There were those at Fynn Valley Golf Club on 5 August who suspected that the troop of elderly gentlemen assembling on the first tee at 8.30 am, energised by buck’s fizz and a full English breakfast, were escapees from the nearby rest home. Amongst the eighteen Old Wrecks present, however, memories of legendary cricket and other athletic escapades were to the fore and reputations remembered and (dis)respected as though yesterday, with much mickey-taking as always. It turns out that John Collett’s famous six over Great School nearly landed in Anglesea Road rather than Ivry Street! The formation of the ’OI Wrecked Cricketers Golf Club’ came about in 1994 following the OI Cricket Week side that had been taking on the Old Framlinghamians having to chase over three hundred runs two years running - a cricketing bridge too far for ageing bodies. And with Tony Tyrell just happening to have a golf course at his disposal, the transition to a golf day reunion was seized upon. The Texas scramble format allows the less able golfers to still play their part and some non-cricketers have been drafted into the ranks to ensure sufficient golfing expertise to go round. 

The get together actually kicked off the evening before, when Tony and Gerrie Tyrrell kindly staged a splendid barbecue at their magnificent home for those able to make the pre-tournament tactics talk. Tony, unfortunately sporting a plaster cast from shoulder to wrist because of an elbow dislocation, could not preside and Chad Chapman showed the brilliance of his education by becoming chef and waiter in one. We are indebted to Tim Thorn for masterminding the event, chasing Wrecks and altering the draw half a dozen times as various things prevented some from attending. Martin Seligman kindly provided dozens of spare balls (for those of us who measure our rounds in balls used rather than shots played) and four sleeves of new ones for the trophy winners. The course, unsurprisingly, was parched and the rock-like ground ensured the ball rolled a country mile, unfortunately not always in the right direction. One or two of the four balls were a little slow and it looked as though lunch might become dinner but Tyrrell, riding his buggy one handed and doling out advice such as, “You should have taken the other ball there”, or “Which flag were you aiming for?”, ensured the pace quickened and all made it back to the clubhouse in reasonable time for a fabulous lunch. The wine and port flowed, with Colin Simpson (reputed to have been more of a rugby player than cricketer) and Tim Thorn (the quickest OI bowler, of his era at any rate) kindly sponsoring the drinks to mark their approaching 80th birthdays. As usual glasses were raised to toast absent friends. The afternoon nine-hole challenge did not take place because for some reason the Club had brought forward the tee times, which would have meant missing half of lunch.  However, in true OI fashion, the challenge was moved to the nine hole ‘Pitch and Putt’ course, which still proved to be good fun.  

Tim Thorn presented the trophies at the end of the day, amidst drinks on the terrace.  had Chapman, Colin Simpson, Simon (Skid) Marks and David Knights were congratulated on winning the 18-hole Thorn Trophy with a three under par round, beating Charlie Lingard, David Andrassy, Simon Woolfries and Richard Garrard by one shot. The 9-Hole Trophy went to Charlie Lingard, Mick Simpson, Skid Marks and David Andrassy with three under par, one ahead of Tim Thorn, Chad Chapman, Colin Simpson and Simon Woolfries and Henry Staunton, Peter Boughton, Martin Seligman and Slim Hallett. As a result of Skid winning both competitions he will be forced to wear the Tyrrell plaster cast next year.

Thanks go to Tony Tyrrell, Slim Hallett and Peter Dixon, for driving the buggies supplying the refreshments, alongside the odd (sometimes very odd) professional advice to the players. The Fynn Valley Club and staff did us proud as always and thanks to them. Tony has now given up his interest in the Club and so it remains to be seen how things will lie for the 2023 reunion but hopefully we will reassemble on 4 August. Grateful thanks from all the players to Tim Thorn for organising the event so splendidly once again.

Peter Boughton (OI 1958-69)