Bessborough Cricket Club

Sarge joined the Borough in the early eighties after previously playing for Kodak and Harefield. He is remembered as being a fiery fast bowler and good off-spinner with an intimidating growl appeal, which bagged him a number of wickets, especially when Alan Foile was umpiring. He was a good middle order bat with his main weapon being the sweep shot. He was also very handy gully fielder.

He has served on numerous Bessborough committee's and held many important roles, most notably as Chairman for nine years until his retirement at the end of last season.

As a small way of thanks to Sarge and his wonderful wife Diane for all the many years they have given to the club, Bessborough is holding a celebration evening from 7pm on Saturday 25 August in the club-house.

Please do your upmost to make yourself available to see Sarge and Diane off in good style.

Sarge is a true living legend at Bessborough and his dedication to the club is only matched by his drinking skills and ability to fall over and sleep wherever he drops.

A few recollections from JT, Sarge’s partner in crime:

“While skipping down Headstone Lane he swung on a lamp-post, stumbled and then managed to get his leg stuck between the lamp-post and a wall. Loz and I could not help him as we were in stitches, even my next door neighbours got out of bed to see his plight. 

“Again in Headstone Lane, he fell and head-butted the pavement and had to be helped by passers-by to my place where he proceeded to cover my leather armchair in blood, which now has a permanent stain.

“He lost his glasses one night while crossing the park on his own and fell headlong into the mud; hit himself in the face with his cue and a very large black eye ensued. At least he kept hold of the club keys!

“Loz was going to work early one morning only to find Colin lying asleep in the porch. Loz did the honourable thing and let him be.

It was a Sunday third eleven friendly in the mid-1990s on the third team ground up the back. I was batting quite nicely and after a flurry of early wickets Sarge joined me at the wicket. Colin bashed a couple of boundaries off an old fella who was bowling medium pace and this fella got pretty annoyed and decided to bowl around the wicket. His first ball around the wicket pitched a foot outside leg stump and struck Sarge on the pad and everybody on the opposing team appealed. Being at the non-striker’s end, I turned away as it couldn’t possibly be given, however the umpire, our player Dave Morren, gave Sarge out. Colin took the decision pretty well, muttering as he trudged off and uttering the odd swear word. I was so impressed with his conduct after getting such a poor decision, he still took it and walked off.

As I got older and I started to get to know Colin better, especially when I was legally able to drink. I can think of countless times when we staggered out of Bessborough in the early hours with him moaning about us lot keeping him up and how ‘his Diane’ was going to murder him! As is well documented, his journeys home have been legendary with him falling over and falling asleep in various parts of Headstone Manor Park.

He spent 7 years as Club chairman and he has done so much work that people know about and even more that they don’t. His efforts will be missed, but more importantly, he will be missed more.

James Wheeler
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Well, where do I start?

In my opinion a True Borough Legend and more importantly Colin + Di + family have been great friends to me.

One of the best skippers I've played under and he always got the best out of all his players especially the famous match away at Bushey……I’m sure everyone has heard the story.

Apart from the already mentioned stories by JT I'd say a lot of the Funnies happened on tour.

Staying at Coach + Horses in Chepstow..After a skinfull on the first night Colin was under strict orders from Di that booze was out the question. So therefore Colin got stuck into the cokes. However, with his cheeky smile and of course when Di wasn’t looking, he through the evening managed to get the boys to get his cokes in all night with of course the addition off the odd vodka or three. Needless to say he managed to still wake up the following morning with the par for the course hangover.

Talking of “Par for the course” - a good time to move on to “Colin’s Golf on Tour”

Played a reasonably early game one year before our afternoon fixture…Colin tees off the first and pushes his tee shot…..On finding the ball it was perched on the edge of a Kind of gully…..Anyway with Colin having to use a strange stance to produce his own “Seve” moment we waited….However, having taken his shot and the rest of us expecting something strange, something totally non-Seve happenend… the next image we had was two feet, club and his Panama hat fly into the air with Colin nowhere to been seen…..After dusting himself off Colin appeared the with the hump……Because he went….a**e over t*t NO…because with all the laughter no-one bothered seeing where his ball went and therefore he lost a shot….All was not lost as he sunk a great 15 footer for a 9….Cheers Partner that’s 1 down already!

Again on tour I had the pleasure of playing golf with Sarge ….This particular hole he tee’d off and sent a crunching 130 yard drive down the middle of the fairway….However on approaching the ball he had landed 2 or 3 feet behind a tree….Colin asked for some advise so I said 'no heroics just punch it to the side for a clear shot to the green on your next shot' ….On the left of this hole was a big wall with an open farm gate….Against my advise, Colin took out a wood and launched his ball straight at the tree. However, this time we were looking for the ball for him and just managed to see it go straight out the gate and commence pinging its way down the country lane…So by far Colin’s longest approach shot, although sadly backwards….Myself and Kev Skelton (Aka Reg Varney) after picking ourselves off the floor then decided on that same hole after Colin replaced his ball and hit a far better approach we should undo the wheels on his trolley….So yes another delay while Colin picked all his clubs and put the wheels back on….”You little bar*tards he growled”

Playing a Legends game at Lydney, Sarge with a few other old yokes dusted off the whites for 1 last time...

Colin had a respectable 1 Not out batting although could have been run out by 21 yards. However, we knew he wouldn’t have lost his bowling. Anyway, after being dispatched a few times over Lydneys Club house Colin in his competitive/aggresive way had to come back with something to the banter he was getting …his reply “Not happy lads, skipper put me on wrong end.”

Anyway, Sarge it's been a pleasure having you as a True Borough legend, chariman, skipper and of course a good friend and long may that continue.

Cheers

Geezer

P.S…Thanks for all the gardening gear
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Sarge, it was immediately clear to me when I joined the club a couple of years ago just how important you are to the club and the respect and warmth everyone here has for you. We'll miss you big time.

Good luck in Norfolk (future Bessborough tour location?) and I hope you pop down the club whenever you can.

All the best,

Simon Heaney
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Some notes about Colin from the equally venerable Norman Whalley:

Colin originally worked at Kodak and was captain of their cricket team, at a time when Kodak were one of the strongest teams in Harrow. Winners of the Mayor of Harrows 20 over KO in 1967 and 1969, beating Pinner on both occasions.

It was at a game between Kodak and Bessborough that I first came into contact with Colin. Kodak batted first on a green top wicket and were soon in trouble until their West Indian arrived late and smashed Bessborough all round the field. They then made just over one hundred and that was enough to beat Bessborough in those days.

Later Colin played for Harefield and it was from there that he came to Bessborough. The first record I have was 1984 but he could have joined Bessborough earlier.

The details I have are as follows:

First mentioned in Peter Longfields report in 1984;

Wine committee chairman in 1985;

1985 - At the Annual General Meeting Diane was unhappy about the alarm call-out list and the constant ringing that kept her awake at night. I understand that this was worse than Colin's snoring;

1986 - Diane ran the Cake Stall at the Christmas Bazaar and they both ran the first Race Night. Colin was on the wine committee again;

Hon Fixture Secretary 1987/1988/1989/1990/1991;

1987 - Diane was promoted to look after the White Elephant Stall with Anthea Harvey at the Christmas Bazaar.

Colin played in both the first and second team with a batting average of 25 for the seconds;

1988 - Both Diane and Colin ran another successful Race Night.

Colin became 2nd team Vice Captain on the understanding that he could remain on the Wine Committee (anyone noticing a theme?)

Vice-Chairman 1996/1997/1998;

Chairman for 9 years until he retired in 2011;

Colin played both 1st and 2nd team cricket being most successful when captain of the 2nd team.

22nd April 2005 big party at the Club for Colin and Diane's Silver Wedding;

For 25 years Colin has always been excellent on tour, but is a very poor navigator around the back lanes of Wales.

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Will really miss our banter and comradeship.

Our Monday afternoons 'gardening' at the club were great fun, we really put the world to rights on many occasions.

The memories of our Tuesday Club (Sarge, Trev, JT, Fingers, Dougi et + me) will always be special to me!

Wishing you and yours all the very best in your new home. Keep in touch.

Geoff Wheeler

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For those not familiar with how the naming process took place, I will leave it for you to decide. 

Could I see a show of hands for: 

A. Because you looked like the Policeman out of the Village People? 

B. Because you sat at the bar with your tankered full of ale one Saturday eve, after a tough day at the office for a 21 year old first team captain, and declared "you're a good boy Duncan, a captain and a leader..... I'm more of a seargant myself". 

Of course, the handlebar moustache and the rubber uniform was the giveaway, right? 

To be fair, for all the micky taking, and there's been plenty, you really are a Seargant, strong and just principles that are not compromised. You set the highest of standards both on and off the field, and you expect those around you to act accordingly. 

Like all hero Sargeants in the movies, for all the tough exterior, you also have a warm, caring and deeply thoughtful side (you will no doubt remember when you put your arm round my shoulder during a dark day on tour once upon a time). 

In terms of cricket, many would (and have) disagreed with your thoughts - it can never be said those thoughts are anything but your own! However, like all those who have conviction in those thoughts, there is always a reward, and nobody can take away from you the fact that you gave Graeme his chance in senior cricket whilst everyone else said he couldn't hit the ball off the sq - I'm not sure he ever did hit it off the sq, but 2,000 singles a season aint bad, right?! 

It would foolish of me not to bring this to a close without the most famous of sayings, "behind every great man is a great woman", and it should never be forgotten exactly how much of a contribution Diane made to club by ensuring she kicked you out every evening.

Jokes aside, Diane and Colin have made a huge contribution to this cricket club and have been great supporters of my family. I would like to say a personal thank you. We (The Wests) wish you every happiness in the land of the straw munchers.

Whatever they say about your opinions Sarge, I can't disagree........I am a good boy.

Duncan West
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