Old Cranleighan Society

A stunning memorial

2009-05-22T10:59:00.000-07:00

Click here for photos
Although the official opening of the renovated Jubilee pavilion is not until OC Day on June 14, it is already in use, and on May 22 a small dinner was given by the school to those who were involved in the rebuilding.

Suffice to say that the interior is stunning, and for the first time we have a genuine cricket pavilion, right down to honours boards listing all school and OC cricket achievements back to 1866. The most stunning feature is the glass-fronted balcony.

Guy Waller gave a short speech on behalf of the school, to which David Bugge, as OCCC president, replied. John McDermott then gave a more lengthy but , as ever, entertaining speech which covered subjects ranging from the driving skills of the headmaster's wife to smoking in the pavilion during the 1950s.

Vix Cox - Times Obituary

2009-04-29T08:21:00.000-07:00

Film producer who worked with many big names of the 1950s and 1960s British cinema and then turned to schoolmastering

Viv Cox won respect, and some fame, producing films at Pinewood Studios and for Rank. Among the better known actors he worked with were Dirk Bogarde and Hattie Jacques. Spike Milligan, the Goon Show comic genius, was another of his contemporaries.

Cox's career in films began after demobilisation in 1946. After working with Sydney, Muriel and Betty Box at Shepherd's Bush Studios, he became associate producer to Betty Box and then producer at Pinewood Studios.

Among his early films were So Long at the Fair (with Jean Simmons and Dirk Bogarde, 1950), Father Brown (with Alec Guinness, 1954) and Bachelor of Hearts (with Hardy Kruger and Sylvia Syms, scripted by Cox's friends Leslie Bricusse and Frederic Raphael, 1958).
From 1959 to 1967 Cox worked as an independent producer and screenwriter for Rank Studios, producing such titles as Watch Your Stern (with Spike Milligan, Leslie Phillips, Hattie Jacques and Kenneth Connor, 1960)and We Joined the Navy (with
Kenneth More, 1962). Between 1960 and 1976 Cox produced all the stage shows for the annual Royal Command Film Performance and hosted the royal party.

His lifelong love of France and good food were cleverly combined in a television series that he produced on French regional cooking, in which he motored around France in a powder-blue sports car, enjoying excellent fare and often featuring in front of the camera as well as behind it.

Vivian Alexander Cox was born in 1915 in Bangalore, South India, the second of five children of Winifred and Alexander Cox. He was educated in Switzerland, then at Cranleigh School and at Jesus College, Cambridge, where he read English.

He did well academically, on the stage and in sports. At Cranleigh he starred under the direction of a young Michael Redgrave, who briefly taught at the school, in John Milton's Samson Agonistes, and Shakespeare's King Lear and Hamlet. At Cambridge he acted in two Footlights reviews, and his sporting prowess earned him a blue for hockey and four England caps in 1937.

After three years as head of English and Drama at Aldenham School, he joined the RNVR in 1940. He served on the minesweeping trawler HMS Euclase, was commissioned as a sub-lieutenant and selected to work in the Admiralty War Room.

While there, he set up the floating map room for Winston Churchill on HMS Duke of York, and accompanied the Prime Minister to Washington where, at President Roosevelt's request, he set up a similar map room in the White House. Cox later recalled a late-night conversation when Churchill said to Cox of Roosevelt: "It is a great mercy for all mankind that he's been called to this great office at this moment in history."

After a brief respite from the war in London, spending time at Denham Studios with Noel Coward, Bernard Miles and John Mills among others, in 1942 Cox was appointed Junior Staff Officer (Flag Lieutenant) to Vice-Admiral Bruce Fraser and served on HMS Anson.

The following year he sailed with Fraser, promoted Admiral, on HMS Duke of York, witnessing the sinking of the Scharnhorst. Other highlights of a remarkable war career included entertaining King George VI for 90 minutes with impersonations of naval characters, and being with Fraser for the Japanese surrender.

At the invitation of General McArthur, he was one of the first four Allied servicemen into Tokyo after the surrender, riding shotgun in a jeep. Later he recalled: "Strangely, people in the street didn't seem to see us. Whether they'd been told to ignore us, I don't know."

In 1967 Cox returned to his first profession and his alma mater, teaching English, French and Drama at Cranleigh School. A gifted and inspiring teacher, he taught for eight years, during which he also directed several plays, including Hassan with Juliet Stephenson.

From 1975 until his retirement in 1982 he worked with Sir Bernard Miles as administrator at London's Mermaid Theatre. In 1977 he translated Henri de Montherlant's The Fire That Consumes, winning the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play. He subsequently translated two other plays from the French, both per-formed in the US and directed by his friend, Louis Fantasia.

Cox was president of the Old Cranleighan Society, and among other donations gave the school the Vivian Cox Theatre — opened by Sir John Mills, and with a green-room facility donated by his friend and US entrepreneur, Harry C. Meyerhoff.

His wideranging experiences, memory and wit made Cox a popular raconteur. To his boss, Bruce Fraser, he was "a cross between Encyclopaedia Britannica and a court jester". To his family and many friends, he was an ebullient character with a great sense of humour, glittering lifestyle and an unrivalled propensity to name-drop.
Cox did not marry.

Vivian Cox, film producer and schoolmaster, was born on . 1915. He died on April 27, 2009 aged 93

OC legend Viv Cox dies aged 93

2009-04-29T05:33:00.001-07:00

We are very sorry to have to report that Viv Cox died peacefully in his sleep on Monday, April 27, 2009. He was 93.

There are few individuals so inexorably linked to Cranleigh and Old Cranleighans. Viv was one of a rare breed who both went to the school and returned to teach there, and in retirement built his home in Edgefield Close so he was able to keep on top of daily life at Cranleigh. Quietly and without fuss, he helped many past and present Cranleighans, his pleasure coming from seeing them thrive in an environment which had given him so much pleasure.

As a sportsman, Viv was a one of those multitalented games players which seemed to be so common in the inter-war years. At Cranleigh he was a colour in all three major sports, and also boxed and played fives. He went on to represent English Public Schools at rugby, and but for a serious knee injury playing for the Old Cranleighans against the School, would in all likelihood have won a Blue at Cambridge. As it was, he became the first OC to be capped by England at hockey.

His war was remarkable, and those of us fortunate enough to sit down and chat with Viv about his exploits were entertained for hours with stories of Churchill, Roosevelt and many A-list celebrities. Undoubtedly many of these stories will come out in the coming weeks.

A thespian at heart, he went on to become a leading British film producer and then assisted Bernard Miles at the Mermaid Theatre, before returning to Cranleigh to teach. His lasting memorial at Cranleigh is the Viv Cox theatre.

He played a little cricket for the OCs but kept abreast of the comings and goings, and in 2001, aged 85, accompanied the OCCC on their Kenya tour, a trek which left many half his age wilting. Viv remained cheerful and energetic throughout. He was also a regular player for the OCHC in the two decades after the war.

"Vivian was my valued and special friend for 42 years, since we were new boys in the Common Room together in 1967,” Mike Payne said. “No friend has shared with me such a fund of reminiscence, so much of it connected to Cranleigh. His wit was legendary, all with a sense of timing honed in the theatre and film world he treasured. I have printed before a 2005 example, when I was driving him to Thames Ditton. Knowing that he was tired, I said: 'Vivian, if you want to have a sleep I'll shut up talking.' 'No,' said Vivian, 'I think the best way is for you to carry on.' "

Viv’s funeral will be private, but there will be an opportunity for us to celebrate his remarkable life and major contribution to the School and the OC community at a Memorial Service, to be held in the School Chapel early next year when it re-opens after its refurbishment.

Westcott astro opens at Prep School

2009-04-28T04:42:00.001-07:00

Olympians turned up by the truck-load as Cranleigh Prep School opened their new artificial Westcott Pitch on April 17. There were 10 in all - including Dave Faulkner, Richard Mantell and Richard Leman - plus six national players to form an invitational side to take on the school's finest (past and present) in a special match.

Mike Wilson, head of Cranleigh Prep, said: "It's an important day for the school and it only seems, bearing in mind the long-standing association we have with the sport – having produced several national and Olympic players over the years - that the new pitch should be opened by such an illustrious line-up of figures in the world of international hockey."

The facility has been named after David Westcott, a former pupil at the prep and senior schools and who is currently a governor. He captained Great Britain at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, guiding them to a bronze medal. Five years earlier he had led Oxford University in a record Varsity win against Cambridge, scoring a hat-trick at Lord's in the days when the match was played on grass at cricket's headquarters.

The match also gave an opportunity for Steve Batchelor - gold medallist in Seoul in 1988 as well as the bronze four years earlier - to take on son Tom, a pupil at the senior school and who has just been selected for the England U16 squad.

Excellent facilities are synonymous with the school and the Westcott Pitch represents an inaugural project for the Cranleigh Foundation in enhancing them.

An OC side featuring, among others, David Knapp, Rob Merry, Helen Merry

OCRFC in Spain

2009-04-28T03:14:00.001-07:00

Needless to say we had fun in Valencia. Captained splendidly by Steero we played a 3-way tournament with two Spanish sides; spanked the first one, Tamati RC, but rather shot our bolt a tad early and faded against the better second one, the hosts and the oldest club in Spain, Tavernes RC. Still we won on aggregate over the two games! Other than that well, ‘what goes on tour ...’. We saw rather more of the Spanish health service than we would have liked, but fortunately to no lasting effect. ‘Morrisey’ (Ollie Smith) was King of Tour for translation services and all-round good touring.

I don’t think that the Hotel Melia Plaza are going to host another rugby tour though, not for any outrageous behaviour of course on our behalf, more for cultural differences; as an example they were rather fazed by Bradders and ‘Tragedy’ (Ben Gillen) appearing dressed as Smurfs for the day on Saturday; the manager said that it was “not normal” (Rolesy begged to differ). Ben would like to retain his tour name please for general usage.

Thanks as ever to Simon Laws for his efforts, which included a return to the pitch only a year after his quadruple heart bypass; a typical prop he dropped a scoring pass over the line!

First round Halford Hewitt loss to Eton

2009-04-20T15:03:00.000-07:00

Nearly 30 OCs, together with the headmaster and Mike Payne, gathered at Deal
last week to support our Halford Hewitt team in our 70th appearance at this
notable competition organised by the Public Schools Golf Association. Drawn
against a young Old Etonian side, the team battled against a cold and strong
northerly wind to lose 1½ to 3½ in the first round. Sadly Marcus Ferguson-
Jones was unable to play, so Tony Whitty led the team consisting of John
Davies, Martin Riddiford, Oliver Rosenberg, Mike Crane, Richard Williams, Luke
Parry, Adam Kendrick, Mark Connelly, and Abeed Janmohamed, with Matthew
Hansford acting as team coach. In the final, Tonbridge beat Merchant Taylors
3-2, having overcome a strong Bradfield side in the semis. In the Prince’s Plate
we disappointingly lost to St. Bee’s. It was good to see Adam Kendrick come
down from university during his finals to play his first HH. We hope this will
encourage more young OCs to boost our aging team. David Willis

Halford Hewitt Trivia

2009-04-02T15:06:00.000-07:00

In the Halford Hewitt Anderson Scale, Cranleigh is rated 26th compared to
Eton at 5th. The average points per year for the OCs is 1.042 compared
with Eton at 2.269.

In “The Small Scale” Cranleigh is 34th (out of 64 schools) compared to
Eton at 11. The points difference was 92.7.

Our record of results in the 70 years we have been playing is:
Round 1 24; round 2 25; round 3 12; quarter finals 7; semi final 1, final 1.
We have never won the competition but came closest in 1968, losing to Eton 2-3. John Davies played in that match and is still playing 30 years later!

Cranleigh draw Eton in Halford Hewitt

2009-01-19T13:19:00.000-08:00

Cranleigh have drawn Eton in this year's Halford Hewitt which will take place
at Deal on Thursday April 2. The match is scheduled to kick-off at 3.35, the last
match of the day and may have to carry-on to the Friday.

Cranleigh lost on the 20th hole to Eton in the 1968 final. We are determined to have our revenge this year and encourage as many supporters as possible, so please come and join us for a great day’s golf and companionship.

Click here for the full draw

Jubilee pavilion undergoes major work

2008-11-30T14:01:00.001-08:00

We are delighted to announce that the £480,000 refurbishment of the Jubilee pavilion is now underway and expected to be completed in time for the start of the 2009 season.

The work started at the beginning of November and involves a complete renovation and extension of the building. For the first time since the 1960s the entire pavilion will be available for use.

The main change is that the entrance will be through the middle of the downstairs (where the umpires' room was) into a hall with new dressing-rooms leading off it. Upstairs is accessed by internal stairs into a landing with doors leading onto the balcony ahead. To the right the existing dining room will become a club room, while the other side will be converted into a big dining room. Partition doors will allow the dining area to be extended into the landing.

The stairs leading to the balcony at either end downstairs will be removed, meaning access will come via the building. The wooden balustrade, which has been at an inconvenient height ever since the dreadful 1988 refurbishment, will be replaced by glass. It promises to be spectacular.

The pavilion was built by the OCs in 1924 as a memorial to those who fell in the Great War, something that has been increasingly overlooked. This aspect is being restored with the building becoming a memorial to all Cranleighans who have died in wars. Honours boards will form a stunning part of the upstairs landing.

Outside there are plans being discussed to improve the landscaping between the pavilion and the main drive.

The work so far has been made possible by a remarkable donation of £300,000 from the Old Cranleighans. However, we still need to raise £180,000 to make this possible and the OCCC are embarking on a major fund-raising exercise starting now so that we can enjoy our amazing new cricket home in time for next season.

OCHC to play School on January 3

2008-11-13T10:04:00.000-08:00

After several years of trying, we are delighted to announce that the annual fixture against the School, which was first played in 1921, seven years before the official founding of the OCHC, will resume on January 3 when the School XI play an OC side mainly made up of leavers from the last two years. The game will start at 2.30pm at Thames Ditton.

"I appreciate the efforts of all concerned to ensure this game occurs which will be played for the Roger Loveland vase and will I hope become an annual event," said David Knapp.

Waters excels on international debut

2008-11-02T14:40:00.001-08:00

A remarkable fortnight for Seren Waters who made his national debut for Kenya in the Intercontinental Cup match against Ireland in Nairobi and followed with his full ODI debut a week later.

Against Ireland, Waters made 18 and 75 opening the innings, the latter described as being an innings of tremendous maturity which outshone efforts by many of his more senior colleagues. His second-innings effort was the highest by an OC in first-class cricket

He then scored 41 on his ODI debut, followed with 20 against Zimbabwe. In the two-match series in South Africa, he made 15 and finished with an excellent 74, more than double the next best by his team-mates.

Waters captained the school last summer and scored more than 900 runs, as well as playing some vital innings for Old Cranleighans, including a battling 68 in the Cricketer Cup final. He has played for various Surrey age groups and last summer played his club cricket for Weybridge in Surrey, a side captain by Kenya reject Abeed Janmohamed.

Click here for the Cricinfo report and here for Cricinfo’s profile of Seren.

Meaker makes Championship debut

2008-09-20T07:27:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to Stuart Meaker who made his Championship debut for Surrey against Nottinghamshire at The Oval on September 17. Stuart made 16 and 6 and took 3 for 86, taking the new ball in Nottinghamshire’s only innings.

His opening spell of 4-1-6-1 was impressive, although Jonathan Batty, Surrey’s keeper, might disagree. Stuart’s fourth ball skidded through, Batty failed to take it cleanly and fractured one finger and dislocated another, ending up in hospital having an operation. He took his first wicket when Will Jefferson nicked one to stand-in keeper Scott Newman who made a complete horlicks of the chance, but the ball spilt from his gloves and looped to Usman Afzaal at second slip.

Stuart’s second and third spells on the first day were less rewarding, although in fairness to him by then a woeful Surrey side were shipping runs at an alarming rate. On the third morning he grabbed two more wickets.

The feeling was that he showed real promise but was still, understandably, quite raw. His pace was impressive, so much so that he looked quicker than the dismal Shoaib Akhtar, and especially early on, he got a few to rip through. He certainly has a good future ahead of him but Surrey need to manage him carefully and play down some of the wilder predictions. As he came on to bowl, one voice in the pres box piped up that he “had been clocked at 100mph”!

Stuart’s was the first Championship appearance by an OC since Maurice McCanlis played for Surrey against Lancashire at The Oval in July 1926, his only county appearance. He opened the bowling and took one second-innings wicket.

Stuart also took one wicket on his first-class county debut against Loughborough UCCE in April, and so his four wickets at 34.75 means he is the leading OC wicket-taker in first-class cricket, moving ahead of Nigel Paul who took three. Perhaps that is not something to write home about!

He also made his FP Trophy debut in April and the weekend before his Championship bow, he played his first Pro40 match, taking 1 for 57 against Leicestershire.

OCRFC triumph in Under-21 shield

2008-09-01T13:45:00.000-07:00

The Old Cranleighans won the Shield at the Cronk-Cunis Under-21 Public Schools tournament. After beating Eton in the first round they narrowly and unluckily lost to Wellington College in the 2nd, going on to beat Gordonstoun, Eastbourne and Chislehurst & Sidcup in the Shield competition.

Having kicked-off at 10.30, their last match finished at 7.15 - a marathon 5 half games or 200 minutes of rugby!

Rifle club at School Veterans

2008-08-19T13:47:00.000-07:00

We had two full teams available for the Schools Veterans. These scored: "A" Team - 234.15 and "B" Team - 220.16. The Simmonds Medal was won by Simon Hayton with a score of 48.4; Adrian Elliott also scored 48.4 but Simon had the stronger finish and his shoot was deemed the better. Vice President Andrew Black presented the medal to Simon back at the Surrey RA.

Click here for more on the OC Rifle Club

OCCC go down in Cricketer Cup final

2008-08-18T13:43:00.000-07:00

Old Malvernians 178 (Nash 70, Watkinson 4-14, Meaker 2-35) beat Old Cranleighans 152 (Waters 68) by 26 runs
Click here for match photos

The dream of winning the Cricketer Cup in only our second year in the competition ended in the final at Old Deer Park as we lost to Old Malvernians by 26 runs. Nevertheless, we played superbly for three-quarters of the match and it was only in the dying overs that Malvern’s experience proved too much. They were the worthy winners but the youth of our side means that we should be a force to come for a number of years.

Malvern had a superb record in the competition, with five wins from five finals. Like us, they also made the final in their second year, although they went one better than we eventually managed.

Henry Watkinson won the toss and opted to field, hardly a surprise given that we had successfully chased in all four rounds. The pitch was dry and produced variable bounce, and Malvern found runs hard to come by. Stuart Meaker bowled a fiery opening spell, in contrast to Watkinson who relied on guile and accuracy and who took the first wicket in the sixth over, bowling Powell.

Watkinson’s opening spell of 5-2-4-1 set the benchmark, and Meaker got his reward four overs later when Mark Hardinges, who seven days earlier had steered Gloucestershire to a one-day win over Hampshire, dragged into his stumps for 2. Gifford looked capable of posing problems before he played an ugly cross-batted shot to Seren Waters, and at 31 for 3 in the 15th over, our tails were up.

Middlesex’s David Nash was clearly the danger man, and he found gaps with the skill expected of a professional, and with Franklin, the opener, he rebuilt the innings. Franklin should have been run-out with the score on 56 but Michael Chetwode fumbled a return to the bowler’s end with the batsman stranded mid pitch. However, we struck a crucial blow with the last delivery before lunch when Franklin tamely cut Matt Crump to Phil Roper at backward point for 29. We headed off in the better position, with Malvern 86 for 4 off 30 overs.

Nash and Usher batted well after the break, taking the total to 153 for 4 with judicious placement more than out-and-out aggression. In the innings overall there were only ten fours. In the final overs the batsmen hit out and, inevitably, wickets fell.

Nash perished for 70 to a tumbling catch from Roper and in the next over, the 46th, Meaker bowled Usher for 30. Watkinson then chipped in with two in two, and a brace of run-outs in the final over restricted Malvern to 178. Watkinson finished with excellent figures of 8-3-14-4 and the last six wickets had gone for 25 in five-and-a-bit overs.

The pitch continued to throw up puffs of dust and the outfield was slow, so it was a gettable target but not an easy one. The early sunshine had also given way to low cloud and the temperature had dropped into the 50s.

Waters top-edged the first ball he faced, a bouncer, over the keeper for four, and was struck by the second. But he showed composure beyond his years and was soon looking as assured as ever. Howard fell early, getting a leading edge, but that brought in Matt Crump, another young player in great touch.

Early shackles were broken when Waters twice lofted fours over midwicket, and Crump then joined in, surviving a half chance when he hammered the ball to the right of square leg who could only parry the ball.

Crump perished for 17 – one of three leg-befores against batsmen going back – and then Malvern’s seasoned spinners really tightened their grip on the game, backed by some excellent fielding. Abeed Janmohamed, such a class act in the semi-final, struggled to find his touch, but Waters kept things ticking along. Janmohamed departed for a 27-ball 3 (69 for 3) but Meaker sought to impose himself from the off.

The penultimate over before tea appeared to have swung the balance of the match, 15 coming off it including the day’s first six, a swing over long leg from Meaker. We headed off on 102 for 3 off 30, needing 77 to win in 20 overs with wickets in hand.

Whatever was served for tea, it perked up Malvern and pretty much did for us. Meaker fell lbw to the first ball after the restart and the pressure was on. James Halton, who specialises in run chases, looked up for it, but wasn’t able to stay long enough to make a difference.

Waters, who passed his fifty before tea, found it almost impossible to get enough of the strike. Eds Copleston was unable to push the ones needed to keep Waters at the striker’s end, although he did strike one sublime straight six.

The run-rate, which had hovered around four an over throughout, began to rise as the gloom worsened. Copleston perished trying to hit over the top, and three balls later Waters was bowled for a superb 68 as he tried to make up the lost ground.

From then on in we were always off the pace, although Tom Crump and Roper kept the flame flickering. Thirty three were needed off four, but Roper fell to a thick edge and then Crump was run-out after being sent back by Watkinson, who was bowled off the next ball to seal a deserved victory for Malvern.

The turnout was excellent, and many former and present OCCC players were in evidence, along with a good smattering of non cricketers and representatives of the school. There was a pleasant atmosphere, although staging the final at a ground under the Heathrow flight path was a downer.

Although the result was disappointing, everyone who has taken part in the competition for us this summer can be proud. As can the club and the school. Eight years ago we weren’t even in a knock-out tournament. In the interim we have won the Brewers Cup three times and the Cricket World Trophy once. Even participating in the Cricketer Cup was beyond our wildest dreams, and yet we achieved that and within two years we reached the final. We’ll just have to make sure that next year we go one better.

One last thought. In 2007, we became the first new side in the Cricketer Cup since it was expanded from 16 to 32 teams in its third year (1969). Our success has shown that there are strong sides out there who might not have been so four decades ago. Allowing some of these old boys’ teams into the competition can only bring new life to it, and the organisers should think about the value of looking at some expansion, adding new sides rather than waiting for old ones to drop out. It might mean a first qualifying round each year for the less successful teams, but that might be no bad thing either.

All Cranleighans invited to Cricketer Cup final

2008-08-15T15:02:00.000-07:00

From Guy Waller and John McDermott

The Old Cranleighan Cricket Club has reached the final of the Cricketer Cup. To do so, in only its second year of entry in this prestigious competition, is a considerable achievement and reflects greatly on the current health and strength of Cranleigh cricket.

The 2008 Cricketer Cup final will see the Old Cranleighans playing the Old Malvernians at Richmond Cricket Club (Old Deer Park), on Sunday, August 17, 2008.

The Cricketer Cup sponsor, Rensburg Sheppards, is very kindly offering a complimentary lunch for the first 100 guests at its barbecue. Additionally, free Pimms sponsored by Cranleigh School will be served from 4.00pm to 7.00pm in the OC Society marquee.

Now in its 42nd year, the Cricketer Cup has enabled the leading cricketing schools to compete annually against each other in knock-out competition. Not included in the original 32 schools selected, Cranleigh has had to wait until 2006 to be invited to replace Blundells in the competition.

Last season, after the great win in our first match v Harrow on the Jubilee, the toss of a coin on a wet Sunday in a Fulham pub finished our hopes v Highgate. This season the OCCC have recorded convincing wins v Lancing, Clifton, Cheltenham and Dulwich.

Cranleigh School has long been proud of its cricketing tradition. Following convincing investment in cricket facilities and resources, the 1st X1 enjoyed unbeaten seasons in 2006 and 2007 against the likes of Tonbridge, Radley, Winchester, Wellington and Charterhouse. In 2008 Seren Waters broke the record for runs scored in a Cranleigh 1st X1 career. Several recent players have gone on to shine at university, county and even national level. All these are playing now in the OCCC Cup team.

Furthermore, Cranleigh remains committed to the future development of such potential. 2008 saw Cranleigh School host the first ever Spirit of Cricket event held outside Lords. 2008-9 will not only see the redevelopment of the much-loved Cricket Pavilion on the Jubilee under a joint OC Society and Cranleigh School project, but also the creation of dedicated indoor nets to complement the newly improved outdoor nets. The refurbishment of the Prep School Pavilion ensures that the School's youngest talent, too, can be nurtured, with facilities that are now the envy of many of the Schools we play.

The School's commitment to cricket, and subsequent achievements, have in turn enhanced one of the strongest ever eras of Old Cranleighan Cricket. Over the past 15 years, the OCCC has travelled on 12 international tours across all continents. It has been victorious in 4 national knockout cups and is proud to still host probably the strongest and most enjoyable annual Old Boys cricket weeks in the country on the Jubilee.

Malvern can boast a total of 10 appearances in the final, five as winners. Only Tonbridge has a slightly superior record to Malvern in the competition's history. It certainly will be a challenge and also a great occasion.

The match starts at 11.30am, so bring a picnic and spend a wonderful day supporting this Cranleighan achievement and don't forget to get there on time for the free BBQ which should start at about 2.00pm.

For directions to the grounds, click here.

Cranleigh eyes up Craddock

2008-07-09T15:14:00.000-07:00

Charlie Craddock, a 13-year-old pupil at Cottesmore Preparatory School in West Sussex, almost single-handedly saw his 1st XI side to victory over St Aubyn's in a Twenty20 match, scoring 119 off 56 balls (including 13 sixes) and taking six wickets - four in four balls - to earn his school colours. Craddock starts at Cranleigh in September.

OCCC into Cricketer Cup quarter-finals

2008-07-02T11:23:00.001-07:00

Old Cranleighans 238 for 2 (M Crump 107*, Cope 41, Howard 38, Janmohamed 36*) beat Old Cliftonians 235 for 9 (Houcke 100, Chetwode 3-38, Cope 3-47) by eight wickets
Click here for match photos

A super hundred from Matt Crump guided us to an eight-wicket win over Old Cliftonians on the Lowers and book us a Cricketer Cup quarter-final trip to Cheltenham College. In two Cup matches this year we have only lost four wickets and the bulk of our runs have been scored by players under 22. The future really is bright.

On a sunny but windy day, Clifton won the toss. The pitch had little bounce and the ball didn’t come onto the bat, but it was a true surface. The first and crucial wicket, that of former England A and Gloucestershire batsman Matt Windows, owed nothing to the pitch, a Henry Watkinson full toss scooped back to the bowler. He struck again two overs later to leave Clifton 22 for 2.

Houcke and Meadows took the score to 74, struggling to get after Graham Webb who bowled through his ten overs for 28. Michael Chetwode’s first spell produced the breakthrough and a second catch for Abeed Janmohamed, and apart from one wayward over, he was typically parsimonious.

There then followed Clifton’s main stand, Houcke and Swetman adding 90 in 18 overs. Our fielding wobbled and we split four hard chances, and for a time there was a danger the game was going to get away from us. Chetwode finally lured Swetman into a weak drive, and from then on we regained control. The last 14 overs yielded 71 runs for six wickets.

Houcke continued to plough a lonely furrow, falling to a sharp stumping the ball after reaching his hundred. Morrison ruined Alex Craven’s figures with some good late hitting, but Alan Cope kept the damage within limits with an excellent late burst.

Our innings started shakily, Will Howard surviving the first of two drops in the opening over. His luck ran out when he had made 38 but by then he and Crump had got us off to a good start. Cope came in and looked in good touch, relishing a brief clash with Windows until trying for one hit too many.

At 121 for 2 we were still in the driving seats but quick wickets and we might have struggled. Abeed Jamohamed was not in the best of form but he dug in, rotated the strike and thumped the bad balls. Crump, happy to play second fiddle to Cope, upped a gear on his dismissal and drove in the V ruthlessly, especially on the leg side. Clifton wilted under the onslaught, their fielding became ragged and they split more catches. Crump reached his hundred with a pull through midwicket and an over later completed an emphatic win with a similar stroke.

Without exaggerating, this was probably the best day in the club’s history. Aside from this result, we also fielded an Under-21 side on Jubilee which would have beaten most opposition. With several players returning from the School match for the next round, for the first time the selectors face a real quandary over the team to take to Cheltenham.

A super hundred from Matt Crump guided us to an eight-wicket win over Old Cliftonians on the Lowers and book us a Cricketer Cup quarter-final trip to Cheltenham College. In two Cup matches this year we have only lost four wickets and the bulk of our runs have been scored by players under 22. The future really is bright.

On a sunny but windy day, Clifton won the toss. The pitch had little bounce and the ball didn’t come onto the bat, but it was a true surface. The first and crucial wicket, that of former England A and Gloucestershire batsman Matt Windows, owed nothing to the pitch, a Henry Watkinson full toss scooped back to the bowler. He struck again two overs later to leave Clifton 22 for 2.

Houcke and Meadows took the score to 74, struggling to get after Graham Webb who bowled through his ten overs for 28. Michael Chetwode’s first spell produced the breakthrough and a second catch for Abeed Janmohamed, and apart from one wayward over, he was typically parsimonious.

There then followed Clifton’s main stand, Houcke and Swetman adding 90 in 18 overs. Our fielding wobbled and we split four hard chances, and for a time there was a danger the game was going to get away from us. Chetwode finally lured Swetman into a weak drive, and from then on we regained control. The last 14 overs yielded 71 runs for six wickets.

Annual OC Ladies cricket match?

2008-07-02T11:14:00.000-07:00

It is hoped to have, at the very least, an annual OC Ladies' cricket match against the School. Interested OCs please contact May Millburn-Fryer: MayMillburn-Fryer@hotmail.com or call 07837 352759

Golfers thrashed in Halford Hewitt

2008-04-11T13:31:00.000-07:00

The OC golfers suffered a drubbing in the opening round of the Halford Hewitt, losing by 4½ - ½ to Merchiston. Malvern beat Harrow 4-1 in the final.

Lancing drawn in Cricketer Cup

2008-03-13T13:22:00.000-07:00

The OCCC have been drawn at home against old rivals Lancing Rovers in the first round of the 2008 Cricketer Cup. The tie will be played on Sunday, June 15 on Jubilee and, if we win, we will face the winners of the game between Winchester and Clifton. We first played Lancing as long ago as 1926 and for more than three decades they provided the traditional finale to the annual cricket week.

The match will again coincide with OC Day and more details of that can be found on the official OC Society site. For more information on the OCCC click here.

Awesome 1st XV secure promotion

2008-03-02T01:56:00.000-08:00

A magnificent season for the OCRFC finished with the 1st XV unbeaten league champions. They were the only team in Surrey with a 100% league record. Of course they didn't always make it easy for themselves; 9-0 down in the final game at Mitcham with 10 minutes left, they just squeezed ahead on the line 10-9.

Captain Graeme Brown, who will continue next season, awarded the 1st XV tankard to Sam Langmead, who fought off a strong challenge from top try-scorer Tim Roles. Player/coach Andy Houston will also be back next year, although top OC Kiwi David Shaw (recipient of Tony Price's Chairman's award) will be heading back South.

The club finished the season with a fine tour to Zagreb, capital of Croatia, beating the oldest club in the Balkans, Mladost, 45-32.

OC rugby looks forward to continuing its rich vein of form in 2008-09, running three sides with enjoyable rugby for all. New playing members are always most welcome.

The Cronk-Cunis U-21 tournament is on Sunday 31 August. Simon Steer (simon_steer@hotmail.co.uk 07720 078530) is captain again. Contact him if you would like to play.

Click here for more match reports
Click here for more action photos from the season

England cricketers to debate at Cranleigh

2008-03-01T12:56:00.000-08:00

England cricketers past and present will form a distinguished panel at a forthcoming MCC Spirit of Cricket event, sponsored by Artemis Investment Management and being held at Cranleigh School, Surrey, on Monday 21st April.

Former Test captain Chris Cowdrey will host an evening of lively debate and will be joined by England spin bowler Monty Panesar, Middlesex captain Ed Smith and the National Selector, Geoff Miller, in discussing the spirit of cricket and issues affecting the game today.

The MCC Spirit of Cricket evening at Cranleigh is a spin-off of the hugely popular annual Cowdrey Lecture (first delivered by Richie Benaud in 2001) - an event that has quickly established itself as an important date in the cricket calendar.

The invited audience will be comprised of young school and club cricketers and their coaches. In what promises to be an entertaining evening, the host, Chris Cowdrey, said:

"I'm proud of my father's achievement, along with Ted Dexter, of setting out a vision for the spirit of cricket. It was terrific for this to become part of the Laws of Cricket but the challenge now is to make this relevant to cricketers of the future. Cranleigh School has set us the challenge of having a fun evening which also gets to grips with some of the big questions facing the game today. At such a busy time of the cricketing year, we are extremely grateful to Monty, Ed and Geoff for giving up their time to debate these issues with us, and to Artemis Investment Management for sponsoring the event."

MCC Secretary & Chief Executive, Keith Bradshaw, said: "MCC retains a passionate commitment to promoting the spirit of cricket. The Cowdrey Lecture serves an important function in discussing the cricketing issues of the day and the evening at Cranleigh School promises to be an exciting extension of this. I am particularly pleased that the event will be held in the early season and will be attended by a young audience. With such an impressive panel, I'm sure that the topics raised will inspire each young cricketer as they approach the beginning of their own cricket season."

Managing Director of Artemis Fund Managers, Dick Turpin, said: "Artemis is delighted to support such an important venture. The Spirit of Cricket must play a central part in the future of the game worldwide".

Guy Waller, Headmaster of Cranleigh School, said: "We are thrilled to be hosting this event. Those of us involved in Schools' cricket like to think that we play the game in the best possible spirit but it is never something to be complacent about. "

OC Netball side wins the league

2008-02-13T12:57:00.000-08:00

The OC Netball side finished a remarkable season by winning the Southwark Netball Division Five with a record of 11 wins and one draw with a goal difference of +177. As a result the league organizers have confirmed that we will be promoted three divisions when the league restarts.

Click here for the OC Netball site

Meaker named in England U-19 squad

2007-07-24T09:42:00.001-07:00

Stuart Meaker, who left the school this summer after five seasons in the 1st XI, has been named in the England Under-19 side for the Test series against Pakistan.