OC legend Viv Cox dies aged 93

We are very sorry to have to report that Viv Cox died peacefully in his sleep on Monday, April 27, 2009. He was 93.

There are few individuals so inexorably linked to Cranleigh and Old Cranleighans. Viv was one of a rare breed who both went to the school and returned to teach there, and in retirement built his home in Edgefield Close so he was able to keep on top of daily life at Cranleigh. Quietly and without fuss, he helped many past and present Cranleighans, his pleasure coming from seeing them thrive in an environment which had given him so much pleasure.

As a sportsman, Viv was a one of those multitalented games players which seemed to be so common in the inter-war years. At Cranleigh he was a colour in all three major sports, and also boxed and played fives. He went on to represent English Public Schools at rugby, and but for a serious knee injury playing for the Old Cranleighans against the School, would in all likelihood have won a Blue at Cambridge. As it was, he became the first OC to be capped by England at hockey.

His war was remarkable, and those of us fortunate enough to sit down and chat with Viv about his exploits were entertained for hours with stories of Churchill, Roosevelt and many A-list celebrities. Undoubtedly many of these stories will come out in the coming weeks.

A thespian at heart, he went on to become a leading British film producer and then assisted Bernard Miles at the Mermaid Theatre, before returning to Cranleigh to teach. His lasting memorial at Cranleigh is the Viv Cox theatre.

He played a little cricket for the OCs but kept abreast of the comings and goings, and in 2001, aged 85, accompanied the OCCC on their Kenya tour, a trek which left many half his age wilting. Viv remained cheerful and energetic throughout. He was also a regular player for the OCHC in the two decades after the war.

"Vivian was my valued and special friend for 42 years, since we were new boys in the Common Room together in 1967,” Mike Payne said. “No friend has shared with me such a fund of reminiscence, so much of it connected to Cranleigh. His wit was legendary, all with a sense of timing honed in the theatre and film world he treasured. I have printed before a 2005 example, when I was driving him to Thames Ditton. Knowing that he was tired, I said: 'Vivian, if you want to have a sleep I'll shut up talking.' 'No,' said Vivian, 'I think the best way is for you to carry on.' "

Viv’s funeral will be private, but there will be an opportunity for us to celebrate his remarkable life and major contribution to the School and the OC community at a Memorial Service, to be held in the School Chapel early next year when it re-opens after its refurbishment.

Rosie's Marathon effort

Congratulations to Rosie Marriott on an excellent performance in the London Marathon.
Rosie stormed home in a brilliant time of 3 hours and 35 minutes, finishing 5103th overall and 695th out of the females.

Bedroom to rent in Bookham

As part of our off-season personal service, we are delighted to offer a room to rent.

It’s a good-sized double bedroom to rent in Bookham. Part furnished in a quiet location. Has large south facing garden near to station (Effingham Junction, four stops from TD) and amenities. Off road parking, approx 10 mins to A3 and M25, and 20 minutes to Guildford and Woking. Non smoker, must be happy to live with a dog and cat who are very friendly.

£500 pcm including bills … if interested call Sarah on 07828 692479.

Marshall and Carter Keall send Vets to defeat

The 2008-09 season finally crawled to a finish as the Veterans completed their one remaining fixture, going down 1-4 to Spencer. To be fair, Spencer fielded more than a few familiar faces after struggling themselves to raise an XI, and we welcomed back former stalwarts such as Simon Marshall and Chris Carter Keall.

Spencer enjoyed more of the possession in the first half, although they failed to make that count in the final third, and it was against the run of play that Ed Breton gave us the lead. It didn’t last long, Spencer equalising soon after and then going ahead in bizarre circumstances five minutes before the break. A typically powder-puff shot from Marshall dribbled apologetically towards the goal, watched with interest by attackers and defenders who wondered if it would give up of its own accord before someone stopped it. As Pete Shanks prepared to end the farce by kicking it into kingdom come, Carter Keall, behind him in the goalmouth and nominally on the same side, called for him to leave. He did. So did Carter Keall. The ball puffed and panted its way about an inch over the line before expiring. Marshall had scored from a record distance of ten yards. Spectators headed to the bar.

In the second half we created no end of opportunities, most originating with Breton, but gilt-edged chances were spurned by Stuart Sleeman (whose chuntering against the umpire’s decisions included the justification "I’m a judge … I’m paid to be impartial") and Jon Gray.

For Spencer, Marshall showed superb pace, judgment, stick skill and awareness. Dan Marshall that is. His father, panting and clearly suffering, substituted himself shortly after half time and refused pleas to come back, preferring to lean on the fence and chat up the umpire's wife.

Marshall younger scored a third when Shanks, determined not to make the same mistake twice, made a different one instead, diving to keep on a ball heading off and allowing young Dan to slot home. A fourth was just salt in the wound.

2nd XI secure Open League title

2nd XI 2-0 Surbiton
Match photos
In almost summer-like sunshine, the season finally ended with a 2-0 win over Surbiton for the 2nd XI, a result which gave us the Surrey Open League Premier Division title as well as promotion into what is now Surrey Division (although what it will be once the post-season-reshuffle dust settles nobody knows).

We started knowing we had to win to sneak past Old Whitgiftians for the first time all season, and with only Will Stephens missing from the usual line-up and a Surbiton side who were bottom, we were confident. Perhaps too much so. For the first 15 minutes we were dreadful, off the pace, not pressurising the opposition and looking as if we would struggle.

James Robson was called on to make a couple of saves as well as a timely interception, while at the other end we started producing shots but not on target. We gained a few shorts without threatening off any of them, while with Pies, making a welcome return for Surbiton, was always a danger as he sucked in defenders. Fortunately, he was left with little support, although he managed to earn a frustrated/bewildered Andy Duff a green card early on from a novice umpire.

Ten minutes before the break we got the breakthrough, Rob Merry rifling in an absolute bullet across the keeper from the right-side of the D. Rarely can he have hit the ball harder.

That settled us, and for the second half we controlled the game, with Robson’s only significant role being to earn a green card for abusing the distant umpire for a decision at the other end of the pitch.

Duff and Jon Heard dominated the defence, Duff even making a very rare surging run the length of the pitch, while the Merrys showed the good form they have been in all year. Chris Porter played as only he can – brilliant at times, combatitive at others, and happy to argue with players from either side. He was for once the innocent party when he accidentally clipped a defender in the face with his stick only be hauled off by Surbiton’s diminutive No. 10, who was clearly spoiling for a fight, as he bent over the prone player to apologise.

We could have had half a dozen, and Duncan Mottram deserved a goal for all his hard work but with only the keeper to beat, he undercut straight into his helmet for the least intentional save of the day. Minutes later the defence was finally stretched too far and Paul Acutt slammed the ball home after finding himself in acres of space in a move which started with a double foul from Duff on Pies which left him spreadeagled on the ground.

The rest was fairly unthreatening. Ed Breton, after a quiet first half, ended the season in the hustling, bustling, battling way he approaches every game (as well as the post-match BBQ), Neil Grimes carved holes in the right side of the Surbiton defence, and Dodie Khurshid briefly looked as if he might be on for his second goal in 19 seasons until David Knapp, taking a commanding/dictatorial touchline role, removed him from the fray. Preston Rutt looked in form until he received the most bewildering order of the day from Knapp who barked at him to “keep up” with Cookie.

The promotion secured, we enjoyed some champagne in the clubhouse and the celebrations went on late into the afternoon. It is quite possible Duff is still there.

The side deserved its success. We had only lost once all year - a miserable away day at Wanderers – and had taken eight points against the sides in second and third, with the two wins against them coming away from home. We undoubtedly benefited from the release of several stalwarts from the 1st XI but all blended in well and, crucially, it was an enjoyable season and a happy side. For that, Rob Merry deserves huge credit.

Westcott astro opens at Prep School

Olympians turned up by the truck-load as Cranleigh Prep School opened their new artificial Westcott Pitch on April 17. There were 10 in all - including Dave Faulkner, Richard Mantell and Richard Leman - plus six national players to form an invitational side to take on the school's finest (past and present) in a special match.

Mike Wilson, head of Cranleigh Prep, said: "It's an important day for the school and it only seems, bearing in mind the long-standing association we have with the sport – having produced several national and Olympic players over the years - that the new pitch should be opened by such an illustrious line-up of figures in the world of international hockey."

The facility has been named after David Westcott, a former pupil at the prep and senior schools and who is currently a governor. He captained Great Britain at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, guiding them to a bronze medal. Five years earlier he had led Oxford University in a record Varsity win against Cambridge, scoring a hat-trick at Lord's in the days when the match was played on grass at cricket's headquarters.

The match also gave an opportunity for Steve Batchelor - gold medallist in Seoul in 1988 as well as the bronze four years earlier - to take on son Tom, a pupil at the senior school and who has just been selected for the England U16 squad.

Excellent facilities are synonymous with the school and the Westcott Pitch represents an inaugural project for the Cranleigh Foundation in enhancing them.

An OC side featuring, among others, David Knapp, Rob Merry, Helen Merry

Match reports - April 4, 2009

The 1st XI booked their promotion with a 7-2 win over Addiscombe in a match that was closer than the scoreline suggests. The Ladies beat Woking but other results went against us and so we are relegated, but there were two wins for the 2nd XI at Epsom (yes, two) meaning that a win in the final game will win them the title. The 3rd Xi lost an ill-tempered game against Goan 2-4.

1st XI 7-2 Addiscombe
Match photos
Possibly the best day in the club's history started at 10am and ended at approximately 2.30pm with wins for the 1st XI, two for the 2nds, one for the ladies, two promotions and a real chance to avoid relegation. The ladies gritty and impressive performance takes pride of place coming as it did against an experienced and well drilled Woking side and of the four wins the one against the highest odds. A couple of other results going in their favour could see the relegation battle won.

Promotion for both the first and second XIs is a first for the club with the 2nds having the chance to win the league if they win on the 18th April at TD, a remarkable achievement having regard to their sweating on the last few weeks last year to avoid the drop themselves by winning 4 of the last 5 games they played.

So, why the change? At last we are playing as a club. 6 of today's starting line up were not even club members at the beginning of the season but working through the teams have ended up being key players in the 1st XI but more importantly the guys displaced are all playing for the 2nd XI. Being only one league apart there will be fierce competition for places next season and with both teams playing a similar standard the transfer of players between sides will be far easier and have much less an effect on the balance of the teams than would have been the case in previous years.

The biggest disappointment of the season has been the loss of Nick Lewis to his horrific injury and it is this that has been the main dampener on the success on the pitch. Fortunately it coincided with the arrival of Wobble who has been outstanding at the back with his arrival completing the transformation of the side following the introduction of Nick and James Wood, Jonny Hunter, Trickster and Rory. All have played key roles once settling down and into our style of play.

Today's result was a great deal closer than the scoreline suggests. Dave Cresswell's influence was evident in the first 5 minutes as we settled down and played the ball around the team without allowing Addiscombe a touch. Addiscombe were themselves in need of points to avoid the drop and had run us close in November when we squeaked home 3 - 2, scroing late on. As it was we took the lead when Rory at full length steered home a cross but we were unable to add to the lead allowing Addiscombe to level mid way through the first half. A Jonny Hunter short corner drag restored the lead but we did not look convincing as we allowed the oppo far too much space in the middle of the pitch. We did have chances but a couple of good saves from their keeper kept us at bay with Trickster making one fine save with his stick - before he broke it - from a short corner.

2-1 at half time became 2-2 in somewhat chaotic circumstances and there was a tension in our play that was beggining to cost us our domination. We have to stop criticising each other on the pitch and instead support those going through bad patches and pull through. Lack of fitness is a key element in our attitude preferring as we do to grumble as an excuse to make the 10 yard cover run to break down the play.

As it was Eds smacked home a corner closely followed by Gavin deflecting home a James Wood cross having in turn been set up by a superb cross field aerial by Wobble and Rippers scoring a rare goal to make it 5-2 and game over in the space of five minutes. Rory then slapped home a Rippers cross ( his 10th or 11th 1st team goal) and Knapp tucked away the last goal two minutes from time.

A successful conclusion to a good season and one in which we regenerated the side thanks in the main to Cookiey who introduced James, Nick and Jonny. We now have a side that should be able to stay together for a few seasons and work its way up the leagues.

However we have to recognise that to become a more efficient unit we have to work at our fitness and have as full a turn out at training as possible. An increase of 15% in our fitness will increase our ability on the pitch by 30% and this will be needed if we are intent on challenging at the top of the new league next season. David Knapp

Ladies XI 2-1 Woking
Report to follow.

Epsom 0-1 2nd XI
A game which should have been played last weekend had Epsom internal politics not meant they failed to raise a side and were docked points as well. That left them embroiled in a relegation fight and so we expected a tough game and got just that. In the heat, the pace was slow and that enabled us to dominate possession, although both sides created chances. The one goal came on six minutes through Ed Breton, but James Robson had to pull out two excellent saves, one in each half, to keep us ahead. Chris Valentine created no end of problems for the Epsom defence, and in the end we were good for the points.

2nd XI 2-0 Epsom
A result which meant the season and the title hangs on our final game against Surbiton in a fortnight. The win meant we gained promotion at the least, and given Surbiton pulled off a remarkable win at Reigate today to lift themselves off the bottom, they appear to be hitting form at the right time.

This game was decided by two goals from Ed Breton, the first a brilliant solo effort which started on the halfway line and ended with an easy slip past the keeper. The second, shortly after half time, knocked the stuffing out of an Epsom side who looked better than relegation candidates. Andy Duff and Jon Heard were outstanding at the back, Will Stephens tormented the Epsom backs, and Chris Porter did the same to the umpires.

3rd XI 2-5 Goan
Report to follow.