IT is with great sadness that Leverstock Green CC's Management Committee announce the recent death of Life Vice-President Neil Wray.
A three-time winner of the club's prestigious Faulkner Trophy, testament in itself to his huge contribution to LGCC life both on and off the cricket field, Neil's Vice-Presidency was uprated in 2008 to a Life Vice-Presidency - truly cementing the recognition of his decades of dedicated service.
Neil's funeral will be held at the new Hemel Hempstead Crematorium, 11.30am start on Thursday October 5.
The crematorium is situated on the same side of the road as LGCC, around 500 yards along as you leave Leverstock Green. Fittingly, Neil's family has confirmed the wake will be held at Leverstock Green Cricket Club after the service.
Should you wish to make a donation to charity in Neil's honour, please click the link:
https://neilwray.muchloved.com
In Tribute To Neil...
As well as the very many friends Neil made and kept among the non-playing members of the club, former LGCC team-mates have been keen to pay tribute to Neil's sporting acumen.
"He was both a great cricketer and footballer," remember Mike Parkes, Kevin Seggery, Keith Glasscoe and Neil Fleming, adding: "He played for Longdean Invaders FC from the late 1970s, like all other ex-Longdean School footballer, and marked himself out as a brave and accomplished goalkeeper."
Part of the Invaders' league-winning squads and Sunday County Cup runners-up team, Neil went on to play for the club's football team, Leverstock Green Centurions.
"We had a rota to go and wake him up and pick him up each Sunday," joked the guys, recalling a duty they were only too happy to perform, given Neil's sizeable contribution to the team's successes.
Football has been mentioned first to show just how talented Neil was at more than one sport - although cricket was, of course, his true love.
The group adds: "He was a highly-talented all-rounder, always willing to offer quiet and sage advice to all players.
"We remember him being the star performer in the Under-18 District Cup in 1976, then going on to play a key role in the Green's 1st XI as he moved into adulthood."
And this is where LGCC club legend and long-time 1st XI teammate Dave Tyson picks up the story of Neil's cricketing prowess.
"Firstly, Neil was a great bloke and he always had time for a conversation or to provide words of wisdom relating to life in general but especially about our great club," remembers Tys, fondly.
"As a cricketer for the Green, he was a talented all-rounder who bowled medium-pace and was equally adept with the bat. I often opened the bowling with Neil, and I can say that he was a tough bowler to face - and very economical.
"As a bowling partner, Neil was brilliant at tying down one end which applied pressure to the batters and provided other bowlers with wickets due to this. He also had the ability to hit big boundaries when required, yet was also a useful mid-lower order batter who could score runs or save games when the pressure was on."
And it wasn't just his batting and bowling which caught Dave and the team's eye...
"Neil was also an excellent close-to-the-bat fielder who rarely showed any fear. He would, at times, have conversations with the batsmen and often commented on their gardening techniques when they were playing for a draw in the day of timed cricket.
"I do remember, when playing away at Bushey, Neil was fielding at short-leg and the batter was clearly tending to his allotment (the pitch) as the game was heading for a draw. Neil went through the catalogue of vegetables you can tend and pick with the batter and even offered to bag them up for him, all done with humour and some modicum of sarcasm but never a bad word.
"Neil could win and did win games with the bat or ball for The Green in all formats of the game. Neil was, in my younger days, one The Green's finest all-rounders who gave his all and equally enjoyed the banter and social after a game."
Praise indeed for a man whom some have only come to know in his later years, when he's diligently helped out with grounds maintenance, all kinds of bar work and generally been a massive force for good around the clubhouse.
Yet that's not all, in a cricketing sense. Yes the on-field endeavours, but 'Enners' also made his name as an outstanding LGCC tour participant...
"OJ was a legend of the inaugural tours which started in 1987 to Kent. Only Enners would and did remove a bed from his room and stumble down one flight of stairs and attempt to break into a room shared by Lance, Seggs and myself," laughed Dave.
"After several attempts without luck, our security (Lance) politely manoeuvred Enners away from our door. Not one to give up, Enners then went back up the stairs and tried to break into another room without luck once more!
"He was also one of the tours' head singers and would entertain us all with his renditions - and often in collaboration with the late Mark Chada, singing tunes from The Jungle Book. Neil was best known for his rendition of 'Downtown', which was change to Mincemeat!
"Neil was a master at changing the words, whether about times at Longdean School or to adapt to someone’s wedding. He sang at my wedding to Ann and other weddings as I recall. Brilliant from Neil - and so many great memories."
The final words from Dave Tyson about Neil Wray sum him up perfectly.
"As a character he was fun and played hard and enjoyed himself, win or lose," says Dave.
"He always had salient pieces of advice for me as a younger cricketer and was always interested to talk about junior cricket and life in general.
"Neil Wray - a top bloke who was one of our club's finest all-rounders. He will be sorely missed by all."
NEIL WRAY 1959-2023: LGCC Vice-President 2004; Life Vice-President 2008; Faulkner Trophy Winner 1984, 1993 and 1996.
Funeral: Thursday October 5, 2023, 11.30am at Hemel Hempstead Crematorium, Bedmond Road HP3 8LL
Wake: After the service at Leverstock Green Cricket Club