History of Bucks CCC

Into the Modern Age Changing structures As Tim Scriven passed the baton on to Jason Harrison in 1998, there had been changes off the field as well. Tom Orford had died on 12 January 1996 at the age of 90. He had been president since taking over from Sir John Aubrey-Fletcher in 1983. His services to Bucks cricket, and especially the Young Amateurs, had been recognised in 1992 when he won Buckinghamshire’s ‘Service to Sport’ award, receiving a certificate and cup from Sir Peter Yarranton, the chairman of the Sports Council. His successor as president of the County Club was Robin Peppiatt. Though both Sir John Aubrey-Fletcher and his father, whom Sir John had succeeded in 1960, had resigned through poor health, Orford was not the first president to die in office and Peppiatt accepted with the declared intention of serving for a maximum of five years and creating a pattern whereby the presidency would pass around more freely. True to his word, Peppiatt made way for Ken Drucquer in 2001 and he, in turn, was succeeded by Jack Tomlin in 2006. A change of chairman was also in the offing at the time of Robin Peppiatt’s accession to the presidency. This had now become a post to which the holder was elected by the membership as opposed to the committee. There had been pressure for change at the AGM in 1996, but the members were persuaded that it was wise for Ken Drucquer to continue for one more year with his understanding of what was involved in the setting up of the new Bucks Cricket Board. With this body, replacing the Bucks Cricket Association and representing the county arm of the about-to-be-formed ECB, would come a new mechanism for the distribution of funds to grass roots cricket, and it would bring with it a stronger structure for the organisation of junior cricket and the identification of talent. Hitherto Bucks had run teams at Under 25, Under 19 and Under 17 levels; now county sides stretch down to Under 10s and girls also play representative matches at different age levels. The new structure meant that the Board’s paid official was reporting to the ECB, while the County Club’s officers remained concerned with the success of the county team and the welfare of individual members, so there were bound to be differing agendas. Additional problems came for those counties who had significant assets, of which Bucks was one. For some years there had been a watchful eye on the county’s funds, which later benefited from the substantial bequest in the will of Graham Skinner, the last survivor of the great 1932 side. In Bucks it took a little time for roles to be fully understood but, under the chairmanship of Cliff Pocock, relationships with the Board have become increasingly harmonious with the passage of time, while the Board’s two 104 Ken Drucquer