Sixteen year association with Matfen Cricket Club, Northumberland

“The whole project came about through me making some telephone calls to try and find some young New Zealand boys who might come to play village cricket in the North of England. On the third call I was fortunate enough to get hold of Mike Dormer and asked him if he could help. That was the most enlightening conversation for me as he made it clear that it was a question of how many do you want rather than how are we going to achieve this!”

So in 2003 Sir Hugh and Mike made it happen. Josh Coll and Fraser Hawes were our first two Scholars to travel over to rescue the Matfen Club team. They set the standard. Together they were a huge success and helped Matfen win the West Tyne League for the first time in the Club’s history. For Sir Hugh, Josh and Fraser “set the pattern for future years and although we did not win the League every year, the contribution by the two boys each year was enormous”.

Departure date is always the first week of April. The long-haul flight via Singapore or Dubai ends in Newcastle where the two lads are met in person by Sir Hugh. As Declan McKeefry put it so aptly “with enough baggage for Africa and fatigue tattooed across our faces” Sir Hugh is a most welcome sight. Outside the terminal, there is a sharp cool breeze, and in some years, even snow. There is a month to settle (into routines and work) and to get in some pre-season training before the first cricket match.

Work at the Matfen Hall Hotel is varied but most regularly in the bar at the Keepers Lodge or on the Golf Driving Range. Other jobs (hotel porter, dining reception, green-keeper, stone-wall repair, dishes etc) can be requested. Callum Curnow in 2016 reckoned he performed “about eight different roles” in his time.

When the cricket season finally starts, it is usually on green, slow wickets. In bad years, many games are rained off and conditions are akin to playing on “mudflats”. “The cricket was good fun” according to Barty (Liam Bartholomeusz). Saturdays with the West Tyne Division One League, Wednesdays in a Knockout T20 competition and there are other invited district games. Some of the Dads of the Kiwi lads even managed a game when visiting.

The League title was won in 2003 and 2010 (and Senior Knock-out Cup in 2007) and there have been other years when Matfen finished as runners-up (2017 the latest). Whatever, the Kiwi lads have had a dominant influence on team performance and League placings. None more so than the two lads in 2017. Between Alex Tait and Will O’Brien they racked up five centuries and ten fifties in the 18 innings they both enjoyed – phenomenal. And, as all-rounders they featured strongly in the bowling stats too.

Outside work and cricket, the lads have whole- heartedly embraced the “Geordie” culture. Early on, with each pair, Sir Hugh has taken them across to join the 50,000+ throng at St James Park for a Newcastle United match. Those who hit a good golf-ball have been invited to play foursomes at Matfen, Bamburgh Castle and Slaley Hall. Trips to “The Toon” have gone down well (as has the warm ale). Here the lads have attended rock concerts, international sports events (including the All Whites and All Blacks) plus the Black Caps at Durham. There have been trips further afield to London (to the Oval, Lord’s and Wembley Arena) and a myriad of different adventures on the Continent at the end of the stay.

Mr Simon Buckton, Past Club Captain, of Matfen Cricket Club heaps deserved praise when he says “they were great lads, genuine people to the core and they still have many friends here in Geordieland”.

So what started as a germ of an idea between Sir Hugh and MED has exceeded the stated objective to breathe new life into the Matfen Cricket Club. It has shaped the lives of many people in the small communities of Matfen, Corbridge and beyond; as well as those of the lucky scholars.

All have been thrust into the unknown! All arrived “like rabbits caught in the headlights”, unsure of the craic but left as well-rounded men and all seemingly had grown as individuals. Exactly, what such scholarships espouse; viz – the procurement of life skills.

Matfen Scholars School Year Name 2003 Josh Coll St Bede’s College Fraser Hawes Christchurch BHS
2004 Nick d’Auvergne Marlborough Boys’ Paul O’Donnell St Bede’s College 2005 Michael Peacock Shirley BHS Willie Lawson Otago BHS 2006 Ben McCord St Andrew’s College Mitchell Shaw St Andrew’s College 2007 Hamish Malcolm Nelson College James O’Gorman Christ’s College 2008 Liam Bartholomeusz St Bede’s College Peter Younghusband. Nelson College 2009 Declan McKeefry Wanganui Collegiate Josh Poole Marlborough Boys’ 2010 Matthew McEwan St Andrew’s College Ciaran McMeeken Otago BHS 2011 Timothy Hampton-Matehe Shirley BHS William Williams Christchurch BHS 2012 Hamish Cooke Gore High School Ben Laughton St Thomas of C’bury 2013 Jeremy Duncan Christ’s College Jacob Vanner St Bede’s College 2014 Mitchell Ross Christchurch BHS Charlie Robson Wanganui Collegiate 2015 James D’Arcy Rangiora High School Hamish Kennett St Bede’s College 2016 Callum Curnow St Bede’s College Liam McWilliam Southland BHS 2017 William O’Brien Burnside High School Alex Tait Southland BHS 2018 Rhys Petrie Waitaki BHS Lachlan Stove St Thomas of C’bury

PS – Interestingly, three from above list gained NZ playing contracts for the 2017-2018 season. They are: Matthew McEwan (Auckland), William Williams (Canterbury) and Peter Younghusband (Wellington).

Matfen Hall Corbridge, Northumberland matfenhall.com