John Farrell Memorial Match

Review

The first Old Pauline Summer Party took place at Thames Ditton in August with superb weather helping the festival atmosphere along. A crowd in excess of 600 came along for the day and enjoyed all the fun of the fair amid craft and food stalls, bouncy castles and highly popular kid’s rides. A huge marquee bedecked with bunting and an enclosed area reserved for Old Paulines and their guests, were buzzing all day.

A gala lunch for 90 was held in the marquee and a special presentation of the “John Farrell Chair” was made to Vivian and Jeremy Farrell. Nick Carr, on behalf of the rugby and cricket clubs had organised the production of this magnificent piece of furniture, crafted in Oak and sturdy enough to take anyone of John’s stature.

The focus of the day was a charity cricket match in memory of John Farrell OP in which an Old Pauline XI took on the might of an Old England XI full of household names and captained by John Lever. The OPs acquitted themselves well, holding the Old England side to 204 for 5.

Ray Burton writes “Skipper Tom Peters bagged two scalps as did Jeremy Farrell who had his Bedford School colleague Derek Randall dismissed by a Sam Peters catch, the like of which hasn’t been seen at the ground for many a year. No one, however, seemed able to stop Roger Tolchard from running towards a century until Richie Carroll took him out with one of his famous leg breaks for 97. In response the OPs reached a creditable 168 for 7 with a solid 64 from Chris Bond – who only made the side at the last minute following an injury to Sam Hyman – and a sparkling cameo innings from Will Whittingham who hoisted a magnificent six over the clubhouse off an astonished Peter Such.”

Ian McNicol and John Doughty officiated throughout and an entertaining commentary was provided by Charles Madge, Alastair MacKenzie, Geoff Nolan and Tony Dougal, much to the delight of the crowd.

During the day, the rugby club played touch rugby on the bone hard ground, the soccer club raised money with a penalty competition and the newly formed rugby fives club gave a demonstration on the Colets’ squash courts.

All in all an enjoyable and successful day with over £2,000 donated to Cancer Research UK.

The Pauline Magazine, 2002-03