Cooke to chair OC dinner

The 111th annual dinner of the Old Cranleighan Society is being held on Monday September 30 at the East India Club, and the chairman is OCCC legend John Cooke.

John McDermott, who was Cookie’s fag at school, writes: “Starting at the Junior school and since leaving 2N in 1953, Cookie has supported OC activities across a very broad front. OC rugby, squash and more recently golf has seen his unique style and application. However it has been OC Cricket as player, captain and president that has really benefited from Cookie's enthusiasm and dedication. Nobody who has seen it does ever forget his bowling action that trapped so many surprised victims. He has played for the OC's cricket over six decades, promising that his last outing in the Nairobi swamps on the Kenya tour in 2001 will be his last appearance. He deserves a great night and your universal support.

“OC Cricket Club members of all ages are asked to make a special effort to attend this dinner. There will be special tables for the OCCC Cricketers. To provide a splash of colour and style, all those with the OCCC coloured touring blazer are of course expected to wear them with black tie and evening dress trousers.”

The evening starts at 6.45pm with the dinner beginning at 7.30pm. The evening finishes at midnight. It is our hope that as many OCCC members of all generations come along to support Cookie – most of the current crop of players have already committed.

Tickets, which include pre-dinner drinks, the dinner itself, port and wine cost £47.50 (£27.50 for those under 25 in fulltime education, or the unemployed) and can be obtained from Brian Gowen (01673 843678) or Mike Fawcett (01483 575546).