The Club Cricket Conference Yearbook 2020

cricket, and seemed to have friends lurking at the bar of many Herts cricket clubs. A team selected from the attenders at his funeral in February would be a match for anyone. After retiring from full-time journalism Charlie devoted his time to watching and running amateur sport, serving as Secretary of Stoics CC, Chairman of the Hockey Writers’ Club and President of the Honourable Artillery Company football club, who have now begun an annual game against the House of Commons XI for the Charles Randall trophy. Professional sport held less appeal; he would take a day at Cobden Hill watching Radlett over a day at Lord’s. He was also a member of Porter’s Park Golf Club for 55 years. Charlie spent several years as Sports Editor of the Herts Advertiser, where he found himself writing headlines about his own exploits for Radlett – Champagne Charlie and Hurricane Charlie were two descriptions that found their way into print! In 1979 he moved to Fleet Street with the Daily Telegraph , travelling the world to report on cricket and rugby for over 25 years. After his death, his family was inundated with messages from younger journalists whom he’d mentored over the years. Charlie’s fine 1979 also featured the start of his 40 year marriage to Kate, followed by the birth of Nicole in 1980 and Simon in 1982. 5 granddaughters followed a while later. Other interests included chess and collecting 7 inch vinyl singles for his Rockola Max jukebox (favourite records were by Del Shannon and Lady Gaga).