Set out below is Jack Reedy's report on the annual dinner for the Stratford Herald. Click here for photos.

"Scott Rogers, captain of Rowington's 1st XI spoke in rhyming couplets to recount the achievements of the team for his speech at the annual presentation dinner at Ardencote Manor Hotel Country Club and Spa, Claverdon, last Friday (November 2nd). But in a more thoughtful moment the club remembered Neil Curtiss, its former fixture secretary, who was tragically killed by a falling tree in the gales earlier in the year.

Notable individual achievements from the season included John Lange’s century against Bidford from only 65 balls and William Bird’s 72, including five sixes, against Alvechurch. Teenager, Sam Ostler, won the Bettie Everitt trophy for the young cricketer of the year. His wily bowling produced one wicket in a second team match – but for no runs from three maiden overs.

The Jim Parsons trophy for the clubman of the year went to Steve Jay.

Chairman Brian Taylor, who has organised the dinner for ten years, listed distinguished cricketers who had visited the club over the years. One was Michael Vaughan, who gave a coaching session while he was captaining England at Edgbaston. The others were Nick Knight, M.J.K. Smith, Alvin Kallicharan, Trevor Pinnock, Keith Piper, Dougie Brown, Neil Smith, Ashley Giles, Nick Cook, Gladstone Small and Allan Donald for his benefit match.

Mr Taylor and John Shepherd, the club’s main sponsor, and the two team captains presented the awards.

First team prizes were presented by Scott Rogers and Mr Shepherd to Graham Sly for batting, and Scott Rogers received the awards for bowling (jointly with Dave Oldfield) and for catching.

Mr Shepherd presented the second team batting award to the captain, Anthony Collins and he and Mr Collins presented the awards for bowling and catching to Mark Sly and Steve Thorne respectively. 

   

Mr Taylor presented flowers to Mrs Alison Cotton, stewardess of Rowington Club, for her hanging baskets on the pavilion, and his chairman’s award for people working behind the scenes went to Richard and Pauline Watson for many unseen duties around the ground."