Friends of Arundel Castle Cricket Club Autumn Newsletter a Summer

To the remaining staff of Joe and Vanessa, we can’t thank you enough for what you have done this season to keep everybody happy and the ship afloat – well done and we are grateful for your stalwart efforts. It would also be remiss of me not thank Annie Atkinson for all she does behind the scenes, especially for the coaching events, and of course Johnny for his advice, support and exuberance that help things along so well…. What a team they make. Friends of Arundel The committee are about to experience a number changes with the Club, and for Castle Cricket Club their help this year I say thank you but to John Knight, Alan Caffyn and our Trus- tee Bill Rice I wish to record my gratitude for their personal support and guidance. Autumn Newsletter To you all may I also thank you for your continued commitment. I look forward to by Alan Wadey, Chairman seeing you at the Christmas Lunch on Friday 14th December, and fingers crossed for better weather next year.

Alan Wadey

Enclosed with this Newsletter: Details of Incorporation of The Friends Christmas Lunch Application 200 Club Application Form 2013 Membership Renewal

Christmas Lunch with guest speaker Mike Griffith - 14th December 2012

The Friends of Arundel Castle Cricket Club owes an awful lot to the Griffith family. From the outset of the Club Billy Griffith pioneered the setting up of Lavinia’s dream to keep cricket at the Castle, calling on his invaluable experiences as secre- tary and subsequently President of M.C.C. and so helping to create our iconic venue and cricketing experience.

Now Mike Griffith, my long standing friend who has also helped me as a sounding board for ideas to keep things moving forward for the Club, has agreed to come and talk to us about what he has and is doing at Lords to focus M.C.C. with its modern image, especially in the cricketing arena, for the future. We should not forget that he gained much of his experience while captaining Sussex between 1968 and 1972, and playing in a total of 232 first class matches.

Mike is the first person to follow in the footsteps of a father, to become this year’s President of M.C.C. and we welcome and thank him for finding the time, in his very A Summer when we were all Proud to be British! busy schedule,Cover photographto come and byentertain Joe Hudson and enlighten us. Back on the morning of our AGM in early April, the ground staff at Arundel felt necessary to go just a little bit further so as to get rid of the worst puddles on were watering the square because the grass needed help to make it grow! On that the outfield. We already know it works from the rain experienced in late Septem- evening I then said “this is a good omen for the coming season”, especially when we ber/early October but costs have risen slightly. There has been a wonderful dona- had such a spectacular calendar of celebrations and events coming up in the coun- tion from Nigel and Tess Wood for the drainage works and there are some funds try…. So you now know whose fault it could have been that we then had the best left over from the ECB Trust donation but it will still be necessary to dip into part of two and a half months of continuous rain. I therefore apologise for the some of our reserves this year. Everything else purchased prior to the start of the weather but as ‘True Brits’ it seemed to have made little difference, as we have all season has worked well and has met with all the First Class Cricket regulations enjoyed every festivity to the full and have fantastic memories. The list of things to and both Sussex and ECB are very happy with the results. Extra work on the remember is far too long to try and cover but the Diamond Jubilee has to rank up square this autumn will also help with the playing surface and again should please there with the ‘Best of Britain’ and puts the Royal Family into a class of their own. the players who grace our ground. We are very lucky to have these independent figureheads and it was so great to see the love shown to the Queen by everyone. Now I can’t wait for the Christmas glossy Sadly we have had a number of members pass away over the last nine months and picture books to recapture each and every moment of their unbelievably hard and they include Mr Michael Bull, who was the Treasurer that Lavinia Duchess of long trips to all parts of the country and also that long weekend of official Jubilee Norfolk chose to help set up the Club and who was a vice president, Mrs Diana celebration in London. Wouldn’t we all like to have some of their stamina! Pailthorpe, Admiral Sir Raymond Lygo, Mr John Teuten, Mr Charles Boughton- Leigh, Mr John Sherriff and Mr Ken Andrews. We send our condolences to their Then came the Olympics and three weeks of the feel good factor for us all. What families and thank them for their support and help over many years – they will be can one say that hasn’t already been said about the arrangements, the spectacular missed. ceremonies, the venues, the commentators, the media coverage and then the athletes themselves. I just want to repeat the comments made by others of well done to eve- Now on a practical note, many of you have been good enough to give us your rybody and a big thank you to them for all their dedication, effort and achievement email address already but there are still some 60% who have not. We do not in- and for their years of hard work - they are all British ‘Golden Heroes’ in my eyes. tend giving up sending mailings but want to be in a position to be able to update you of any re-arranged or extra fixtures as well as any relevant news that might This British theme of success has meant that from local street parties to the Last come in during the season. You can of course go onto the website to get up dates Night of the Proms we have been able to show off our pride for our country and as well as prospects of play on match days www.cricketatarundelcastle.co.uk. those who represent it. This was even more the case when the Paralympics took to the Stadium and their achievements and stories brought tears to the eyes day after Membership is now becoming a serious matter as figures are down to just over day. But they don’t want our tears, they want our support and joy at their successes one thousand with the balance of those joining to those leaving (due to a number and again this made everybody feel so proud. What a wonderful summer to remem- of reasons) not matching or rising. We are therefore again not going to raise the ber - and so what that it rained! subscription this year but we hope you will all continue to support us and please try to find new members – word of mouth is still by far the best way to promote Well it did rain at Arundel and when it rained it was often like a monsoon and regu- the Club and its membership. We will be working on this issue with a new mar- larly flooded the ground like never seen before. I can only sum up the frustration of keting person as a priority. the Groundsmen, office staff, teams and spectators by telling you who lost out on what; Five of the Duke’s matches were rained off, the Foundation lost three, Sussex This now brings me on to some more thank-yous after this difficult season; Martlets four and of the Representative games three and so in total some fifteen Fran Smith, of Food for Thought, found the first half of the season very disap- were lost but we were able to rearrange the 2nd XI County T/20 Finals matches. Of pointing with all the rain, it picked up and I thank her and her wonderful staff for the Duke’s games played, five were won, three lost and one drawn, which means it maintaining great standards with both food and service. Our raffle team of was the best season we have had for three years. I will now give some information Susan-Ann Dowle at our lunches and Jim and Doreen Birch who do our ground on some of the other games played during the season. However, at this point I must ‘walk round’ day events, who have all done a wonderful job this year and we give first give recognition, praise and thanks to Lee and Iain our unsung Groundsmen you our sincere thanks and gratitude for every pound raised. Rob Sisk, who who have had the worst year of any during their time at Arundel. The hours spent at mans the scoreboard at nearly all matches, has just completed his 30th season do- the ground have often been from 6.00am until 8.00pm due to rain, constant covering ing this job at Arundel and we cannot thank him enough for this remarkable achievement and loyalty to the Club. Peter our maintenance man has again been in the background quietly getting on with so many jobs and our thanks go to him as well. Back on the morning of our AGM in early April, the ground staff at Arundel felt necessary to go just a little bit further so as to get rid of the worst puddles on were watering the square because the grass needed help to make it grow! On that the outfield. We already know it works from the rain experienced in late Septem- evening I then said “this is a good omen for the coming season”, especially when we ber/early October but costs have risen slightly. There has been a wonderful dona- had such a spectacular calendar of celebrations and events coming up in the coun- tion from Nigel and Tess Wood for the drainage works and there are some funds try…. So you now know whose fault it could have been that we then had the best left over from the ECB Trust donation but it will still be necessary to dip into part of two and a half months of continuous rain. I therefore apologise for the some of our reserves this year. Everything else purchased prior to the start of the weather but as ‘True Brits’ it seemed to have made little difference, as we have all season has worked well and has met with all the First Class Cricket regulations enjoyed every festivity to the full and have fantastic memories. The list of things to and both Sussex and ECB are very happy with the results. Extra work on the remember is far too long to try and cover but the Diamond Jubilee has to rank up square this autumn will also help with the playing surface and again should please there with the ‘Best of Britain’ and puts the Royal Family into a class of their own. the players who grace our ground. We are very lucky to have these independent figureheads and it was so great to see the love shown to the Queen by everyone. Now I can’t wait for the Christmas glossy Sadly we have had a number of members pass away over the last nine months and picture books to recapture each and every moment of their unbelievably hard and they include Mr Michael Bull, who was the Treasurer that Lavinia Duchess of long trips to all parts of the country and also that long weekend of official Jubilee Norfolk chose to help set up the Club and who was a vice president, Mrs Diana celebration in London. Wouldn’t we all like to have some of their stamina! Pailthorpe, Admiral Sir Raymond Lygo, Mr John Teuten, Mr Charles Boughton- Leigh, Mr John Sherriff and Mr Ken Andrews. We send our condolences to their Then came the Olympics and three weeks of the feel good factor for us all. What families and thank them for their support and help over many years – they will be can one say that hasn’t already been said about the arrangements, the spectacular missed. ceremonies, the venues, the commentators, the media coverage and then the athletes themselves. I just want to repeat the comments made by others of well done to eve- Now on a practical note, many of you have been good enough to give us your rybody and a big thank you to them for all their dedication, effort and achievement email address already but there are still some 60% who have not. We do not in- and for their years of hard work - they are all British ‘Golden Heroes’ in my eyes. tend giving up sending mailings but want to be in a position to be able to update you of any re-arranged or extra fixtures as well as any relevant news that might This British theme of success has meant that from local street parties to the Last come in during the season. You can of course go onto the website to get up dates Night of the Proms we have been able to show off our pride for our country and as well as prospects of play on match days www.cricketatarundelcastle.co.uk. those who represent it. This was even more the case when the Paralympics took to the Stadium and their achievements and stories brought tears to the eyes day after Membership is now becoming a serious matter as figures are down to just over day. But they don’t want our tears, they want our support and joy at their successes one thousand with the balance of those joining to those leaving (due to a number and again this made everybody feel so proud. What a wonderful summer to remem- of reasons) not matching or rising. We are therefore again not going to raise the ber - and so what that it rained! subscription this year but we hope you will all continue to support us and please try to find new members – word of mouth is still by far the best way to promote Well it did rain at Arundel and when it rained it was often like a monsoon and regu- the Club and its membership. We will be working on this issue with a new mar- larly flooded the ground like never seen before. I can only sum up the frustration of keting person as a priority. the Groundsmen, office staff, teams and spectators by telling you who lost out on what; Five of the Duke’s matches were rained off, the Foundation lost three, Sussex This now brings me on to some more thank-yous after this difficult season; Martlets four and of the Representative games three and so in total some fifteen Fran Smith, of Food for Thought, found the first half of the season very disap- were lost but we were able to rearrange the 2nd XI County T/20 Finals matches. Of pointing with all the rain, it picked up and I thank her and her wonderful staff for the Duke’s games played, five were won, three lost and one drawn, which means it maintaining great standards with both food and service. Our raffle team of was the best season we have had for three years. I will now give some information Susan-Ann Dowle at our lunches and Jim and Doreen Birch who do our ground on some of the other games played during the season. However, at this point I must ‘walk round’ day events, who have all done a wonderful job this year and we give first give recognition, praise and thanks to Lee and Iain our unsung Groundsmen you our sincere thanks and gratitude for every pound raised. Rob Sisk, who who have had the worst year of any during their time at Arundel. The hours spent at mans the scoreboard at nearly all matches, has just completed his 30th season do- the ground have often been from 6.00am until 8.00pm due to rain, constant covering ing this job at Arundel and we cannot thank him enough for this remarkable achievement and loyalty to the Club. Peter our maintenance man has again been in the background quietly getting on with so many jobs and our thanks go to him as well. I must also now thank the others who have been at Arundel this year; the Foundation and uncovering of the pitch and square, mopping up all the water and general for hosting their matches and you will read about those in their Spring Review, The preparations needed to then make a game happen. They have also worked extra Martlets who suffered badly due to weather but had good results with good strong days to try and catch up and accepted changed and additional matches thrown at sides and we are sorry for them not getting the full benefit of Arundel this year, and them. During this time not once has there been a cross word spoken (outside of Private Eye, with their star Ian Hislop, for hiring our ground for a terrific day against their own office!), and in fact they have had smiles on their faces (I expect BBC Radio News, which we all thoroughly enjoyed. So thank you to all who came through gritted teeth) and even joked about the problems. We cannot thank to Arundel this year, braved the wind, rain and cold, who enjoyed some summer, them enough for all their work and words are not adequate but ‘thank you’ most who won and lost with style and graciousness and who supported The Club. Using sincerely for your help and understanding and for being special people with a the words of Johnny Barclay you were ‘heroic’ and I say ‘proud and stoic Brits’. sense of duty, in fact ‘True Brits’.

As you will all know the ECB, through the kind effort of their chief executive David Our season started with both of our University games being rained off and the Collier, has been helping us financially and now all the ground rules have been set. Sussex 2nd XI game against Kent also being abandoned early on. The Quid- The finances that have been provided to host matches on the basis of a ground fee nuncs took their revenge from last year by beating the Harlequins by 142 runs are to be used on such fixtures as the England Association for the Deaf or youth with some very good batting and bowling which resulted in a rather early finish. cricket such as ESCA U15s T/20 finals day. These can change each year and are not The Duke’s side is never at its best in overs matches and in the 45 over game fixed just to two days a year and hopefully we will be able to go back to the ECB against a very strong Combined Services side we lost badly, still everybody had when we have completed the remaining six days to then renegotiate further. The a lovely day, sponsored by Thales, and both officers and teams entertained eve- other ECB matches that we already host and want played at Arundel, such as the rybody very well and we look forward to a re-match next year. Then we were England Ladies (and others we are being put forward for) now allows for us to re- back to rain with the following days match against the MCC being abandoned at claim all expenses and claim a set ‘match fee’ and the format for this has also been 4.00pm when there was a real chance of us losing so, for once from our side, agreed. We will now of course try to tempt some of the outstanding fixtures of this there was no real moaning at an early finish. season back again next year. Five days later it was still raining and we had to abort the County 2nd XI T/20 I am delighted to announce that we have two new people joining the Friends’ Board Finals day. Alan Fordham of ECB, who was running this event, somehow man- in the New Year. Mark Semmence who is well known to us as a player, match aged to persuade the four teams to reconvene here two weeks later. On a sunny manager and now deputy head of Rugby School and also sits on MCC youth com- Saturday but with a damp ground we had three wonderfully enjoyable matches mittees and has lots of experience within the game and John Stapleton who retires fought out in true youthful enthusiasm with the England U19s winning the Tro- from Thomas Eggar LLP in April will strengthen our legal side dramatically, he also phy. All counties had some of their first team players on show for fitness and has many very useful contacts, was a very accomplished opening batsman and is practice reasons (all agreed by ECB), and we had some truly great cricket. I already working for us on the Incorporation of FACCC and ACCF. I hope by the hope this Finals day will be repeated next year and if you can I would recom- Spring newsletter I will be able to announce the addition of a marketing man on the mend the day to everyone – it was much more than just T/20 matches. Board as well. The Duke’s annual match against I. Zingari was at last a day for him to remem- The weather this year, along with the exceptional celebrations in the south of Eng- ber, as for the first time in five years his team won resoundingly by 125 runs. It land, has not helped our income situation, also sadly a number of people who had was in fact Father’s Day and the whole of his family came along during the day donated to the club in the past have not done so this year and the general economic and it was lovely to see them all at the ground. The following Saturday also saw climate is also a worry. Additionally there have been some unexpected expenditure the family back at the ground with Henry Arundel having his first match there. items, with a new £2.5K dishwasher for the kitchens, new fencing on the patio area The Duke umpired, the family made lunch and let’s hope they enjoyed them- costing £900, and some extra ground sheet covers needed which cost £2.5K, the lat- selves enough to stage it again next year. Blow me if the following day didn’t ter did thankfully actually help cope with all the rain. Consideration must now also see rain again and the Arabs match was cancelled. be given to renewing the steps down to the playing area, additional seating, as well as a general request that has been made for some form of shelter on the patio area. All these will be looked into and prioritised. The drainage scheme has been installed but again, due to the amount of rain experienced since the end of the season, it was

I must also now thank the others who have been at Arundel this year; the Foundation and uncovering of the pitch and square, mopping up all the water and general for hosting their matches and you will read about those in their Spring Review, The preparations needed to then make a game happen. They have also worked extra Martlets who suffered badly due to weather but had good results with good strong days to try and catch up and accepted changed and additional matches thrown at sides and we are sorry for them not getting the full benefit of Arundel this year, and them. During this time not once has there been a cross word spoken (outside of Private Eye, with their star Ian Hislop, for hiring our ground for a terrific day against their own office!), and in fact they have had smiles on their faces (I expect BBC Radio News, which we all thoroughly enjoyed. So thank you to all who came through gritted teeth) and even joked about the problems. We cannot thank to Arundel this year, braved the wind, rain and cold, who enjoyed some summer, them enough for all their work and words are not adequate but ‘thank you’ most who won and lost with style and graciousness and who supported The Club. Using sincerely for your help and understanding and for being special people with a the words of Johnny Barclay you were ‘heroic’ and I say ‘proud and stoic Brits’. sense of duty, in fact ‘True Brits’.

July brought the sun out for one of the ECB funded days when the Duke’s side again at Arundel” – we are lucky to have such loyal friends, and on this occasion for played against the England Association for the Deaf. It was a good day’s cricket the wonderful bowling performance by our Director of Cricket, JRTB, who took 6 for with the Association being delighted to be playing at Arundel and they have indi- 22, which he says are his best ever figures in any form of cricket! cated that if they come back they will try to turn the tables and reverse the 84 run home win. It was now a hectic period with seven matches being played in ten days, Rain then returned and we lost another Martlets game but did manage to host the ECB made up of Foundation, Sussex Martlets and Duke’s matches so it was a nightmare U17 two day, hundred over County Championship Final at the end of August. This period for the Groundsmen when rain struck again on four of those match days - all was wonderful cricket where the young and up and coming stars showed off their that hard work for no reward. To cap this off we then lost to rain the extra Sussex talent. Scouts from ECB and counties were here and great cricket was seen – proba- CCC CB40 match against Kent CCC at the start of the Sussex Festival Week. The bly the best of the year. What a joy to watch Hampshire and Nottinghamshire players County Championship game against Durham started slowly and after both first in- show off their skills and without doubt we will soon be seeing some of these young nings the scores were remarkably at 231 apiece. Sussex then applied pressure to men’s names in the daily papers. Bowling and batting were first class and the fielding Durham on Friday afternoon and had to chase down a score of under a hundred. was outstanding and if you didn’t manage to be there then you missed a real treat. Oh Low scores to win are always difficult to achieve and this was no exception and with yes, Notts did win. hearts in mouths Sussex finally celebrated mid Saturday afternoon but with eight wickets down and after a great tenth wicket stand. Sunday and the CB40 match Tim Rice’s Heartaches v The Rain Men was played in sunshine and again what a against Northamptonshire was a much easier affair and Sussex had a sound victory lovely day with some of the more senior gentlemen of cricket taking to the field and making the Festival a great success, with some 13,500 spectators coming along dur- performing like youths but I fear they no doubt suffered badly the next day! Tim, ing the week. We look forward to new battles in mid June next year. thank you so much for your support of the Club.

After the clear up from the past week and some better weather we returned to normal This now brings me to the end of the season with another ECB funded match. Sunday duties. The Duke’s side beat the South African Touring side of Jonathan Oppen- 9 September saw the ESCA National Under 15 T/20 Finals day start. It started at heimer by 5 wickets in a hard fought game with some true grit shown from both 10.15 with two semi-finals of Shrewsbury versus Bolton, followed by Portsmouth sides. We also won against Arundel Town in a relaxed fixture where we scored 231 Grammar against Whitgift. To get to the Finals there had been a knock out pro- for 9 (Temple took 4 for 51) and Arundel were all out for 203 (with Harrison Tem- gramme with some 1000 schools taking part, so those who arrived at Arundel were ple scoring 54). The day was kindly sponsored by Nigel and Tess Wood for which really quite special. All games were VERY serious and FOUGHT to the line and the we thank them, and was a happy family day at the Ground. final of Bolton and Whitgift was an exceptional match. Although Bolton won by 10 wickets it was actually a very close run thing because they were fast running out of The Bunbury’s fixture was a new feature at Arundel, played over 35 overs, with a overs and actually won on the fifth ball of the last over. Such excitement and the ‘celebrity’ atmosphere prevailing. There were ex county players on both sides and crowd of nearly five hundred erupted with cheers of delight and tears of despair – we saw Alan Wells make 56, Tony Cottey 40, Mark Ealham 71 and Mal Loye 35, what a game cricket is! and the Bunbury’s won by 4 wickets – as I said the Duke’s side doesn’t like overs games! If this wasn’t enough the next weekend saw the last match of the season with the Eng- land Ladies playing their fifth T/20 fixture against the West Indies. This was the Lady Mary Mumford’s XI against the Sussex Martlets was as always a nostalgic day highlight match of the year for us and thanks must go to Clare Connor and again where we remember the reasons why The Friends was set up by Lady Mary’s Alan Fordham, from the ECB, for helping to get this fixture at Arundel. England mother, Lavinia Duchess of Norfolk all those years ago. So many things have were four up in the series and playing well but Arundel again helped the under dogs changed over the years but I was told by Mary it is what ‘Mum and Dad’ would and West Indies Ladies won off the last ball of the match, with Dottin their star batter have wanted so perhaps we are still getting things right. Sadly for Mary personally, having scored 62. The West Indian supporters went mad, as did the whole of the the Martlets won again and a strict order to her match manager, James Pyemont, was north bank. A wonderful end to the day with a thousand or so people enjoying the given ‘to do better next year’ – this reminded me of words I had often heard come Castle ground at its very best in the autumn sunshine. The ladies then went straight from the late Bernard Duke of Norfolk when I played! on to the T/20 World Cup in Sri Lanka and played so well but fell four runs short in the final to Australia. All other fixtures over the next two weeks went smoothly and the last Duke’s match of the season was played in good weather, spirit and friendly camaraderie against the We were in fact all sad to say goodbye to the season. Woozlers who lost by six wickets but were as they said “just delighted to be playing July brought the sun out for one of the ECB funded days when the Duke’s side again at Arundel” – we are lucky to have such loyal friends, and on this occasion for played against the England Association for the Deaf. It was a good day’s cricket the wonderful bowling performance by our Director of Cricket, JRTB, who took 6 for with the Association being delighted to be playing at Arundel and they have indi- 22, which he says are his best ever figures in any form of cricket! cated that if they come back they will try to turn the tables and reverse the 84 run home win. It was now a hectic period with seven matches being played in ten days, Rain then returned and we lost another Martlets game but did manage to host the ECB made up of Foundation, Sussex Martlets and Duke’s matches so it was a nightmare U17 two day, hundred over County Championship Final at the end of August. This period for the Groundsmen when rain struck again on four of those match days - all was wonderful cricket where the young and up and coming stars showed off their that hard work for no reward. To cap this off we then lost to rain the extra Sussex talent. Scouts from ECB and counties were here and great cricket was seen – proba- CCC CB40 match against Kent CCC at the start of the Sussex Festival Week. The bly the best of the year. What a joy to watch Hampshire and Nottinghamshire players County Championship game against Durham started slowly and after both first in- show off their skills and without doubt we will soon be seeing some of these young nings the scores were remarkably at 231 apiece. Sussex then applied pressure to men’s names in the daily papers. Bowling and batting were first class and the fielding Durham on Friday afternoon and had to chase down a score of under a hundred. was outstanding and if you didn’t manage to be there then you missed a real treat. Oh Low scores to win are always difficult to achieve and this was no exception and with yes, Notts did win. hearts in mouths Sussex finally celebrated mid Saturday afternoon but with eight wickets down and after a great tenth wicket stand. Sunday and the CB40 match Tim Rice’s Heartaches v The Rain Men was played in sunshine and again what a against Northamptonshire was a much easier affair and Sussex had a sound victory lovely day with some of the more senior gentlemen of cricket taking to the field and making the Festival a great success, with some 13,500 spectators coming along dur- performing like youths but I fear they no doubt suffered badly the next day! Tim, ing the week. We look forward to new battles in mid June next year. thank you so much for your support of the Club.

After the clear up from the past week and some better weather we returned to normal This now brings me to the end of the season with another ECB funded match. Sunday duties. The Duke’s side beat the South African Touring side of Jonathan Oppen- 9 September saw the ESCA National Under 15 T/20 Finals day start. It started at heimer by 5 wickets in a hard fought game with some true grit shown from both 10.15 with two semi-finals of Shrewsbury versus Bolton, followed by Portsmouth sides. We also won against Arundel Town in a relaxed fixture where we scored 231 Grammar against Whitgift. To get to the Finals there had been a knock out pro- for 9 (Temple took 4 for 51) and Arundel were all out for 203 (with Harrison Tem- gramme with some 1000 schools taking part, so those who arrived at Arundel were ple scoring 54). The day was kindly sponsored by Nigel and Tess Wood for which really quite special. All games were VERY serious and FOUGHT to the line and the we thank them, and was a happy family day at the Ground. final of Bolton and Whitgift was an exceptional match. Although Bolton won by 10 wickets it was actually a very close run thing because they were fast running out of The Bunbury’s fixture was a new feature at Arundel, played over 35 overs, with a overs and actually won on the fifth ball of the last over. Such excitement and the ‘celebrity’ atmosphere prevailing. There were ex county players on both sides and crowd of nearly five hundred erupted with cheers of delight and tears of despair – we saw Alan Wells make 56, Tony Cottey 40, Mark Ealham 71 and Mal Loye 35, what a game cricket is! and the Bunbury’s won by 4 wickets – as I said the Duke’s side doesn’t like overs games! If this wasn’t enough the next weekend saw the last match of the season with the Eng- land Ladies playing their fifth T/20 fixture against the West Indies. This was the Lady Mary Mumford’s XI against the Sussex Martlets was as always a nostalgic day highlight match of the year for us and thanks must go to Clare Connor and again where we remember the reasons why The Friends was set up by Lady Mary’s Alan Fordham, from the ECB, for helping to get this fixture at Arundel. England mother, Lavinia Duchess of Norfolk all those years ago. So many things have were four up in the series and playing well but Arundel again helped the under dogs changed over the years but I was told by Mary it is what ‘Mum and Dad’ would and West Indies Ladies won off the last ball of the match, with Dottin their star batter have wanted so perhaps we are still getting things right. Sadly for Mary personally, having scored 62. The West Indian supporters went mad, as did the whole of the the Martlets won again and a strict order to her match manager, James Pyemont, was north bank. A wonderful end to the day with a thousand or so people enjoying the given ‘to do better next year’ – this reminded me of words I had often heard come Castle ground at its very best in the autumn sunshine. The ladies then went straight from the late Bernard Duke of Norfolk when I played! on to the T/20 World Cup in Sri Lanka and played so well but fell four runs short in the final to Australia. All other fixtures over the next two weeks went smoothly and the last Duke’s match of the season was played in good weather, spirit and friendly camaraderie against the We were in fact all sad to say goodbye to the season. Woozlers who lost by six wickets but were as they said “just delighted to be playing To the remaining staff of Joe and Vanessa, we can’t thank you enough for what you have done this season to keep everybody happy and the ship afloat – well done and we are grateful for your stalwart efforts. It would also be remiss of me not thank Annie Atkinson for all she does behind the scenes, especially for the coaching events, and of course Johnny for his advice, support and exuberance that help things along so well…. What a team they make. Friends of Arundel The committee are about to experience a number changes with the Club, and for Castle Cricket Club their help this year I say thank you but to John Knight, Alan Caffyn and our Trus- tee Bill Rice I wish to record my gratitude for their personal support and guidance. Autumn Newsletter To you all may I also thank you for your continued commitment. I look forward to by Alan Wadey, Chairman seeing you at the Christmas Lunch on Friday 14th December, and fingers crossed for better weather next year.

Alan Wadey

Enclosed with this Newsletter: Details of Incorporation of The Friends Christmas Lunch Application 200 Club Application Form 2013 Membership Renewal

Christmas Lunch with guest speaker Mike Griffith - 14th December 2012