WELCOME TO OUR NEW SPECIAL SPORTING STARS FEATURE

 
Today, Gordon Thomas and I are delighted to introduce our new  'Sporting Stars’ feature in conjunction with Jane and Bernie Wheeler,  of Wheelers Custom Made Medals, Beautifully-embroidered special sport caps, personally designed tee-shirts and a whole lot more.
 
The Wheelers have always been heavily involved in hockey, along with son Ollie, but have been great supporters of ours in things we have loved, like ‘Star of the Moth’ medals and other successful ventures – and when we asked them to design a badge we could give in our efforts to promote all sporting excellence, loyalty and commitment. Bernie was soon on the case and within three weeks we have received our badges, which we are thrilled with – SO THANKS JANE AND BERNIE, YOUR INDIVIDUAL BADGES WILL ARRIVE BY PIGEON POST!





 

Evan Martin – over 80 years involvement at Hook Cricket Club!

 
In light of our desire to promote sporting involvement, where could we make a better start than at Hook Cricket Club, where their 88 year old president, Mr Evan Martin, began an interest in the club at just four years of age when he asked if he could carry part of the club kit to Nash, where Hook used a farmer’s field to play on before they settled at their terrific current home.
 
By the time he was a teenager, Evan had made his debut for the team (only one in Hook in those days, and he played well into his late 50s, with his final appearance coming at 67, when a Hook player was injured and Evan was ‘volunteered’ to field in the slips. I was at the game as he stood quietly alongside the keeper but within five minutes was totally involved and telling the captain where he needed to change his fielders!
 

A bang on the head – and some lovely memories

 
Jamie Phelps, another Hook stalwart, remembers fielding in the slips as a youngster with Evan with the glove on for the second team – and the ball struck Jamie on the foot, flew up and there was blood everywhere from Evan’s head – no helmets in those days!
 
Evan refused to go off, cursed Jamie in a heap and just used a hankie to wipe the blood away until it gave up trying and stopped bleeding!
 
In his time, Evan played alongside some great characters like his late pal Terry Hitchings, Juno John and many others and he was captain for several seasons, played as an all-rounder for The County – and is held in such high regard by the current crop of players, and dads like Keith James, Jamie Phelps, Andrew Thomas and Brennan lay that they have installed a splendid double seat on the veranda, complete with parasol and near enough to the club for them to get him a pint.
 

Permission granted to sit with The President

 
On one of the seats is notice that it is reserved for the club president and I was honoured to be granted permission to join him when I presented someone I regard as an example of all that is good in our cricket. We chatted about the old days but I know that he is immensely proud of his legacy because both his sones, Jeffrey and Gary, were excellent cricketers, with the latter once  on Glamorgan’s books – and grandson Brennan has been a first-team regular for a number of years!
 
Evan understandably has a host of memories from an amazingly-long association with Hook Cricket Club and I am already looking forward to further invitations to sit on the seat right next to its president, where he is well looked after by more recent club stalwarts Keith and Jamie Phelps, plus their respective wives Joy and Claire.