Alan Bacon
1928-2001 aged 72
Club Member from 1949 to 2001 

Alan (Eggs) was a man of many identities.

There was Eggs the Committee man. He first took office as Hon. Secretary of the Football Section in 1960 at a time when the office needed some stability, and by competent hard work made the Section run smoothly for eight years. He then became Match Secretary for five years, Chairman of the Football Section for two years, Team Secretary for another two years then, in the mid to late 80s was Hon. Secretary again for another three years. In all, Alan served on and represented the Football Section for over 25 years. He was also an active member of the Wine Committee for 13 years, and spent some five years on Cricket Committees.

There was Eggs the Connoisseur. I think it can be said that Eggs was a connoisseur of wine, although he did like the odd noggin providing the liquid container had as many (XXX) crosses on it as a pools coupon to indicate it was of sufficient strength. But I never saw Eggs drunk.

There was Eggs the Sportsman. This he was both on and off the field. He played his football at various levels, but when he played in the 3rd XI he played with players who had graced higher sides and he never looked anything but as good as the company he was in. His distribution of the ball was the envy of many players.

At Cricket he was a hard-hitting batsman. He would wind himself up and strike the ball with great force, often to the long off or long on boundary. He scored many 50s and one of his unique claims to fame was, having scored a 100 at Alexandra Park for the 2nd XI one week, he remarked, "Well, that's sufficient to ensure my place in the 3rds next week" and it did. He was Captain of the 3rd XI for 3 years.

There was Eggs the Tourist. As far as I know he was the only Winchmore Hill member to go on Cricket, Football and Ladies Hockey Tours, an achievement envied by many. He was a great tourist and a pleasure to tour with.

After returning from the Ladies Hockey Tour he was asked if in the near future we would see some little Rashers of Bacon as a result of the tour, and with that little wry whimsical smile and chuckle he said, "Regrettably not".

There was Eggs the Entertainer. Apart from his interjections at Committee meetings where he put many a subject in its correct place on the agenda, he had a passion for Opera; light Opera, Gilbert and Sullivan, but also enjoyed the delights of the Collins Music Hall, where some of his amusing gems can easily be recalled to this day.

To get the best of Alan's interjections you had to stand near him during bar discussions as the odd pearl that was put in quite often came out very gently and was missed in the general hubbub.

Alan became a Vice President of Winchmore Hill Cricket club in 1982 an honour he richly deserved. In 1986 he was awarded the Bill Brooks Trophy for outstanding service to the Football Section.

You may wonder why I have spent so much time on Alan's life at WHCC. It is because we were not only his friend for 52 years, but as time went by we became his family, to such an extend that his last wish were for all of us to benefit from his estates.

He was a popular man with people of all ages and when our 1st XI Football side heard of his death, although they were playing away at West Wickham, they wore black arm bands as a mark of respect.

When Alan died my main concern was, because he lived on his own, who would look after the many things that have to be done. It was then I had the privilege of meeting Grace Hatcher, his next door neighbour and long life friend. Grace has since written to us to acknowledge Alan's special relationship with the Club.

We thank God for Alan's life and for giving us a person who's company we so richly enjoyed. He will be sadly missed.

Trevor Watson

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Tony Bath
1920-1998 aged 77
Club Member from 1948 to 1998

A much loved former president of Winchmore Hill CC, Anthony Bath, died aged 77 in August 1998.

Mr. Bath was born on August 12, 1920 in Palmers Green, where he lived with his family in Hamilton Crescent for many years. After leaving school he worked on the railways, where he became interested in steam trains. Throughout his life he supported the Severn Valley Railway, which runs through Worcestershire and Shropshire, as well as the North York Moors Railway.

During the Second World War, he served in North Africa with the Wiltshire Regiment in the Royal Engineers. He went to Sandhurst and passed his major's exams, but the war ended before he had completed his three-month field experience. Despite this, he was given the title of Captain for Life from King George VI. 

After the war he joined the Civil Service in Whitehall and worked in various departments. He organised the Civil Service Horticultural Society for some years. During the latter part of his service, while working in the Department of Environment, he was involved in setting up the Crossroads Care Attendance Scheme - Caring for Carers. He retired from the Service in 1980.

Anthony was a member of the management committee for several years, holding office as Ground Secretary, making sure the wickets were repaired and overseeing the change from summer to winter sectional sports.

He was President of the Club from 1983-84 and was made a Life Member for his services. He compiled a book on the 100 Year History of the Winchmore Hill Cricket Club and the history of its hockey section.

In 1975 Anthony and his wife Jennifer moved to Cromer, in the Hertfordshire parish of Ardeley, where he took a keen interest in village life and was parish clerk for three years. During his spare time he wrote a book on the history of Ardeleybury.

His favourite football team was Arsenal, where he was first taken by his father when he was a young boy and he continued to support them. He spent 25 years as a steward for the team.

He had four children, Patrick, Brian, Maureen and Bob. He also had five grandchildren and one great grandchild.

During his life he was a supporter of various charities, in particular the Royal National Lifeboat Institute.

Trevor Watson

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Ron Boustead
1943-1998 aged 55
Club Head Groundsman from 1975 to 1998

Our Head Groundsman, Ron Boustead, passed away in the North London Hospice on Thursday 3rd December 1998 after a short illness. 

Ron came to Winchmore Hill in November 1975 from his home in Lancashire where he had been one of the senior groundsmen at Lancashire County Cricket Club.

Ron was a quiet man and person who through is reserved nature did not get to know many members very well. He tended to keep his private and business life apart and not get involved in the social life at the Club.

He was a very loyal servant of the Club and in his early days he would work many extra hours while the club tried to find a permanent assistant groundsman.

Many successful projects, too numerous to mention, will be a living tribute to Ron's ability to work, organise and coordinate both staff and contractors.

Ron was a keen fisherman and an active member of a local angling club. The solitude of fishing and the lonely life of a groundsman were indicative of this quiet, pleasant man who was our Head Groundsman.

Our thoughts are with Bernie and their two sons, Wayne and Tony.

Trevor Watson

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Patrick (Pat) Casey
We regret to announce the death of Pat Casey who had a long association with the Club. Pat was a valued member of the Club's Wine Committee for many years and although never having represented the Club he was a fine footballer himself. He played soccer in his native country, Scotland, for Queens Park.

Dogged by illness in the later stages of his life, this did not prevent him from attending on Saturdays to watch the football and cricket at The Paulin. Two of his three sons, Gary and Andy, both represented the Football Section at first team level and both played cricket at the Hill.

His charm and humour will be sorely missed.

Pat is survived by his wife, Patricia, and their three sons, Stephen, Gary and Andy. 

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Robert William Charles Gowers
1911-2002 aged 91
Club Member from 1932 to 2002

I think you would all agree that it is virtually impossible to condense the life of a person who had such wide and varied interests as Gus into just a few minutes. However, I will try to select the salient points of his life and hopefully cover most. Bruce, his son, particularly wanted this day to be not only a gathering to pay our respects and say farewell, but also to treat the occasion as a celebration of Gus' life.

When we met the vicar earlier this week, he asked what Christian name should he use, Robert or Bob, but as I was using Gus why? Whilst being christened Robert William Charles along with some school chums they adopted the names of their particular heroes in the boys comics of the time, and Augustus had a particular ring about it - Augustus Gowers eventually being shortened to Gus, a nickname that stayed all through his academic and sporting career.

Gus was born in Edmonton, the second son of William Robert Charles Gowers. He duly attended George Spicer's School in Enfield - a school he would later return to as Headmaster. Hen then moved on as a senior to Latymer School in Edmonton.

At that time his elder brother Jack, who was a very able footballer, played a number of games at centre forward for Tottenham Hotspur. Gus, on reaching the age of 16, had similar aspirations and was offered terms by Spurs. Mercifully his father stepped in and insisted that Gus carry on with his education which he did and moved on to London University, gaining a degree in History and also his teaching diploma.

During this period he played football for Enfield, Cheshunt and the University. He was also a very good all-rounder at cricket.

He joined the Winchmore Hill Football Club in the season '32-33 and captained the Club from 1934 until 1938, being selected to play representative football for the Southern Amateur League and the Amateur Football Alliance. He also joined the Cricket Section and played mostly for the 2nd XI.

After graduating from University, he took up a teaching position as History Master at Christ College, Finchley - a post he held until the outbreak of war.

During the early thirties he met and courted Violet Grint, herself a very accomplished athlete specialising in the half mile at AAA level. To be honest, the Grint family were not happy with this romance as Gus was a bit of a renegade going through his conscientious objector phase. However, Gus was not to be denied and he and Vi duly married in 1936. With war being imminent, Gus discarded his objections and in 1938 enlisted in the Territorial Army 48th L.A.A. being formed in Enfield. This unit eventually was absorbed into the Royal Artillery at the outbreak of war. Being a mathematician and having a very precise analytical brain, Gus was posted to Newcastle where he was given intensive training in ballistics. He was rapidly promoted and achieved the rank of Major.

In 1941 his son Bruce was born, and as it happened, his only offspring. Unfortunately Gus was not in England at that time as his regiment had been posted to North Africa for the desert campaign. This was a particularly hazardous journey, and to avoid U-boats, departing from Liverpool and travelling via South America, south Africa and eventually disembarking at Kuwait - a journey that took six months.

Gus then went with a colleague as the advance party to Beirut in the Lebanon where they were later joined by the rest of the regiment. Shortly after this he was promoted to be the Chief Instructor for Artillery in the Middle East - his C.O. being Mortimer Wheeler who later was knighted. Gus was responsible for the siting and weight of barrage at El Alamein. He was also responsible for the Ack-Ack Aid defences of Malta.

One of his hairy but also amusing moments came when driving through a large olive grove. An ME109 decided to strafe it just in case there were some troops in there. The first thing they knew about the attack was when the leaves suddenly came off the trees. He was out of the truck and under it like a flash. However, returning to camp that night, there was a letter from Vi saying how pleased she was that he was now in a safe job!

At the end of the war he returned to his teaching career obtaining a position at Trent Park Teacher Training College. He also rejoined Winchmore Hill, again captaining the 1st XI from 1946-1948 and playing cricket regularly. He did in fact play cricket into his early 70s taking all 10 wickets in a match at the age of 65!

In 1949 he was offered the headship of George Spicer's Central School, a position he held with distinction until its closure in 1967.

He then took a Post Graduate course at London University and returned to Trent Park as initially a senior lecturer and the principle lecturer.

Gus held senior positions at Winchmore Hill. Firstly Chairman of the Football Section and then Chairman of the Parent Club. He became a Life Member and Trustee and also was the first ordinary Club member to be elected President.

It was during the fifties whilst serving on various committees with him that we learnt that he obviously had an interest in the profits of Watney Mann! At meetings which he chaired he would announce that this meeting would not go past 10 pm. We all though good idea, we will get home early - not a bit of it! The Club bar wasn't open in the evenings in those days, but if you looked slippy you could make it to the Red Ridge club whose bar didn't close until 10.30 - sufficient time for a couple of Gold Labels!

Gus's drinking of a Gold Label was in itself an art form and had to be seen to be believed. The drink had to be served in a bowl glass, preferably poured by him, the glass was cradled and caressed in both hands and the appreciation on his face after the first sip was a sight to behold! One day Vi asked Gus in front of me why he didn't drink beer like the rest of us. Gus went into his sorry, sorry routing, playing for time, and eventually explained that beer was for quenching the thirst whilst drinking Gold Label was and experience.

I think we will all remember how marvelous it was to hear Gus after a couple of Gold Labels sing Molly Malone!

His interests included that of a JP and he was Chairman of the juvenile bench, a practicing Mason of the Latymer Lodge, Founder Member of the Enfield Preservation Society, Secretary of the Historical Association, Enfield Rotary, New River Protection, The Forty Club and the M.C.C. The latter taking him to all the major test playing countries, all of these whilst in his eighties.

He contributed to at least 24 charities and belonged to around about 20 organisations.

An extremely courteous person and very gallant towards the ladies, a twinkle in his eye would be an understatement.

On visiting him at Springview a year ago, I noticed that his hair was getting shorter and shorter, getting further and further up his neck. When I questioned the staff as to why he was having so many unnecessary haircuts, I was told that quite candidly Mr. Wilson, the hairdresser is very pretty!

Finally, I would like to pay tribute to the staff of Springview Retirement Home where he spent his last years and who made his life as comfortable as possible, and in particular Alison, his carer. He absolutely worshipped her and how ironic that a few days after she handed in her notice for family reasons, Gus passed away.

Recently when I visited Gus he was a bit low and said that he just wanted to go and be with Vi. I am sure they are together now.

What a man - what a life - how fortunate for us to have known him.

Glyn Wilson

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John Grimes
1946-2008 aged 61
Club Member from 1988 to 2008

GRIMES FAIRY TALE
Once upon a time there was a man called John. BIG JOHN, BIG BRAVE JOHN.

Mr. Smiley, there must have been occasions when he didn't smile. I can't remember a specific occasion. I've had the occasional serious chat with him as a wine committee member. Heated the discussion may have been, but the warm smile and a beer later, told you the differences related to the job in hand, and that your friendship was not at risk.

I seem to have known John for a life time, but it has probably been only about 20 years. In passing it's worth mentioning the fantastic bonus he had for most of his life, Carole, what a brick! How could John go wrong? On the one hand he has Carole whilst, on the other he had that wonderful smile and his generous personality. John's sweetness was such that he could get away with drinking somebody else's drink. The offended party would turn to reprimand him only, to catch the smile and pretend there was nothing wrong.

I met John via vets football, I think he was one of the younger ones. A very good player and good fun in the dressing room. Like any normal player he didn't like losing, but he was a realist and very quickly got that smile on the go and life returned to the "Hill" dressing room. The next hour or two in the bar would fly, as both teams and their supporters were lubricated by good ale, wine and the spirited smile and laughter of John G. There must have been the odd time when Carole wanted to get away but somehow she and John would compromise and go when John had finished his ale.

John was a real club man. He was generous with both his time and his skill as a carpenter/handyman on behalf of the club. His time spent at the Club as a member of the wine committee is probably known to only a handful of people, most of them also wine committee members. Throughout and outside the clubhouse there is evidence of the refurbishment carried out by John.

Throughout his long battle against his cancer he was always positive. Although he was obviously in pain he never found it difficult to smile, it was as though he was always making sure his illness was never going to impinge on our enjoyment of any club activity. It goes without saying that in private he must have had some frightening and painful hours.

All that remains to be said is goodbye John Grimes, it was a privilege to know you. God bless you and may you rest in peace. I know Spike Milligan did it first, but I'm sure you wouldn't mind this inscription after your name, "I told you I was ill".

To Denise and John, John Senior's children and Carole the love of his life, on behalf of us all, friends and acquaintances, please accept our condolences. We all share your grief and by doing so hope the pain of your grieving is eased. May your God go with you.

So long John Grimes.

Des Mackrill.  

Alfred William Anton Leigh
1914-1998 aged 84
Club Member from 1975 to 1998

The Club lost one of its great servants with the passing of Alf Leigh on 22nd March 1998 at the age of 84. He was a much loved and hard working member of the North Middlesex Table Tennis League and richly deserved being made a Life Member of the League.

He was a very good scholar and sportsman at school; the first boy in London to gain matriculation (know known as GCSE) from a secondary school. He had schoolboy trials for football at Wembley.

At Stroud Green School in 1928/29 he was awarded a prize for "being in the opinion of his fellows most distinguished for honorable conduct and kind and thoughtful behaviour".

He became a qualified schoolteacher and was heavily involved in developing school sport.

Sport played a major part in his life both as a participant and spectator. His main interests were in football, cricket and of course table tennis. He was a passionate follower of the Arsenal and one can imagine him now applauding their semi-final victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in early April. He would have loved watching the match and later celebrating the double.

He must have been one of the few people who held two season tickets, one for Arsenal and one for Spurs. He used to joke that he went to Spurs for the laughs but in truth he just enjoyed watching a Premier match every week during the season.

He love his cricket having played for North Middlesex and Winchmore Hill and when playing became too difficult he umpired regularly, becoming a member of the Association of Cricket Umpires.

It was in the Table Tennis world that we knew him most. He played for Highgate, North Middlesex, Winchmore Hill and Ellenborough. At Winchmore Hill he became Secretary and the Chairman of the Table Tennis Section.

He was always a 'doer', working on Club and League Committees and encouraging the juniors, although they may not have always have appreciated his schoolmaster manner and discipline. He was elected onto the League Press and Publicity standing committee in 1974 and remained thereon until 1978 when he was elected the Press and Publicity Officer. He retained this position until 1992. His magazines were a joy to receive and read, typed as they were o an old typewriter.

He became Chairman of the Vetting Committee in 1977 and held the post until 1987 ensuring that Clubs playing conditions were brought to a reasonable level. He was voted a Vice-President of the League in 1982 and a Life Member in 1994.

He enjoyed umpiring at table tennis and reached International standard. He was very firm but fair when applying the rules. He umpires at the World Championships held in Birmingham in 1977. He umpired many British League matches at Ellenborough and they bestowed Life Membership on him in 1977 for his services.

Winchmore Hill presented him with a tankard to mark his 65th birthday. He was often seen at the bar with his tankard and doing the Telegraph crossword - one of his favourite hobbies. On his 70th birthday he threw a party at the Club and invited family and friends. He produced a large selection of paper cuttings and memorabilia about his life. It was very interesting and must have taken him ages to put it all together.

The past couple of years had been difficult for Alf, but he bore the increasing pain of arthritis and ulcerated legs with great fortitude. He was looking forward to moving into a new flat following convalescence but sadly this was not to be. He died the day before the move.

Alf was a good kind man with strong principles who was never afraid to speak his mind and stand up for what he thought was right, which did not always go down too well. Alf loved the theatre and going to concerts, especially at the Festival Hall. He was a member of the Hornsey Historical Society and spent countless hours in local reference libraries o their behalf. He was also a member of English Heritage.

He also spent hours reading the Hornsey Journals when preparing the history of Highgate Cricket Club. Apparently the 600 plus pages of manuscript never got published. Perhaps they will now. They still exist.

We all had fond memories of Alf. One of mine is when I, together with Keith Ferguson and Alf, decided to go to a one day cricket match at Brighton to see Sussex and Middlesex. I drove and it was some time before we realised we were not on the Brighton road. Slapped wrists from Alf who was a stickler for knowing where he was going. A prettier cross country route was taken. Middlesex won! All smiles.

Two pieces from the archives which Keith and I keep. In 1958/59 Alf reached the final of the Veterans Closed Tournament where he was edged out by W. Little. We still have the programme. In 1944/45 in the Wartime Leagues Closed Tournament Alf won the men's Consolation Singles.

Most people will remember Alf with affection and recognise that the contribution he made was well meant and for the good of his fellow man. He has said "Do not mourn. I have had a good life and hop I have put something back. God bless you all".

His family would like to thank his friends for the friendship shown to Alf.

Harold Webb

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R.S. 'Dick' Levett 
Former President and Chairman of the Tennis Section

Dick was President of the Club in 1993-94 and was for many years actively involved in the Club's Tennis Section, being instrumental in the installation of floodlit courts. He was also appointed a Trustee of the Club. Dick also played football at the Hill for many years and until his retirement to Cyprus still turned out occasionally for the Vets.

Dick passed away in October 2003.

Don Wragg
1910-1997 aged 87
Club Member from 1935 to 1997

At the Parent Club AGM held on 27 January 1957 it was announced that efforts were being made to inaugurate a Veterans Cricket XI. The Crocket Committee had put the idea to Don Wragg to encourage older members of the Club who had reached or were nearing the end of their normal Cricket life to continue to play the game of cricket. It was thought that about six or eight games could be played each season. The task was readily accepted and though only two or three games could be arrange in 1957, the side has regularly appeared in the Club fixture lists from there on. The success of the veterans is a lasting memorial to Don's contribution to Winchmore Hill CC,  of which he became President and a Life Member.

Born in Palmers Green in 1910, Don progressed to Enfield Grammar School in 1923. On leaving school he obtained a position in a stockbroker's office in the City of London. He met his wife Gladys before they were 21 and the were married some five years later in 1936. Don had two brothers, Leslie and Cyril. When Cyril became ill, Don gave up his job in the City and opened a Gentlemen's Outfitters on the Broadway in Winchmore Hill, to help his brother. When Cyril died prematurely, Don continued to run the business alone. Wragg Bros. became a byword in the area for service and quality.

During the war he formed new friendships in the Fire Service and spent many days and nights facing the dangers of the London blitz.

He maintained and continued to work in his business until he was 77. Two years later, his beloved wife Gladys died from Parkinson's Disease. Despite the terrible hole that this left in his existence, he continued to live his life to the full until his sudden death this year.

Such a brief biography will only serve to scratch the surface of Don Wragg's character and gives no indication of what he meant to so many. The love and affection that he engendered stemmed from his warmth, his generosity and kindness, his integrity, his sense of justice and fair play, his self-deprecating humour and above all his love of life and other people.

Don was a keen sportsman; a member of Bush Hill Park Golf Club for many years, an enthusiastic tennis and badminton player and even a competent croquet player. His real sporting love, however, was cricket. He played regularly at Winchmore Hill for many years, where he became Club President.

Don was a genuinely sensitive person. From an early age he was a keen artist - a pastime he returned to following the death of Gladys. His house has become an art gallery proudly displaying various painting of a Yorkshire terrier that he owned in his youth. He became adept at making models too, so much so that the home was also afloat with sailing ships, aeroplanes and fire engines with his family scouring the country for different kits.

Don was a passionate man. He held firm views on many topics from politics, where his views were staunchly patriotic, to music and sport. Where he saw injustice he could become heated, but his debating style was always tinged with a sense of humour and a lack of rancour. He would often say how lucky he had been in his business and in his friends and family. All of us will have our personal memories of him as a story teller, a friend, a cricketer and a Club members.

Trevor Watson

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George Roberts
1906-1996 aged 90
Club Member from 1937 to 1996

George, our senior Trustee, died in April at the age of 90, after being a member for nearly sixty years. He had been chairman and managing director of Ripaults in Southbury Road, and took a most active part in the affairs of our borough. He was a founding member of both the Enfield Football Alliance and Enfield Trustee Savings Bank, as well as being chairman of the governors of Enfield Technical College (now part of Middlesex University).

George was an all round sportsman and a fine tennis player, being three times men's singles champion of our Tennis Club between 1944-47. He was a keen supporter of all playing sections and was active in the Cub's administration as a member of its Management Committee of which he became Chairman in 1951. Our appreciation of his services was expressed in his election as a Life Member and subsequently as Club President in 1973-77, when, with his wife 'Bobby' he thoroughly enjoyed Winchmore Hill's social as well as sports activities. He was a wise and generous member.

Gus Gowers

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Olive Hancock
19..-1996 
Club Member from 1937 to 1996

Olive Hancock, whose death occurred recently, first joined the Hill as a Tennis member, but it will be for her work for the Hockey Section, which she joined in 1948, that she will mostly be remembered.

She was Honorary Secretary for three years from 1949, Fixtures Secretary 1953-58 and 1960-70 and Chairman of the Section from 1955-60. She was instrumental in the successful running of the First XI Tournament, which started in 1958 and continued to run for many years.

In 1955 she became responsible for the late fixture bureau for Middlesex WHA, a job she continued to do long after her close links with the Hockey Section ended. In the fifties and sixties her name was synonymous with Winchmore Hill and every newcomer to the Club quickly became acquainted with Olive and her bicycle!

During the war years she was very active in the affairs of the parent Club and in 1940, when her father had become Cricket Club Secretary, Olive became Secretary for the duration of the war, of a Club comforts Club, set up with the object of keeping members in HM Forces in touch with the Club and each other. Her untiring efforts in obtaining and circulating information and creature comforts were very much appreciated.

Her work for the Hill was acknowledged in January 1962 when she was elected a Life Member - an honour not lightly bestowed.

Ann Moody

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Jim Ferraby
1900-1995 
Club Member from 1942 to 1995

Jim, who was 95 in March, died on 29 July, having enjoyed good health though rarely visiting the Paulin Ground after the death of his wife, Meg. He was a pharmacist by profession and had been a keen hockey player before coming to North London, where from 1946 to 1971 he made a tremendous contribution to the post-war expanding Winchmore Hill. In recognition of his service he was elected a Life Member in 1967.

The following is an extract of the letter proposing Life Membership for Jim

"Jim was elected to membership in 1942 but through some curious oversight did not take office until 1946 when he became for the ensuing seven years Secretary of the Football Club. This post was relinquished in 1953 only in order to become Joint Honorary Secretary of the Parent Club, again for 7 years. Concurrent with the latter duty, presumably to provide some relaxation, Jim was Chairman of the Football Section from 1955-58 and from 1962 to 1967 he was Treasurer. Since retiring in 1966 he has again become Join Honorary Secretary of the Club and overcomes the daily problems with unabated vigour."

Gus Gowers

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Tom Lynes
1907-1994 aged 87 
Club Member from 1942 to 1994

Tom was born in Islington where he established a large firm for the supply of building materials and equipment and on moving to Edmonton became a County Councillor.

He never played for Winchmore Hill, joining in middle age as a social member, but with his two sons in our cricket and football teams Tom became actively engaged in the running of the Club - as Chairman for seven years, and subsequently as President and Trustee.

He made an enormous contribution to our general administration and especially to the modernisation of our pavilion, not only by his advice on building plans but by his organisation of Sunday working parties of Club volunteers whom he instructed by example in the range of skills which he had acquired.

Tom died in October 1994 in his 88th year, and is spite of his increasing blindness regularly attended cricket and football matches for which description and comment were provided by younger members who remembered his past service and valued his friendship.

Gus Gowers

Allan Fitzroy Rae
1922-2005 
Club Member from 1948 to 1952

The Jamaican and West Indies cricket fraternity is in mourning following the death on Sunday night of Allan Rae, former Jamaica and West Indies opener and pivotal West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) president of the 1980s. Rae, who had been ill for sometime, was 82. A solid, technically-sound left-hander, Rae scored 1,016 runs in 15 Tests between his debut against India in that country in late 1948 and the mid-1950s, for an average of 46.18. His partnership with the elegant and gifted Trinidadian opener Jeffrey Stollmeyer remains one of the most successful in Test cricket. The two averaged 71.00 for their opening partnerships which is the all-time best in West Indies Test cricket.

Alongside the three Ws - Everton Weekes, Frank Worrell, and Clyde Walcott - and the spin twins Alfred Valentine and Sonny Ramadhin, Rae and Stollmeyer were crucial members of the historic 1950 West Indies Test team that defeated England for the first time in that country.

But some historians will probably argue that it was as an administrator that Rae made the greatest impact.

As president of the regional board, in 1981-88, Rae guided the West Indies through stormy waters after some of the region's top cricketers defected to play for rebel teams in then apartheid South Africa. He held a consistently firm and uncompromising line against the fascist and racist apartheid system and supervised lifetime bans (eventually lifted) against those West Indians who went on the rebel tours.

Before that, in the late 1970s, Rae, a lawyer and a key figure in the Stollmeyer-led West Indies Cricket Board of Control (WICBC), played an important role in helping to resolve the crisis caused by the defection of players to Australian Kerry Packer's World Series cricket.

As West Indies Cricket Board representative to the International Cricket Conference (ICC) in 1978, Rae argued strongly that the ICC was wrong in its decision to render ineligible for Test cricket, those players who had signed professional contracts with the Packer organisation.

Rae said in part: "We (WICB) feel that it is morally unfair to players who were free to enter into contracts when they did, to retroactively virtually declare these contracts illegal... and ... that by entering into contracts freely, they have found themselves barred from Test match cricket."

At Rae's insistence, his objection was read into the minutes of the meeting. As the late Jamaican prime minister Michael Manley pointed out in A History of West Indies Cricket, Rae's position was to "prove prophetic".

When the issue was later tested in court, presiding judge Justice Slade, in ruling against the ICC - declaring damages of £200,000 on the basis of 'unreasonable restraint of trade' - quoted from Rae's statement.

A giant at Kingston Cricket Club and a president of the Jamaica Cricket Board between 1977-1990, Rae was also a more than competent writer, featuring strongly in the Sunday Observer in late 2001 and 2002 with a much-acclaimed column 'Allan Rae reminisces'.

Yesterday, Jamaica Cricket Association president Jackie Hendriks was among the first to pay tribute to Rae, whom he described as a "true friend" who gave invaluable advice on cricket and administrative matters."This is unquestionably the end of an era in Jamaican and West Indian cricket. He (Rae) dedicated his life to the game and no man who ever played cricket could have had more love and respect for the game and all it stood for," said Hendriks.

"As both player and administrator Allan was determined to ensure that the integrity of the game was inviolate and this infected most of those with whom he came in contact. A hard task-master, he nevertheless derived particular pride and pleasure from the success of young players and won their respect and admiration," added Hendriks.

Rae was virtually born into cricket since his father, Ernest Rae, was himself a Jamaican batsman. Schooled at Wolmer's Boys, like his father and so many other outstanding Jamaica cricketers, Rae was soon also following his father's footsteps at the famous Kingston CC, based at Sabina Park.

But it was his idol, the legendary master batsman George Headley, from whom he probably drew most inspiration. Rae never grew tired of talking about the exploits and wisdom of "Mass George", whom he believed was the "smartest cricketer" he had ever seen.

He spoke fondly and often of a second-wicket 148-run partnership he had with Headley for Jamaica against Barbados in 1947. The young Rae was approaching his maiden first-class century with the new ball approaching (in those days it could be taken with 200 on the board) when he noticed that his illustrious partner had stopped scoring. "The bowling at your end seems to have got tight," Rae said to Headley between overs.

Headley's response was quick: "Tight hell! You are 85 and need 15 to make your first century and they will get the new ball 20 runs time. I have stopped scoring so that you will get your 100 before the new ball comes. I don't want you thinking of your century and the new ball at the same time ... your concentration may waiver, you may get out and we will have a new man in to face the new ball. I don't want that to happen."

In November 2002, with his health fading fast, Rae was honoured for his contribution to West Indies cricket as player and administrator - an experience he then described as "overwhelming".

Among the guests was Weekes, Rae's close friend and the batsman he admired most outside of Headley - often describing the Barbadian as the person he would want to be "if there is ever such a thing as reincarnation".

That night, Weekes recalled that as a batsman, Rae's strength "was his ability to concentrate for long periods of time".

Weekes said "he (Rae) changed around after I saw him first in 1947 when he really hit the ball pretty hard and hit the ball through the air and that sort of thing. But when we went to India he transformed his batting into a very sound and solid (methodology) and when he went to England it was proven.

"But he was a very intelligent person who played his cricket that way as well. He played to suit the conditions and the team's structure..."

Another contemporary, Esmond Kentish, a talented fastbowler who took eight Test wickets in two Test matches in the 1950s, also paid tribute to Rae at that 2002 function, describing him as "a solid, careful batsman who read the game well" as well as a "great administrator".

Kentish, who claimed he would never have played Test cricket but for Rae, insisted that it was the latter more than any other, who led the way in resolving the Packer crisis.

And Stephen Commacho, the West Indies opening batsman of the late 1960s and early '70s, who served as secretary of the regional cricket board throughout Rae's tenure as president, remembered his former boss as "one of the great presidents of the West Indies Cricket Board of Control".

Said Commacho: "He wasn't the person to interfere... We would discuss policy and when policy was decided he left us to get on with the implementation of the policy and never interfered. He was very much involved with the cricket .... he loved WI cricket."

Commacho said Rae as an administrator was impressive not only because he helped to guide West Indies through crises such as those caused by the defections to South Africa and World Series Cricket, but for managing to cope in an environment of very little money.

Rae, whose only child, Philip, died two years ago, is survived by his sister Daphne Morris, daughter-in-law Iris and granddaughter Sarah-Joy (Switzerland), nieces and nephews.

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Eric Sturge
Former President and Chairman of the Club, Football Section Chairman and Tennis Section Chairman

When the development of the new Lawn Tennis courts was stagnating in November and I was beginning to have severe doubts about whether it would ever reach fruition, there was a telephone call from San Javier in the south east corner of Spain. "What the hell's going on. I'm out of the country for three weeks and the whole thing's going to pot. You, as Chairman, have to make sure this is pushed through"

"But..."

"Don't but me Mr. Chairman, show a bit of leadership. Everything was done and dusted when I came out and I have a message from Spain: If it's the cost that worries you make it three courts instead of four. If it's anything else I'll be back on Tuesday to sort it out."

Eric was never a man to let a few hurdles stand in his way and he returned and DID sort it out. He bullied the project through commit5tee and the current edifice at the entrance stands as a monument to his drive and tenacity... qualities which symbolise the man.

At 8:42 on Tuesday there was a call from the same telephone number. this time it was Brenda with a poignant message: "Margaret, Mike it's Brenda... could you ring me urgently in Spain... Please". I knew immediately it was about Eric and knew immediately that my great friend had been silenced for the first time in his three score years and ten.

Eric was one of those people it was worth taking the trouble to know. He took life by the scruff of the neck and shook the living daylights out of it. If there was a moment left in the day, he would find a way of filling it, and always constructively.

When we first met, he appeared opinionated and aggressive; a man who believed in a fight to the finish. He was already a highly decorated Club officer. He'd been both Chairman of the Club and Chairman of the Football Section during years of unprecedented success, including our last SAL Championship in 1984.

When I got to know him better I learned to respect his opinions, energy and commitment. When I got to know him really well (he was my Past Chairman on Management Committee) I grew to love him as a true friend and ally, loyal, well-read, humorous and truly indestructible (or so I thought). A truly committed Winchmore Hill man who was the embodiment of that oft abused phrase: "What you see is what you get".

Eric was the perfect human being and I mean that in the most literal sense. He was flawed, generous, fearless, no respector of reputations and with no airs and graces or veneer of self importance (OK, he did pull rank and cut the ribbon on the Alan Bacon scorebox). He was relentlessly efficient and a friend made was a friend for life.

I first met him at the Club's 1989 AGM when he was outgoing Chairman and I was incoming Vice Chairman. The meeting was a month late and there was no budget. When criticised from the floor he stood up and shouted down his critics. Irrational, iconoclastic, passionate and caring, his Gunboat Diplomacy won the day. SO ERIC.

A week later he set a trap which trapped a thieving groundsman red-handed. SO ERIC.

H ran ladies' nights and New Year's Eve dinners with the efficiency of Montgomery at El Alemein. There may have been casualties but the end justified the means. They were all a resounding success.

We were chalk and cheeses, me stealthy and liberal, him right wing and direct. But we got on like a house on fire. We squabbled like alley cats but never fell out. Race, Religion, Politics, Immigration - no subject was sacrosanct - and at the end of it all we simply agreed to disagree, until the next time.

He'd return from Spain and the routine was the same. Either dinner for four at the Feathers in Wadesmill or drinks for two at the Rose and Crown in Beggar's Hollow. Club politics and gossip shared, cunning plots hatched like two conspirators on Bonfire Night. Such fun.

CHALK AND CHEESES, BUT TWO PEAS IN A POD.

It is well known that Eric was a Para and a visit to his home in Sinclare Close revealed a maroon beret unostentatiously hung in the corner. Alongside were family photographs, ranging from pictures of his wedding and family shots including Brenda, Andrew, Simon, daughter-in-law Sharon and granddaughters Ashley and Lauren.

A beloved husband, father and Granddad.

He worked beyond retirement age partly, I suspect, to find something to do, chiefly to gift his sons the start in life he'd never had to earn through his "entrepreneurial skills."  I never did understand his specialist subject, perhaps it was "Getting things done." He played football until he was too old to run and Tennis to his death.

He realised his dream of a sunshine home in Spain a year ago, a decade too late by his and my estimation. He died with his dream a reality but the rest of us losers.

LOOK OLD PAL, YOU PROMISED ME TEN MORE YEARS... REMEMBER? BUT THEN YOU ALWAYS DID HAVE THE LAST WORD.

Mike Bowen

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