Chaps, some very bad news to pass on to you.

Clive has informed me of the very sad death of Arthur Dougherty (Fothergill and Harveys). Apparently he was taken ill some time last week and died shortly thereafter. We must extend our sincerest condolences to his family and friends, and to all at F&H CC. It's a tragic loss.

Arthur was one of those players who always played the game with a smile on his face, and was a dogged opponent. Only a handful of years ago he was one of the most dangerous batsmen in the league, his unorthodox style proving a real handful to bowl at - those of us who have put our hands on our hips in exasperation as another decent off stump delivery was whipped through backward square leg will know only too well what I'm talking about!

One of my fondest memories of "Doc" was when we were playing for the NMCL interleague representative team at some place down in Staffordshire. The opposition included about 7 league pros and were giving us a bit of a hiding. I can remember Arthur striding out to bat with Barrington Browne, a West Indian international quickie, steaming in - and Doc was determined to stay helmetless. The look on Browne's face as this diminutive ginger headed chap hooked and pulled him with little apparent fear was tremendous - and it certainly gave the rest of us who were waiting to bat some palpitations!

He was a lovely fellow and is a tremendous loss to his club, this league and cricket in general. RIP Arthur, and may you swipe many a ball through square leg, wherever you are now.