The Twelfth Man 2018

41 Cricket Society could ask for a better Chairman! Patrons – so many across my 30 years. Geoff Boycott remains now the only one to have spanned my time with WCLS, but let me make mention of two of the most supportive – Mike Cowan, who entertains us most royally at Christmas lunches/functions, and David Frith – always willing to write for our magazine or visit us to speak. Society Ladies – too few now remain, but I must mention some of the most hardworking lady members/officials that I have been fortunate to serve with at WCLS – Jean Swift, Audrey Woodhouse, Beryl Ambler, Colleen Morley, Margaret Harrison, Audrey Moxon, Ann Roberts, Jean Auty and Margaret Brayshaw. Dark Days – those close to the Society will not need reminding of the terrible financial plight that descended in late 2006. What does stand out is the manner in which committee members/officials and so many members rallied to the cause at that darkest moment and kept WCLS alive through their hard work, donations and so much more! Something new: Wombwell afternoons – In 2017 the Chairman organized the first of several afternoon speaker meetings and the feedback thus far has been glowing. Geoff Cope, Mike Gatting in Autumn 2017 and Barry Wood in Spring 2018. A new feature and probably a lasting one? My thanks – Simply it has been a great honour and privilege to have played some part in the last 30 years of this wonderful Cricket Society. A shared love of this summer sport has been a common bond with all of the many members, officials, guests/speakers and friends that I’ve been fortunate to meet there and I hope to continue to do so. The future – personally I will look forward to less responsibility and work at WCLS. It will be my chance to come along to meetings as a member, buy a drink, some raffle tickets, browse the bookstall, chat with friends and fellow cricket lovers there and just enjoy the night or indeed the afternoon. For Wombwell Cricket Lovers’ Society – my deepest wish is that it will continue ‘at the crease’ and to flourish for many, many years to come, onwards towards a century and that it will continue to offer, through all it does, great enjoyment to cricketers (young or old) and to those who follow the game beyond the boundary. “My Song shall be Cricket and Cricket my Theme” Mick Pope