WELCOME TO OUR MEMBERS AND FRIENDS IN CRICKET!
Robin Viner at the Old Hill vs Stourbridge match last year. (photo courtesy of David Peters)
ROBIN VINER
1942-2019
The name of Robin Alexander Beckwith Viner may not be known to many cricket aficionados outside the Midlands area, but to those within the Black Country and the Birmingham environs, he was an unsung hero.
Born in Quinton, Birmingham in 1942, Robin’s parents later moved to a house opposite Old Hill CC. In time to come he would serve that club in almost every official position, which culminated in him being honoured as a life member.
After graduating from the University of Birmingham, he served articles and qualified as a chartered accountant in 1968. Eventually, he combined his aptitude for business figures with those required by various cricket organisations. These included Old Hill CC, Kidderminster CC, the Midlands Club Cricket Conference and, notably, the Birmingham and District League. He was a life-long supporter of West Bromwich Albion.
He served two terms as President of the oldest cricket league in the world. His first term of office was in 1997, which saw the League changed from a “closed shop” of 12 traditional clubs into a four division structure that embraced clubs beyond the West Midlands region. His second spell occurred, last season, which was, ironically, the league’s final year as a four division structure before being reduced to a two division model at the end of last season.
Robin accepted an invitation to become Treasurer of the Stourbridge & District Cricket Society in 2018 and, in his all-too-short period of office, provided various ideas and constructive suggestions for the Society to pursue. He was looking forward to contributing towards the planning of the Society’s jubilee two years hence.
Robin died peacefully during the early hours of 1 March 2019 at Russell’s Hall Hospital, Dudley. He is survived by his wife Barbara, whom he married in 1968, two children, Tim and Rosalind and three grandchildren, Ben and twins Holly and Jack.
“He may not have been a great cricketer, but he was a great supporter of cricket.”
FUNERAL
Two hundred mourners packed into St Peter's Church, Pedmore to pay their respects to Robin, "who was about to begin his third and final innings", as the vicar told the congregation.
For those unfamiliar with the Stourbridge area, the church is pleasantly situated beside the village club's cricket ground. The scent of freshly-mown grass filled the air in anticipation of the new season. The wicket gate stood open as if to facilitate the entrance of the next batsman who we all knew to be Viner, R. A. B. - the sequence of names is deliberately chosen, in deference to a true gentleman in all meanings of the word.
The weather could not have been better as the afternoon was warm and sunny. Many of us reckoned that the congregation would exceed most of, if not all, the attendances of many days of the coming season's County Championship matches!
[The words underlined above in my tribute were quoted by Robin's son, Tim in his eulogy. Thanks, Tim - it was a kind thought - AC.]
1942-2019
The name of Robin Alexander Beckwith Viner may not be known to many cricket aficionados outside the Midlands area, but to those within the Black Country and the Birmingham environs, he was an unsung hero.
Born in Quinton, Birmingham in 1942, Robin’s parents later moved to a house opposite Old Hill CC. In time to come he would serve that club in almost every official position, which culminated in him being honoured as a life member.
After graduating from the University of Birmingham, he served articles and qualified as a chartered accountant in 1968. Eventually, he combined his aptitude for business figures with those required by various cricket organisations. These included Old Hill CC, Kidderminster CC, the Midlands Club Cricket Conference and, notably, the Birmingham and District League. He was a life-long supporter of West Bromwich Albion.
He served two terms as President of the oldest cricket league in the world. His first term of office was in 1997, which saw the League changed from a “closed shop” of 12 traditional clubs into a four division structure that embraced clubs beyond the West Midlands region. His second spell occurred, last season, which was, ironically, the league’s final year as a four division structure before being reduced to a two division model at the end of last season.
Robin accepted an invitation to become Treasurer of the Stourbridge & District Cricket Society in 2018 and, in his all-too-short period of office, provided various ideas and constructive suggestions for the Society to pursue. He was looking forward to contributing towards the planning of the Society’s jubilee two years hence.
Robin died peacefully during the early hours of 1 March 2019 at Russell’s Hall Hospital, Dudley. He is survived by his wife Barbara, whom he married in 1968, two children, Tim and Rosalind and three grandchildren, Ben and twins Holly and Jack.
“He may not have been a great cricketer, but he was a great supporter of cricket.”
FUNERAL
Two hundred mourners packed into St Peter's Church, Pedmore to pay their respects to Robin, "who was about to begin his third and final innings", as the vicar told the congregation.
For those unfamiliar with the Stourbridge area, the church is pleasantly situated beside the village club's cricket ground. The scent of freshly-mown grass filled the air in anticipation of the new season. The wicket gate stood open as if to facilitate the entrance of the next batsman who we all knew to be Viner, R. A. B. - the sequence of names is deliberately chosen, in deference to a true gentleman in all meanings of the word.
The weather could not have been better as the afternoon was warm and sunny. Many of us reckoned that the congregation would exceed most of, if not all, the attendances of many days of the coming season's County Championship matches!
[The words underlined above in my tribute were quoted by Robin's son, Tim in his eulogy. Thanks, Tim - it was a kind thought - AC.]
Our next guest is MATTHEW RAWNSLEY
Thursday, 11 April 2019 at 7.45pm (following the AGM)
|
WORCESTERSHIRE v GLOUCESTERSHIRE
IT'S NO JOKE! It has been announced that on Monday, 1 April, Worcestershire will play Gloucestershire in a 50-overs match at Kidderminster CC, Chester Road North. Admission is free to all.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The 47th AGM of Stourbridge & District Cricket Society will be held on 11 April 2019 commencing at 7pm, in the pavilion of Stourbridge CC. The April meeting with Matthew Rawnsley will commence soon after the conclusion of the AGM.
APRIL MEETING
MATT RAWNSLEY played county cricket at first-class and List A level for Worcestershire. He later played minor counties cricket, as well as making two List A appearances, for Herefordshire. In 2018, he returned to Worcestershire as chief executive.
The evening with Matt Rawnsley will be preceded by the Society's Annual General Meeting.
IT'S NO JOKE! It has been announced that on Monday, 1 April, Worcestershire will play Gloucestershire in a 50-overs match at Kidderminster CC, Chester Road North. Admission is free to all.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The 47th AGM of Stourbridge & District Cricket Society will be held on 11 April 2019 commencing at 7pm, in the pavilion of Stourbridge CC. The April meeting with Matthew Rawnsley will commence soon after the conclusion of the AGM.
APRIL MEETING
MATT RAWNSLEY played county cricket at first-class and List A level for Worcestershire. He later played minor counties cricket, as well as making two List A appearances, for Herefordshire. In 2018, he returned to Worcestershire as chief executive.
The evening with Matt Rawnsley will be preceded by the Society's Annual General Meeting.
|
Supporting cricket is as important as playing cricket!
|
|
