"Promise little; Deliver a lot!"
In spite of a bare trophy cabinet and a negative statistical balance for the season (played 19, won 9 and lost 10) 1999-2000 has been an exceptional one for the Willows Cricket Club. We have been blessed with wonderful support, goodwill and camaraderie among all the players, families, coaches and friends who have joined us on a Sunday at our ground.
October 17 1999 – the first game (fittingly, with a college team) brought dreams of slashing square drives and diving catches at gully for the twenty-two lucky to be selected. From that opener, the season has delivered so much. Most important, of course, is the way that Willowers want the game to be played. Good manners, a friendly approach go hand in hand with winning and, above all, enjoying a game of cricket. Which of course is what it is, and should be, all about.
The Willows Cricket Club is fortunate to draw its membership from people far and wide. Many reside beyond our urban, our provincial or even our national boundaries. So within any season a wealth of written and oral communication takes places. I would like to share with you some of the sentiments and extracts from letters we have received during this season.
With that, it’s a miracle we managed to get an eleven out on to the paddock for 19 games. Neville Perkins did not arrive on one occasion as he was demolished by a kid on a cycle as he was coming out from a dairy and had to be admitted to Accident and Emergency.
• On the support received from so many in running a big cricket club
On Sunday 16January 2000 KarlJohnson (TurfManager, NZ Cricket) and !an McKendry visited the ground. Karl wrote after that invitation:
"We certainly did enjoy the opportunity w visit the hallowed ground. We were very impressed by the quality of the wicket block and w have the chance to meet Vince and Peter. You are very fortunate to have two gentlemen who obviously have a huge passion for the preparation of a cricket pitch and also far the game. We were delighted to see that important factors to a pitch were very obvious with your block. T hese being, the levels of the surface and the evenness and quality of.grass on the block. T his is a true credit to the work carried out by the people who have some input to the playing surface."
That sums up how fortunate the club is in having Vince Cusack and Peter Devlin involved in the ground preparation. I seek forgiveness from other individuals who also give hours oft heir time to the Willows Cricket Club and who in turn, deserve a personal tribute. On behalf of all club members I acknowledge in this Eisa Edgar (gardens), Tony Campbell (scorer), !an andLyn (catering), Eddie Brownlee (umpires), JanWhittington (secretarial), Adrian McFedries (grounds), Richard Cowles (Annual Report) and Scott Miller (match day preparation ) . We couldn’t d o without the contribution o f each and every one of you. Many thanks.
• On the fine example of our Patron, Mr Walter Hadlee CBE:
Towards the end of 1999 Lord Butler of Brockwell GCB, CVO Master at Oxford University wrote the following letter to our Patron and this really encapsulates the essence of our wonderful game and I selectively quote:
"Dear Mr Hadlee,
Very many thanks for your letter of 10 October 1999 , which gave me very great pleasure.
Not remember you? I remember you vividly and would do so even if you had not been so kind to me when I was an 11 year old. Your recollections and the records in your diary, are correct and I am proud to, feature in it.
The full story of 1949 is that I was an avid collector of autographs of my cricketing heroes. As soon as your captaincy of the New Zealand Touring Team was announced I wrote to you in New Zealand and asked for your autograph, which you very kindly sent w me. Moreover, you said that I was first English boy to write to you and you hoped that we might meet during the tour of England. Rash words! I wrote to you again when you reached England and you said that, if I were to come to the pavilion at the Oval after you were out in New Zealand’s match against Surrey, you would introduce me to the team and ask them to autograph my cricket bat.
Full of excitement, I arrived at the Oval on the Saturday, my only day off school. But what would happen if Surrey won the toss and your in nings was not completed on Saturday? To my great relief, New Zealand batted first and you were batting first wicket down. Surely all would be well. Imagine therefore my dismay when, at tea, Sutcliffe and Donnelly were still at the crease in their opening stand. I was in despair. But fortunately after tea, one of them was out and you came in. I am afraid that I prayed that you would be out very quickly – which, simply to oblige me, you were (LBW b. Bedser 7 , I think) . So I came to the dressing room. You were charming to me, introduced me to the whole team and they signed my bat.
So it was a thrill for me to meet you in 1973 and it is a thrill to get your letter now. I should be delighted to accept Honorary Membership of the Willows CC ..."
Lord Butler, is a pre-eminent peer in the British House of Lords and who in his career has been secretary to Prime Ministers Thatcher, Major and Blair. We are honoured to include part of his lette�, as it exemplifies the respect we all share for our dear Club Patron.
• Conclusion
This Report focuses on a wonderful year of cricket at Loburn. Beyond
that, we have hosted equally as successful events, with our:
• church service to celebrate faith through sport;
• dinner for secondary school players and coaches from Wanganui to Oamaru on the theme of developing your lives through participation in sport,
• Willows Club dinner and
• promotion, in conjunction with Christchurch Casino, to launch
John R Reid’s new autobiography, “A Cricketing Life “.
I am delighted that extracts and photographs from these special events have been reproduced in later pages, particularly for those who were unable to attend and share such highlights.
John Doig, is a Willower who promises little and delivers a lot Not only, in his profession as a gynaecologist but as a cricketer. Sadly, on the final day of the season he suffered a sickening injury with a torn hamstring and then smacked his patella on the other knee as he fell. His equally illustrious medical colleague cardiologist, Professor Ikram, rushed to his aid and quick as a flash, said there’d be no way he could deliver at clinic on Monday. He would step into the breach and take care of the deliveries. Big promises Hamid!
And so ends the season!