When Clive Dring first started opening the batting for Addiscombe’s 1st XI, he was only 15. His opening partner, Roy Swetman, was the same age and they were almost certainly ACC’s youngest ever opening pair.

Clive developed into a classic opening batsman, side-on with an immaculate straight left elbow. He was also a first rate cover fielder.

County cricket beckoned and he signed for Kent in the early 1950’s. Clive was on the staff at Canterbury for several years when Colin Cowdrey was at his fluent best and the mercurial Godfrey Evans kept wicket.

In 1952 The People newspaper voted Clive the ‘Best Dressed Cricketer in County Cricket’. We think this partly due to the razor sharp creases that he always had in his flannels! The trophy he won still sits proudly in his lounge but he was told that a cheque for the award is “in the post.” He is still waiting for it!

He subsequently left Kent for the Cider country of Taunton and Somerset. But when offered a business opportunity in the shipping industry Clive returned to the South East and to his Addiscombe home

Clive formed a very successful opening partnership with the late Michael Woodhouse. Although Clive scored many half centuries, it was not until 1959 that he scored his first century for the club with 127. The following season, 1960, Clive scored 5 successive half centuries in May which led to the Croydon Advertiser’s headline ‘Addiscombe’s Clive Dring has 103 average!’

Later on that season Addiscombe hosted a strong England XI at Sandilands and over 4000 people came to watch. The England XI included star batsman, Ted Dexter as well as Peter Richardson, Tony Lock, Raman Subba Row, Frank Tyson, Addiscombe's Roy Swetman and future Test captain MJK Smith. (See the picture above where Clive is circled, standing at the back left of the group).

Addiscombe batted first and scored a creditable 216. Clive opened the batting and although he only made a single before being bowled by England’s Alan Moss, he was to have ‘his moment’ later in the match.

Ted Dexter came in at 3 for England and got into the 40s in brisk time. Clive came onto bowl the last over before tea and Dexter laced him to long off to reach his 50. As the 'Lord Ted' got back to face the next ball, he said to ACC’s wicket-keeper Les Pullen “Watch out, I’m going to give you a stumping chance”.

Next ball, Dexter waltzed down the wicket and missed it and Pullen did the rest. The scorebook read: Dexter st. Pullen b. Dring 52. The big Sandilands crowd roared and Clive cheered his dismissal madly. Addiscombe had England 154-3.

Clive went in to the pavilion jubilant, knowing nothing of what Dexter had said to Pullen. He enjoyed his 5 star tea with a warm glow of satisfaction at having dismissed the best batsman in England. That is until Pullen told the full story! But these minor details did not dampen his happiness. As Clive rightly said ‘Look in the book!’

Playing with Clive was an experience not to be missed. His buckskin bag that he escorted into the dressing room would be opened and out would come a fistful of The Dorchester’s best coat hangers. They would do their duty of keeping his wardrobe of clothes looking immaculate until he changed at the close of play!

In the late 1990s, in his early years of retirement he generously returned to the club to coach ACC’s youngsters. And today, 85 years young, Clive is going strong and is as genial as ever. He is quite often seen at Sandilands, still dressed impeccably.

Nowadays you can hear Clive making after dinner speeches at cricketing lunches and dinners and sharing the stories of the days when he was not only the best dressed man in county cricket but a crafty bowler who dismissed the great Ted Dexter!

Chris Whitehouse