Brian Champion - President Bideford CC
It is with much sadness we report the passing of our Club President Brian Champion on Wednesday 27th January. A little bit of Bideford CC has gone, but won't be forgotten.
Brian was born in 1935 and raised in and around London before moving to Westward Ho! in the early 80s. He attended Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School where he played cricket, rugby and football.
He spent the War in London - he was never evacuated - as his father was in the RAF stationed at Biggin Hill. Brian worked in engineering for Marconi, being involved in designing night sights for Chieftan tanks as well as working on Challenger 1 and sea wolf missiles.
He played his cricket at Billericay Cricket Club before moving to Westward Ho! where he immediately became part of the club here, firstly as player, but then as coach, umpire, Chairman and latterly our President.
He played cricket in the Sunday 2nd team and also in midweek friendlies.
He was our club chairman from 1993 to 2009 and then succeeded Peter Adams as club president in 2015. Being a very practical person he was always involved in various projects within the club as well.
He soon became colts cricket organiser and for many years he was Chairman of the North Devon colts league and he was also heavily involved with the running of the district youth cricket programme.
After his career ended as a player he took up umpiring and for many years he umpired for Bideford 2nd XI. He was the first ever winner of the Tony Miller award for umpires.
In 2009 he attended a test match in Cardiff with Andy Davies where they were both presented with an award from the ECB for services to youth cricket. He was well respected within the cricket fraternity and his involvement continued until ill health prevented this.
Brian was a life long Tottenham Hotspur supporter.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years Colleen and his daughter Karen and son Andy. Our condolences go out to them all.
Tributes to Brian have been left on our Facebook page but can be read here.
Brian was born in 1935 and raised in and around London before moving to Westward Ho! in the early 80s. He attended Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School where he played cricket, rugby and football.
He spent the War in London - he was never evacuated - as his father was in the RAF stationed at Biggin Hill. Brian worked in engineering for Marconi, being involved in designing night sights for Chieftan tanks as well as working on Challenger 1 and sea wolf missiles.
He played his cricket at Billericay Cricket Club before moving to Westward Ho! where he immediately became part of the club here, firstly as player, but then as coach, umpire, Chairman and latterly our President.
He played cricket in the Sunday 2nd team and also in midweek friendlies.
He was our club chairman from 1993 to 2009 and then succeeded Peter Adams as club president in 2015. Being a very practical person he was always involved in various projects within the club as well.
He soon became colts cricket organiser and for many years he was Chairman of the North Devon colts league and he was also heavily involved with the running of the district youth cricket programme.
After his career ended as a player he took up umpiring and for many years he umpired for Bideford 2nd XI. He was the first ever winner of the Tony Miller award for umpires.
In 2009 he attended a test match in Cardiff with Andy Davies where they were both presented with an award from the ECB for services to youth cricket. He was well respected within the cricket fraternity and his involvement continued until ill health prevented this.
Brian was a life long Tottenham Hotspur supporter.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years Colleen and his daughter Karen and son Andy. Our condolences go out to them all.
Tributes to Brian have been left on our Facebook page but can be read here.
AGM & Players' Meeting
The Club's AGM and Players' Meeting has been postponed to spring 2021 due to Covid-19.
Watch this space for further updates.
Watch this space for further updates.
Westward IT - Our Sponsor
Saturday 1st XI: Back row l to r: Cameron Atkinson, Steve Bond, Martin Stewart, Mike Lemmings, Ben Perry, James Ford. Front: Alex Hannam, Ollie Hannam, Paul Heard, Mat Lemmings (Westward IT), Tom Brend, Jack Ford
|
Saturday 2nd XI: Back l to r: Olly Keates, Luke Twyman, Robbie North, Tom Stone, John Weeks, Julian Hayter, Richard Stone (scorer):
Front l to r: Jim Keates, Dan Smith, Ian Hayter *, Fionn Toland, Ben Gifford
|
Latest Scores:
Colts Coaching
Check out our Colts Page for more information on Friday evening weekly training, All Stars for 5 to 8 year olds, and Dynamos for 8 to 11 year olds...
Bideford, Littleham & Westward Ho! Cricket Club at the Westward IT Ground
... is located on the North Devon coast in Westward Ho! We run three weekend teams, in the A Division and E Division of the Devon League, and on Sundays in Division 2 of the North Devon League. We also run a Mid-Week XI and have a thriving Colts' Setup.
Practice night in season is Wednesdays from 6pm.
We invite Touring Teams (please contact our Fixtures' Secretary) to play mid-week friendlies and new members are always welcome. We have two teams in the Devon League on Saturdays and two in the North Devon League on Sundays.
Social Memberships are available too. New Members of all standards are always welcome.
More >>>>>
Practice night in season is Wednesdays from 6pm.
We invite Touring Teams (please contact our Fixtures' Secretary) to play mid-week friendlies and new members are always welcome. We have two teams in the Devon League on Saturdays and two in the North Devon League on Sundays.
Social Memberships are available too. New Members of all standards are always welcome.
More >>>>>
Our Fixture Card for 2020 can be downloaded here
