The game of cricket has suffered a great loss after the passing of Michael Woodhouse, for whom a service of thanksgiving was held at St. Peter's Church, Hever, Kent on Thursday 23rd January following a private funeral service.

Michael was born in 1928, and was educated at Whitgift Middle School (now Trinity) in Croydon. After a break for his National Service in the RAF during the late 1940's, he went up to Cambridge, where he studied History and English at Selwyn College. Thereafter the family business (A. Woodhouse & Son Ltd. - at Lincoln's Inn) beckoned and Michael eventually became a specialist in antique silverware, gaining a high reputation for his knowledge, amongst the legal profession nearby.

Having met and later married Ann Stafford, the daughter of a much respected Croydon doctor, the couple eventually moved into Kent, living first in Beckenham before moving further afield to Otford and thence to Hever.

Whilst playing his club cricket for Addiscombe, Michael who was an elegant right hand opening bat was taken on Surrey's 2nd XI books in 1953. Some years later he also joined Beckenham CC and Sevenoaks Vine. His soft spot for Addiscombe, where his father had been chairman, was further engendered by the many games he enjoyed there with cricketers of both County and International standing. With 151 not out to his own credit, Michael still holds the club's opening partnership record of 275 scored in 1958 (with M Burrows); and another highlight in his career was in 1960 when he played for Addiscombe at Sandilands against an England XI in front of a crowd of more than 4000.

Sadly, a knee injury brought his cricket to an end in 1969 but Michael remained very active behind the scenes serving as President of Addiscombe CC since 1993.

He is survived by his wife Ann, his three daughters and three grandchildren and will be remembered by his friends not only as a fine cricketer, but as a true gentleman with a dry wit and above all as a generous and gentle man.