All Chgange

Following on from the AGM held 20th November we are pleased to welcome the following onto the committee at Merrow

Martin Bakker and Stuart Perry will be taking over the reins as 1stX1 Captain and Vice Captain on as Saturday with Stuart also taking over from Andy Windus as Development League Captain. Dan Taylor is transferring his skills over to the new position of Director of Cricket and Toby Corning becomes one out youngest committee members as Youth Representative. Caroline Glencross has taken over from Richard Keates as treasurer and I am sure that you will join me in welcoming them aboard. Please give them your full support. Members will also be pleased to note that in addition to our ventures into the Fuller League, the Development league we shall also be joining the Village League this year with matches played on both Saturdays and Sundays - Exciting times ahead!

Inevitably we have to say goodbye to a number of the present committee. This includes Richard keates who as a committee member has served this club extremely well over the years. The occasion was marked by a small presentation at the AGM but again I would like to express our grateful thanks to Richard for all his efforts over the years. Richard was also instrumental in seeing the club achieve CLUB MARK Status in 2008. I would like therefore to reprint Jerry Arnull's appreciation of Richard (originally used in a News letter and for the club hand book re published in 2008) for all to see.
Heather Dean - Hon Secretary

Joining Merrow in 1978 Richard ‘Windmill’ Keates has been an outstanding contributor to the Club ever since. As player, Captain, Vice-Chairman, Chairman (1993-1995) and as Treasurer since 1997, Richard has finally called time on his long and distinguished commitment to the running of the Club. Indeed we owes him a tremendous debt. Why Windmill? Well just watch his bowling action and you can work the rest out for yourself. Not a man to panic in a crisis, his calm influence has helped to diffuse many an interesting confrontation. On his day he can be a devastating bowler, swinging the ball both ways, and good naturedly will bowl for hours in those situations when your average bowler is trying to hide in the outfield. You know the scenario – flat track, hot day and Lara at the crease. One game at Cove he bowled 10 overs at the start. They were 120-1 and he had deserved at least five! Still he has had many successes, with more fivers+ to his name than most. As a batsman, let’s be honest he has one shot which if he connects goes a long way, but has not really mastered the forward defensive shot. This being the case, generally the Innings was not going to last long when Richard strode out to bat, though it was sure to be lively. Still he has his successes from time to time, particularly on one occasion when left to face the last ball of a match by a captain who could not count and who had spent the last hour of the game keeping him off the strike (Richard was always happy to oblige), he promptly played his trademark shot and smashed it for 4. Richard is also blessed with a great pair of hands, and is a useful man to have in the right place at the right time, and has a throwing arm which reminds me of a brush, strong but confusing. One catch he took off Kitch’s bowling in a beer match stays in the memory. Standing at Silly Mid-On, the batsman smashed the ball straight at him. One catch he didn’t want to take! Since 1978 Richard has continued to wheel away taking wickets every week, and though the pace might not be what it was, the end result is the same. Having watched him for many years he works on the admirable belief that if it is straight and up to the batsman, the batsman is eventually going to miss it, and frequently does. The sheer volume of wickets taken over more than 30 years have been a testament to his uncanny ability to surprise the many batsmen over the years with subtle changes of pace and direction. Having already served with distinction in many positions for the Club, Richard took over the duties of Hon Treasurer in 1997, and has been a very positive force in making sure the Merrow finances are in great shape. He has overseen the appeal for money to renovate the square and has been hugely successful in making sure that our returns from the appeal were maximised to our benefit, and has also made certain that monies that will be needed for future emergencies have not been frittered away without reason. He has also been seen regularly with Ann, his wife, serving our many successful barbecues over the years.

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