On the Tomlins Final victory……………………….

Erlin and I were thrilled and delighted with the news that the club has taken home the Cup. We extend our congratulations to the team itself, the supporters and their families and to all involved with the Thoresby Cricket Club. I knew that the club needed that little extra bit of furniture and I think, in fact I'm sure, that the Tomlins Cup is much more valuable than even the Crown Jewels!

I am looking forward to the match report. This wonderful victory will resonate for a long, long time into the future. I believe that it will always remain part of the collective memory of all those who have been part of the club and its history. When we revisit the club further down the track we'll be looking forward to viewing the taste and the savouring of a victory, perhaps long in coming but definitely well deserved.

Again our warmest congratulations. May the months and years ahead be as joyfilled as the moment of victory of last Sunday.

Warm wishes,

John and Erlin Hill

…… and on life at Thoresby in general ………………….

Dear All,

I would like to take this occasion to express the gratitude of Erlin and myself for the wonderful hospitality and sense of genuine community that you gave to us. To say that we felt at home and enjoyed ourselves would be an understatement. The journeys out to the oval and to the adjacent grounds, even the lost trek to Nottingham where we played [and won] against the West Indian Cavaliers, are fond memories that will be stored in our memory bank. The afternoon teas when we would fill ourselves with at least two meals worth will continue to induce a sense of wanting more. Even going back to being a scorer, when Doug's services were sorely needed as a cricketer, felt good. You know I thought some 6 years back that I had finished with being a scorer. I was then scoring at schoolboy matches. Starting all over again made me realise that I still retained some sense of scoring. But there again I had had some pep talks with the guru of scoring sheets Lady Irene. What a marvellous instructor she proved to be. There was Graham steering me around the hills and dales of bonny Scotland while Irene questioned me on the difference between a bye and a wide.

 Then there were those wonderful walks around the perimeter of the oval, at times talking, at other times just exercising or again strolling with young Kieran and his pram. I am sure that observers must have been wondering who was that strange grandfather figure controlling the pram. Rob at this stage was hitting a boundary or two while Liz came to rescue Kieran and the Pram. And there was Greg Cheshire with bat and ball in hand. Suddenly he decides to drop the bat and makes an almighty throw as though from the boundary into the eager and waiting gloves of the wicketkeeper. Then there were the other cricket matches going on alongside of the big event. There was Stephanie, with a Harold Larwood speed, pinging the ball down with Alistair holding a fearsome looking bat facing up to her. There were some class fieldspersons there in Sam and Katie. No ball would go beyond their grasp. Young Jack in his nimble way would be there to either disrupt or to applaud. But his role was vital and he made the occasion extra special. And of course there was Natasha bringing a calming presence to all the goings on.

If Martin Cheshire was in the land of downunder he would have already received a knighthood for services to the game. I have seen very few ovals as well kept as Thoresby. Nor have I heard of such long standing and successful captains. 1985 is a long long time ago! Nigel's lawnmowing efforts, as well of course his acrobating wicketkeeping skills, made the ball run readily to the boundary.Of all the ovals I went to Thoresby took the prize as the best. To all the team, and I am unsure as to whether I have all the names, I would like to thank you for letting me and Erlin be  able to watch some good matches. I am sorry that I missed all those centuries of last year Paul but I did appreciate your style and the innings you played. Billy your Shane Warne deliveries frustrated the batsmen as you allowed them no room for even a run. Ben, Ian and Callum I expect to hear a lot more of your feats in the years to come, if for no other reason than to understand that you make cricket a really enjoyable game. And Dave, when you are not on those arduous walks along the Yorkshire Moors, just you keep bowling those spinners and I feel sure they will eventually lead to the demise of the opposition. And Saylesh, I think they are going to need more and more of your persistent pace to make sure that Thoresby can make it to the top or at least nearby. And of course Scotty Dickens taking the field in his inimicable way made that difference. His style of catching wins us matches. But it was Sue, Hilary, Debbie, Helen, Liz and the many aftenoon tea ladies that made the day out  at the cricket all the more memorable.I know there are names that I have missed. It is that when you reach a certain age retention isn't quite so powerful. But I am sure that all those books I would read as a young boy well over 50 and more years again, when they descrbed the afternoon cricket matches on the English village green, certainly became a reality. Although reading the bard of Nottingham, D.H.Lawrence added that extra bit of diversity.It was as thought it was 'deja vu', seeing it for the first time.

There were so many memories that would take hours to relate. All I am sure of is that you all played a special part in making our time so enjoyable and for us to be able to experience a real and genuine sense of community.

For all of this we thank you and I do hope that one of these days our paths may meet up. If any of you dare to journey to the land downunder I can promise you a warm welcome. My wife Erlin endorses what I have expressed and together we once again thank you for your wonderful hospitality.

Warmest of wishes,

John Hill

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