Matthew Searle whose RNVR playing days 1983-1998 mapped the Crichton (snr) captaincy years almost exactly, has succeeded the late Patrick Nolan, who died last summer, as President of Ditchling CC.
Matthew scored his debut century as an RNVR player, in 1991, at Cuckfield. He has won many more, but against us.
We wish him and his Chairman, Dr Ford, all the very best in these roles so similar to their most recent cricketing one, opening the 2nd XI batting.
The Ditchling fixture has been played since 1950 and is due to be reprised this year on Sunday August 6th. Most people expect a resounding victory.
We do not have a scorecard from that day, but Vice President Sir Patrick Sergeant played the next day in the Barcombe game.