote Commentary Corner for this report, which reflects in a telling way the aspirations of young women to enjoy the same experience of cricket as do boys, with the same facilities, coaching, camaraderie and support which together make for success. It is a real plus and privilege for The Willows to have Kirsty Bond join the Board, with her highly successful cricketing, coaching and teaching career to add to the life of The Willows.
Keith Yardley ran a very successful golf tournament at Coringa, now an annual event at the end of each season. We are very pleased that Hugo Davison is our first Club Captain, who will look after the interests of playing members and ensure the links with all members are developed. He is off to a flying start scheduling catch-ups on a regular basis, and will be on line with news.
The Christmas Party
The children’s party on the Sunday before Christmas, on a match day, is a rewarding experience which I hope many more members will attend. The charities we support include Riding for the Disabled, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome and the Champion Centre, and they all make it clear how important this day is for the children, families and their supporters. It is also most important from our perspective, as Willowers. We see the joy in the faces of the children, and the pleasure of those who come with them and we will always maintain this annual ‘fixture’. This was something which Mike committed as much time to as any element of club life. We need donations to make this work, as it comes at cost. I hope there will be those who read this report, who respond to help keep it going and enhance the day. Paul Rutledge has taken over responsibility, as Mike stipulated.
Finance
The Committee with reluctance has increased the annual subscriptions, a little. The Willows “gets by” and it costs to maintain the quality of the ground and the pavilion. There are those who wrongly believe the Club is well heeled, but the truth is that without the sponsors, including the new match day sponsors initiated by Ben ($2,500 per game) we would be well shy of making ends meet. The loyal sponsors are recorded in this report, and I do ask Willowers to absorb their names, and support them. The match day sponsors are well recognised on their match day and attend the game with friends and colleagues. Some of these sponsors give the day to businesses and charities rather than their own.
The Willows Foundation Trust was established many years ago. It is not exactly replete, but remains an important background financial support. I hope it will be supplemented, to remain just that. The former trustees have resigned with new trustees Ben and Peter (Dormer), Andrew McRae and Phil Harris.
We no longer have Mike to bustle and cajole money for the Club, and the Board is addressing this. There will be more about this on the website, and I do hope those who read this report reflect on why and how they may help The Willows, which has long supported other elements of Canterbury cricket.
In conclusion
I end on very positive notes. Mike has for years been pressing New Zealand Cricket and the Canterbury associations, in increasingly forceful terms, to ensure school coaching is enhanced. He wrote long treatises on the topic. I was concerned that his straight drive back at the bowler might undo his good intentions, but at a memorable meeting with Martin Snedden at ‘headquarters’ in Clyde Road Mike was left with a sense of optimism that his voice had been heard. The Willows will take its place in helping New Zealand Cricket by harnessing the immense human resources within the Club, and if we have funds available, then with those too.
I conclude with a report on the Close of Play for 2020/21, which I know for many who were there will resonate over the years. The last game on the fixture list was with Waimea College from Nelson. This immaculately turned-out and determined team, with its committed coaches and support, played on what is now “Club Day”, the last game, which was and will be a picnic day for all Willowers each year. There was a wonderful turnout. Many knew of Mike’s illness and came for what was his last fixture. He was as usual immaculate, proud of the new tuk-tuk with his name on it and pleased as Punch when Sir Richard Hadlee and John Wright spoke with the Waimea team about what makes a successful cricketer, on and off the ground. Despite the fact he was running on empty, he stood up and addressed the Waimea boys in his usual direct and encouraging style, with spirit. It belied his true condition but reflected his courage, purpose, and intent behind the creation of The Willows Cricket Club. What a note for him to close on.
This report is written at a moment in time for The Willows, and already we are embarking on preparation for the next season and beyond, as the Founder and Assistant Groundsman expected. Thank you for the expressions of support and sympathy for the Club.
Best wishes to you wherever you all are, until and for the new season. Mātewā.