When Lai asked me to say a few words about Ron’s involvement with ACC. I had to think carefully about how long I had known him. I realised to my surprise that its about 25 years since I first met him when he brought John up to Sandilands to join the Colts Section, then managed by David Hooper I believe.

Colts parents – certainly in those days – came in three types, those who wanted to use the Club as a sort of crèche on training evenings and match days, those trying to relive their cricketing youth through their child and those who genuinely wanted their child to enjoy themselves being a member of a team and to become members of a really good Club.

It was soon clear that Ron was one of the latter category who was happy to use his skills to help the Club in whatever way he could. I wasn't aware of whether he’d played cricket in his earlier days and I certainly didn't detect a burning desire to play cricket at his stage in life. What he did was become a valuable behind the scenes member who was happy to use his considerable admin skills to help out however he could.

Over the following years Ron performed a variety of administrative roles and I was staggered to realise how many different jobs he’d fulfilled, several of them over a considerable number of years. These included Organiser/Manager of the Colts Section, Assistant Club Secretary prior to becoming Club Secretary, a Club umpire (after first completing the umpiring course), a Club Rep on the Joint Club Committee and also the secretary of the Joint Club. In 2009 his loyalty and efforts for the Club were rewarded when he was made a Vice President.

I served as Chairman on two occasions and once as President when he was a Committee member and I really appreciated Ron’s wise counsel and support on a number of tricky subjects. He was always calm and measured and helped on several occasions to rein in my more volatile reactions to some issues.

As well as being a wonderful and reliable administrator, Ron and Lai became ‘camp followers’ , or to use a more modern idiom, groupies of the Strollers, turning up for away games on a Sunday and on one occasion turning up on a Strollers Tour fixture, I believe in the Bournemouth area. Anyone who has ever played or been involved in friendly Sunday cricket will know that an excellent cricket tea is an essential part of the enjoyment.

Ron and Lai took on the making of teas for the Strollers home fixtures and players from that time still wax lyrical about the culinary delights that were provided. I’m told that if they finished their clearing up whilst play was still taking place, play was stopped and the team gave them a standing ovation. It was therefore no surprise that Ron was made an Honorary non playing Stroller in appreciation of his support.

Ron, great Club member and friend to all at Sandilands and Honorary Stroller, the Club says a huge thank you for your loyalty and efforts over the years – the place will not be the same without you.

R.I.P. Ron

Bryan Liddemore