President's Match Day Report
The Old Vigornians unveiled some welcome improvements to the King's School pavilion on Bank Holiday Sunday, May 29th, during the annual President's Day match. The two surviving founding members of the club from the 1948 season, Max Nicholls & Wally Cullis officiated as a new clock, flagpole, honours boards recording the 1st XI captains since 1881 and OVCC captains, and other renovations were officially unveiled.
The improvement work was paid for thanks to a legacy from Ray Godsall, a stalwart of the club in the '50s and '60s, who passed away several years ago. Around 100 people turned up to participate in the event, including the OVs all-time batting and bowling record holders, Dave Mendham and Brian Brain. Sixteen current and former captains of the OV cricket club, and Kings School Worcester were present, including eight who participated in the match. One former captain, John Wadley, even flew in from Australia.
Other luminaries present were stalwarts of the fifties, sicties and seventies, David Cook, Brian Howorth, Mike O'Neill, Lou Wadley and John Potter. A number of former Kings school captains also made the trip, and several played in the match. As president I was pleased to welcome three players of my era along to the game too. Richard 'Max' Jones, 'Tall' Mike Morgan and 'Big' Jim Hodgson.The Headmaster, Tim Keyes and his wife May Anne were present, as well as Ian and Maureen Brown, the former housemaster and housemistress of Choir. Russ Mason and Pete Iddon turned out to see some the their former charges from the dim and distant past take to the field. Some of their current charges were present too - as James Doorbar, Tom Wilde and Tom Cluett, members of the class of '11, joined in the fun.
The match was a hard fought, 40-over-a-side affair. The OVs batted first and posted a formidable 249-9, despite four wickets from the President himself, and three for Charlie Annable. Paul Judge fell for 97, Osman Fiaz made 57 & Hiten Patel also made 50. In reply the President's XI struggled to keep up with the required rate and lost wickets at important times. Hiten Patel caught Nick Firth for 50, and then picked up three wickets to cap an excellent all round performance. Tom Cluett and Tom Wilde bowled well at the death & although Phil O'Neill made 43 and Richard Jones scored 42 the President's XI was all out for 213, 36 runs short.
Phil Mackie