"This Sussex village is cricket mad."

So wrote the Hon. Gerald French in 1938 in describing Ditchling's 90 run victory over his MCC side in that year. Mind you, a large part of the match report in his book, "The Corner Stone of English Cricket", is devoted to describing the dancing and festivities in the village hall after the game. This is probably a fair reflection on a cricket club which likes to enjoy its cricket to the full - both on and off the field of play! 

We do not know exactly when Ditchling Cricket Club played its first game. For a long time, we thought a match against Staplefield, near Handcross, in 1837 was the first. (The two clubs staged a re-match in ancient clothing and equipment in 1987 to mark the 150th anniversary.) Then, several years ago, we came across some score cards for a couple of two-innings matches between Ditchling and Brighton in July 1818. [Unfortunately, Ditchling lost the first and the score-sheets for the Ditchling innings in the second are missing. (We can perhaps speculate that Ditchling was short of a scorer on that day!) Ditchling Cricket Club has been blessed with a number of strong characters over the years. 

The modern club owes its strengths largely to two men. First, Bill Kenning. It is difficult to overstate the unstinting efforts and profound influence of Bill Kenning on the Club. From delivering all Club notices at dawn on summer mornings to securing the Club's present ground and pavilion in the 1930's, Bill Kenning was a great character and true servant of the Club. From his arrival in the 1930's, Grahame Martin-Turner had a vision of greatness for the Club and, over many years as player, chairman and president sought to realize that vision. He, for example, was responsible for our biennial fixture against the MCC. Sadly, Grahame died at the end of last year but it was characteristic of the man that right up to the end, he could still give a stirring speech in Cricket Week.

A contemporary of Martin-Turner's was R. K. Tich' Mayston. Tich made an equal contribution to the club as a dashing left-hand bat, wicket-keeper, fixture secretary and, latterly, groundsman. Generations of Maystons have played for the village and Tich continued the tradition He played his first game for the 1st Xl aged 10. An outspoken, or sometimes blunt, connoisseur of the game, cricket was always fun when Tich was around. (Surprisingly, Tich never scored a ton for Ditchling. It is said that this was because his innings were always preceded by a long stay in the pub and so, by the time he reached 75, another place always beckoned strongly!)

Other servants of the Club over the years include several generations of the Pepler family, George Cox, Richard Maxwell-Gumbleton, Ralph Smithson and Barry Cox. More recently, the Club was inspired by the example and drive of Richard Heath, both on and off the field. Richard was the force behind our entry into the East Sussex League. At 25, his was a very sad loss to the Club. Ditchling is also notable for the full role played in the Club by its vicar, Kenneth Jeffery. Kenneth now acts as Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer, an umpire and a scorer for the Club. His duties as scorer gave rise to an amusing incident at Hailsham recently when Dorothy, their female scorer was heard to say "Ditchling? Oh I like Ditchling - that's were I get to score with the Vicar!".

After a reluctant start, the Club has adapted quickly and successfully to league cricket. Club skipper, Patrick Nolan has taken the 1st X1 from the third to the first division of the East Sussex league, where we intend to stay. League cricket has changed and improved the Club enormously. But the true character of Ditchling is still to be seen - spirited, cavalier and never going for the draw. For many years, the Club enjoyed its annual tour to Somerset and is still justifiably proud of its Cricket Week in August. The Week is the pinnacle of Ditchling's cricketing year a festival of cricket in Ditchling. So the story comes full circle. Last year, Cricket Week saw Ditchling entertain the MCC once again. Although the Club has beaten the MCC in recent years, last year witnessed the team from Lord's prevail - assisted in part by West Indian great, Derryck Murray. Nevertheless, such high class cricket and the revelries that went on into the night afterwards maintained the Ditchling Cricket Club tradition.

Matthew Searle