Arundel Castle Cricket Scholarship
The Dormer-Melluish-Aldridge Cricket Scholarship promises to provide wonderful opportunities for young cricketers between our countries. The Scholarships are named after three people whose inspiration and support lie behind their creation: Mike Dormer, who founded The Willows and whom I knew all too briefly; my father-in-law Michael Melluish OBE, who was President of MCC in 1992 and Chairman of the Arundel Castle Cricket Foundation (ACCF) from 2003 to 2011; and Sir Rod Aldridge, founder of the Aldridge Academies. These three never met, but they share a passion for the character-building qualities of cricket and a desire to use the game to provide opportunities to those who might not otherwise have them.
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Those that have traveled to Arundel:
2022 – Maggie Martin (Christchurch GHS) & Nick Gibb (Christ’s College)
Cricket Scholarships to Matfen Hall
Andy Ellis (rugby and Burnside HS) was our first to travel to the UK back in 2002 – not to Matfen on this occasion but Godalming in Surrey to play league cricket – on a Charles Luney Scholarship; it was a one-off.
Since then 34 young High School leavers have travelled to Matfen Hall in Northumberland and been hosted by Lady Anna and Sir Hugh Blackett. Previous Willows scholars Mike Peacock & James O’Gorman are currently involved in management of the exchange for the Club.
Additionally as previously mentioned, The Willows has recently also set up a yearly scholarship exchange with the Duke of Norfolk’s Arundel Castle – more to follow on this with some exciting updates in coming weeks.
Those that have traveled to Matfen:
2003 – Josh Coll (St Bede’s College) & Fraser Hawes (Christchurch BHS)
2004 – Nick d'Auvergne (Marlborough Boys College) & Paul O'Donnell (St Bede’s College)
2005 – Michael Peacock (Shirley BHS) & Willie Lawson (Otago BHS)
2006 – Ben McCord & 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 (Whanganui Collegiate) & Josh Poole (Marlborough Boys College)
2010 – Matthew McEwan (St Andrew’s College) & Ciaran McMeekan (Otago BHS)
2011 – Timothy Hampton-Matehe (Shirley BHS) & Will Williams (Christchurch BHS)
2012 – Hamish Cooke (Gore HS) & Ben Laughton (St Thomas College)
2013 – Jeremy Duncan (Christ’s College) & Jacob Vanner (St Bede’s College)
2014 – Mitchell Ross (Christchurch BHS) & Charlie Robson (Whanganui Collegiate)
2015 – James D'Arcy (Rangiora HS) & Hamish Kennett (St Bede’s College)
2016 – Callum Curnow (St Bede’s College) & Liam McWilliam (Southland BHS)
2017 – William O'Brien (Burnside HS) & Alex Tait (Southland BHS)
2018 – Rhys Petrie (Waitaki BHS) & Lachlan Stove (St Thomas College)
2019 – Henry Sail (Rangiora HS) & Connor O'Leary (Whanganui Collegiate)
2020 – Fraser Buckley (St Thomas College) & Josh McCarthy (St Bede’s College) – were chosen but sadly unable to travel due to Covid
2022 – Angus Dempster (St Thomas) & Archie Ovens (Burnside HS)
Dormer/ Dilmah
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