Bobby Wells dies aged 73

Bobby Wells, who played for the OC Cricket Club 21 times between 1951 and 1972, has died at the age of 73.

Bobby was placed in 2 North, under the idiosyncratic House Master Tommy Tucker, and developed his all round sporting ability representing School teams in all the major sports. He acquired the nick name Petal, from his family middle name Flower, was universally popular and made friends that he kept in close contact with for the rest of his life. He left Cranleigh in 1951, as a House Prefect, and did National Service in the Royal Navy. Any thoughts of pursuing a career in the Services were squashed when he was invalided out with a slipped disc in his back.

After the Navy he joined his father’s business. He worked on Saturdays in the ladies dress shops in Guildford, Kingston and Camberley, but played his hockey and cricket on Sundays. He was a great team man and revelled in the social side of Club sport. He played his cricket for Thames Ditton, East Horsley and the Old Cranleighans. Typically he was a better bowler than he would let on. When his confidence was high and focused, his medium paced off cutters were very effective, as when he famously destroyed a strong Old Tonbridgian XI with 6 for 24 on the Jubilee in the OCCC week. But perhaps the cricket he enjoyed best and was in his element was the annual match he organised between two Horsley pubs. A host of TV celebrities would play, large crowds would attend and Bobby would be the perfect host.

In spite of many problems in his domestic and working life and serious personal health concerns, Bobby never changed over the years. He showed admirable resilience and with his easy going charm, cheeky humour, swift repartee, relaxed banter, he was truly a people’s person. He was never a whinger or moaning minnie. One felt better simply having been in his company. He was never happier than sharing a pint or two in a local pub with a group of old friends.

Bobby died on December 8 2005. His funeral was at Chichester Crematorium on December 21. The chapel was packed with his close pals from his early days at Cranleigh plus all those friends from his later days when he and his second wife Jan, the matron at Charterhouse, moved to the Sussex coast from Godalming. After the service a reception party was held at one of Bobby’s favourite local watering holes the Lively Lady in Bracklesham Bay.