OC legend Viv Cox dies aged 93

We are very sorry to have to report that Viv Cox died peacefully in his sleep on Monday, April 27, 2009. He was 93.

There are few individuals so inexorably linked to Cranleigh and Old Cranleighans. Viv was one of a rare breed who both went to the school and returned to teach there, and in retirement built his home in Edgefield Close so he was able to keep on top of daily life at Cranleigh. Quietly and without fuss, he helped many past and present Cranleighans, his pleasure coming from seeing them thrive in an environment which had given him so much pleasure.

As a sportsman, Viv was a one of those multitalented games players which seemed to be so common in the inter-war years. At Cranleigh he was a colour in all three major sports, and also boxed and played fives. He went on to represent English Public Schools at rugby, and but for a serious knee injury playing for the Old Cranleighans against the School, would in all likelihood have won a Blue at Cambridge. As it was, he became the first OC to be capped by England at hockey.

His war was remarkable, and those of us fortunate enough to sit down and chat with Viv about his exploits were entertained for hours with stories of Churchill, Roosevelt and many A-list celebrities. Undoubtedly many of these stories will come out in the coming weeks.

A thespian at heart, he went on to become a leading British film producer and then assisted Bernard Miles at the Mermaid Theatre, before returning to Cranleigh to teach. His lasting memorial at Cranleigh is the Viv Cox theatre.

He played a little cricket for the OCs but kept abreast of the comings and goings, and in 2001, aged 85, accompanied the OCCC on their Kenya tour, a trek which left many half his age wilting. Viv remained cheerful and energetic throughout. He was also a regular player for the OCHC in the two decades after the war.

"Vivian was my valued and special friend for 42 years, since we were new boys in the Common Room together in 1967,” Mike Payne said. “No friend has shared with me such a fund of reminiscence, so much of it connected to Cranleigh. His wit was legendary, all with a sense of timing honed in the theatre and film world he treasured. I have printed before a 2005 example, when I was driving him to Thames Ditton. Knowing that he was tired, I said: 'Vivian, if you want to have a sleep I'll shut up talking.' 'No,' said Vivian, 'I think the best way is for you to carry on.' "

Viv’s funeral will be private, but there will be an opportunity for us to celebrate his remarkable life and major contribution to the School and the OC community at a Memorial Service, to be held in the School Chapel early next year when it re-opens after its refurbishment.

Philip Angel dies aged 84

Philip Angel, an ever-present at OC matches on Jubilee over the last decade, has died. He was 84.

Philip, who was a well-known supporter of several clubs, including Esher, Reigate, Old Hurstjohnians and Old Ardinians, also quietly gave financial support and he was a generous contributor towards the refurbishment of the new scoreboard on Jubilee a few years ago.

A former schoolteacher, Philip was a familiar site striding endlessly round the boundary with a glass of beer, which he invariably brought with him in industrial quantities, in hand.

Roger Loveland

Roger Loveland has died at the age of 67. Like his brother Tony, he was a stalwart of the OC Hockey Club but he also played a considerable amount of cricket, although not that much for the OCs. He was in the school 1st XI in 1957 and 1958 and made his OCCC debut in 1964. In 10 appearances he scored 112 runs at 28.00 and took one wicket. A full tribute appears on the OCHC site.

Ted Crowe, Old Blundellian, dies

Ted Crowe, a very good friend of Old Cranleighan cricket, died suddenly aged 79 in his armchair at his home in Sampford Peverell, Devon on January 28, 2008.

Ted went to Blundell's School in Tiverton. After National Service in the Army and Pembroke College, Cambridge, he became a member of the staff at Blundell's, combining teaching mathematics with coaching rugby and cricket during his time at the school from 1953 to 1989.

"Ted always encouraged youngsters to play," Old Blundellian Vic Marks, who went on to play Test and one-day cricket for England, recalled. "He didn't try to coach too much but made sure they had the opportunity to play in good quality matches against better players and had the chance to improve their game that way. Ted never married, for no other reason than he had all the family he needed at Blundell's. We will all miss him."

Ted was originally from the south east and was born and grew up at South Nutfield near Reigate in Surrey. The son of a cricket enthusiast who formed his own team which he aptly called The Crows. As a young man he played rugby and cricket, where he was a wicketkeeper and hard hitting batsman. When the original Tiverton CC folded, he joined Sidmouth and played for them until the mid-1970s. After retiring from teaching, Ted joined the Devon CCC committee in 1991 and was still a member when he died. He was elected a Vice President of the Cricketer Cup committee in 2006.

"Ted was a good pal for over 50 years," said John McDermott. "From the early days in the 1950s when as Master in Charge of rugby he brought those very powerful Blundell's sides to the OC Club, later when the OCCC cricket week was restarted he brought an Old Blundellian XI annually for a two-day match at Cranleigh. Finally for the last 11 years he generously hosted his OCCC friends at the Old Blundellian suite at Taunton County Ground. He never changed. He loved his sport being very knowledgeable and well known. He was great fun to be with."


Ted was a familiar figure at the County Ground in Taunton, where he hosted the Old Blundellians box in the Ondaatje Pavilion since it was first built in 1995, and which in future will be known as the Ted Crowe Box.

Roy Hill dies aged 88

Roy Hill, who in 1950 took the best-ever figures by an OC bowler, has died at the age of 88.

Hill, a brisk right-arm opening bowler, was in the OC side which played one of a handful of matches that summer, against the village on the Common – he smiled when he said that “if you owned a car, you were in the XI”. It had rained heavily overnight and Hill, opening the bowling, recalled the ball “dug in and went all over the place”. He ripped through the Cranleigh batting, taking 9 for 10 as they were bowled out for 41. He admitted that he should have had all ten but Cyril Suter, fielding in the gully, dropped the one man he didn’t dismiss. Suter then added insult to injury by removing the same batsman himself. Hill went on to make an unbeaten 35.

Hill was born in Forest Hill on November 19, 1919 and was in West at Cranleigh between 1933 and 1936. He was in the 1st XI in 1935 and 1936. After leaving he joined Beckenham with several other Cranleighans, including EW Swanton. He recalled a few years ago that Swanton, who had a reputation for pomposity, was called up in 1937 to play for Middlesex against one of the universities. Rather than tell his captain that he was unavailable, Swanton sent telegrams to all his team-mates to say he was unable to play as he had been summoned by his county. Hill was called up into the army at the time of the Munich Crisis in 1938, and served throughout the war, admitting that he “got knocked about a bit in ‘45”. Either side of the war he worked for the London Brick Company.

OCs mourn Bob More

We are sorry to report the death of Bob More at the age of 46. Bob played 11 times for the club in the early 1980s and also on a number of occasions for the 2nd XI.

John Holdstock dies

We are sorry to learn that John Holdstock, a former mast in charge of cricket at Cranleigh, has died. In five oputings for the OCCC John scored 188 runs at 47.00 with a best of 65 against Cranleigh

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.

Chris Hamm dies aged 59

Chris Hamm, who for more than two decades was the official and dedicated scorer for the OC Cricket Club, died November 21 at the age of 59.

Chris was born in Ceylon, brought up in Hong Kong and came to Cranleigh into 1 & 4 South house in 1960. It was with the 1st X1 in the summers of 1963 and 1964 that his interest in cricket and scoring started. This was to play a key part of his whole future life. He left Cranleigh in 1964 to work in the administration of the veterinary department at Guys Hospital followed by project work at the Regents Park Zoo. Later he had spells in printing and journalism. Together with his involvement with cricket, photography was his other serious hobby.

He started scoring for the Old Cranleighan Cricket Club (OCCC) in 1964 and was ever present until the early 1980’s. He was a captain’s dream. He would always be first to the ground, be it home or away, score neatly and accurately, often by himself as the opposition had no scorer, write up the match report and then drive home. Only occasionally would he stay after the match for a few beers. He held the position of OCCC Honorary Secretary from 1968-1982. His annual report writing on the season and meeting minutes were always full, punctual, critical and humorous. For his loyal and dedicated support and services to the OCCC Chris was made a Life Vice President.

In 1995 Chris became associated with Surrey County Cricket Club as 2nd X1 scorer but on occasion doing 1st X1 matches. He thoroughly enjoyed this responsibility, being part of the team and particularly staying at decent hotels on away matches. Combined with his role at Surrey, Chris scored for Guildford C.C. in the Surrey Championship.

Alan Butcher, the former England opener who is now Surrey's coach paid his own tribute. "Chris, who might be termed a lovable eccentric, was a pleasure to be around, and was always very helpful to me in my job in terms of providing figures and information. He loved Surrey Cricket, and was really passionately involved - he enjoyed our successes, but more than that, he was really delighted when one of the young players came through and did well in first team cricket or when we unearthed a young player who had come through the youth system. Chris always used to enjoy that side of it. He will be sadly missed, and I would like to pay tribute to him for all the work he did on our behalf."

In July 2005 due to increasingly poor health he reluctantly had to retire. As a bachelor his private life was always secluded.. He died at the Le Court Cheshire Home. About 20 of his close friends, including fellow scorers from other counties and representatives from The Oval, gathered for a simple ceremony at Guildford Crematorium on December 8.

Bob Attwell dies aged 92

It is with great sadness that we have to announce that Bob Attwell, the oldest OCCC member, died on Wednesday, May 19 at the age of 92.

Bob was a part of Cranleigh for his whole life. He was at Cranleigh from 1920 until 1929, and thereafter was an ever-present in the village where he ran Attwell's chemists just off Stocklund Square until the 1970s. He lived his entire life in Cranleigh, latterly in a lovely cottage at the far end of the village, with his wife, Joy, who he first met at the Cranleigh School Pageant in 1927. As recently as a couple of years ago he would regularly cycle into the village to shop and watch cricket on the green.

Bob first played for the OCCC in 1927 while in the sixth form, and his last appearance was in 1970. Many reckon he was the best slow left-arm bowler the school had produced. And although he was regarded as a bowler, at school he was considered all allrounder, often batting as high as No. 3. Bob was in the school XI and a colour for three seasons (1927-29) and was the last surviving member of the side which played against Epsom at The Oval in 1928.

But his real mark was made with Cranleigh Village. He first played as a 14-year-old schoolboy in 1926, and his last season was in 1983 by which time he was 71. One of his final games was against Old Cranleighans on the Lowers that summer. Bob was a well-known and popular player, and his finest hour came in 1956 when he took all ten wickets in a festival match against a Nigel Paul XI which contained several first-class players, including future England captain MKJ Smith.

He also had one other claim to fame, which few knew about. In 1943 he played in a game at Lord's between Surrey and Sussex Home Guards shortly before being posted overseas. During that match was at the non-striker's end when the batsman on strike, former England cricket and football international Andy Ducat, collapsed and died at the crease.

Dick Heard dies

Dick Heard, the oldest surviving captain of the OCCC, has died at his home in Long Ditton at the age of 92.

One of the most successful club batsmen produced by Cranleigh, Dick captained the club for just one season – in 1935 – but between 1929 and 1939 he was consistently the side’s leading run-scorer. In 1931 he scored 505 runs for the OCCC, and in the summer as a whole he scored over 3,000 runs. Work commitments prevented him playing at all after the war.

He spent three years in the 1st XI at Cranleigh - during which time he scored two hundreds – and was selected to play for Surrey Young Cricketers and the Public Schools XI in 1928.

His hard-hitting style was well known. In 1929 the Surrey Advertiser reported that Dick scored a hundred for Hampton Wick in 29 minutes, and earlier in the season he had smashed 88 in 24 minutes.

He was also a leading member of the OCRFC, playing in the first match at Thames Ditton in November 1928 and holding his place in a side which boasted up to four full internationals. He always said that his biggest thrill was playing in front of 15,000 people at Twickenham in 1932 when the OCRFC got to the semi-finals of the Middlesex Sevens.