Friday 1st October saw the 43rd Annual Surrey Championship Dinner, the event returning to the Brit Oval after a run at Sandown Park, the change of venue presumably made to help boost the Surrey CCC coffers given their recent financial results announcement!
This was Stoke’s second visit to the event, and after the debacle of last year, described in the 2010 Championship Handbook, (p17), as “an untypical renewal” – the organising committee were under pressure to restore credibility. Big guns were hired for the evening – desired result achieved.
The 300+ attendance, (more than 100 down on last year, however), were warned that Henry Kelly was on his way to make up for last year – only the absence of bitter at the bar stopped a rush of people leaving their seats. Of course, this was the perfect ice-breaker delivered by MC Roger Dakin who came to the stage several times through the evening to keep the crowd warmed up.
The mood set, an excellent feed, (boosted by Adrian Mills making up a spare place on one of the two Stoke tables to secure extra portions), preceded a lengthy and superb speech by former England, Lancashire and Durham batsman Graeme Fowler. Fowler’s career has, of course, since extended to roles at Test Match Special and Sky Sports; and he currently coaches in Durham – you only need to look at the feed to the England set-up from England’s newest First Class county and this is testament to the work he has done up there.
A near perfect speech based on these and many more experiences – poor old Jack Simmons, Henry Blofeld, Bumble and others were ‘victims’ – was followed by nineteen divisional presentations to the winning clubs, plus some new fair play awards. It was a good night in particular for a number of our friends from Wimbledon, Normandy, Ashtead and Valley End. Reigate Priory were crowned Premiership champions…but one of the biggest cheers of the night was for Matt Gottschalk who collected the Division 5 2nd XI Championship trophy.
The Stoke party consisted of Johnny Lawes, Graham Tufts, Malcolm Dickson, John Crisp, Andy Page, Gary Harkett, Keith Watson, Peter Phipps, Steve Wade, Ralphie, Adrian Mills, Becca Downs and, of course, the God of Chalk. Surrey Umpiring Panel Chairman and Stoke Sunday player Jeremy Beckwith also sat with us. Our thanks to Pagie for assembling such a strong squad!
Photos can be seen in our gallery section – http://www.stokecc.co.uk/news/?page_id=701
Graeme Fowler CricInfo Profile : http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/12884.html
We have found the attached article about Roger Dakin – Oi, Kelly! Have a read…
Running any function regardless of whether it is for a large corporate or social audience is typically to convey a message or achieve a specific objective. There are a number of factors that will influence the success of any function including location, quality of cuisine, efficient organisation, accessibility etc. These are all tangible factors that can be controlled by the event organiser relative to the audience and budget. The difference between running an adequate function and one that is both memorable and successful is dependent upon generating the right environment and the ability to communicate and empathise well with your audience.
Roger Dakin – England Hockey Goalkeeper (31 Caps)
Maintaining control of any event is essential to its smooth and efficient running. As well as being an excellent and very humorous speaker, Roger is one of the best Master of Ceremonies, if not the best and a fantastic auctioneer. Regardless of whether he is at a formal dinner, a sports event or a fete, Roger is extremely versatile and has the unique ability of putting an audience at ease to create that all important relaxed and convivial environment. With 30 years experience as raconteur Roger either working alone or alongside other speakers has entertained audiences in pretty much every sort of event from Stringfellows to sportsman’s benefit diners to the Mansion House.
Profile: Roger Dakin was born in 1943 in East Grinstead. Roger was the England hockey goalkeeper from 1973 to 1978 and is proud of his 31 England caps. Roger continued his association with the national side when he went on to coach the England Indoor hockey team for 4 years. He played his club hockey for East Grinstead, (for over 30 years), and Tulse Hill and coached the East Grinstead club side to success in the National Championships. Roger was the Public Relations Director of the World Hockey Cup that was held in London in 1986, and he became Chairman of the National Hockey Tournament Organising Committee from 1986 to 1990. He was awarded the National Award of Merit for services to hockey
Roger has played club cricket at East Grinstead for 46 years as a hard hitting no 6 bat and “non-turning” off spinner. He captained the 1st XI for 4 years and played for over 25 years in the Sussex League. He has been on the committee of East Grinstead CC in most capacities for over 35 years. Roger plays golf off a handicap of 26 where he tries hard to ignore shouts of “el bandito!”