On the eve of the final of the National Knock Out at Lords in 2000 the
welcoming dinner put on by the ECB on the eve of the game our senior Vice
President interrupted the proceedings stating that he must deliver a message
of congratulations on reaching the final and hoping for a good game the
following day. After saying his few words he asked their president to come
forward and receive a gift from us made by an internationally known Company
in Sheffield and immediately produced from his pocket a bag of Liquorice
Allsorts from Bassets. Before embarrassment grew he also produced a silver
salver engraved in memorial of the following day’s game. It brought the house
down and left Eastbourne looking for a reciprocal gift. Eventually an
Eastbourne tie was produced. I would imagine our man still has that tie.

On Collegiate’s travels in the National Knock Out Competition in 2002 we paid
our second visit to Guisborough where, upon arrival, our newly elected 10 th
President immediately asked to see their Chairman. Twenty minutes later our
recently acquired Club flag was flying high from our host’s flagpole – above
their own!!

In 2002 he started the Annual VP’s lunch bringing together 30 former players
and officers to mull over old times and also cogitate on how to help the Club.
Since that day the VPs have met annually with President and Chairman and will
continue to do so with the hope that new ideas and assistance will continue.
This was Gordon. Always working hard for the Club but never far away from a
smile and making others smile with him.

One of the all time greats