"Dear Richard,

I have been tardy in writing this note to you and the SOA who have been so good to me in many ways since my introduction to them by Freddie Nunn in 1954, including the watercolour of the Dreaming Spires which has its niche in my cricket den/office, and now this super book which will in due course fins a spot (tight) on the cricket shelves.

In the meantime, it sits next to my favourite chair and is picked up from time to time to randomly flip open to read of one or other of the splendidly named c.cs, or to peruse the scoresheets within, not to mention the photograph of yourself with the lovely Isis background. You look in pretty good shape. My score of 14 v Henley is about my average, but I notice that for Oxford City v SOA, my 73 must mean you had your 2nd XI bowlers in the team.

Several of the names ring bells from long ago, particularly Freddie, and Roger Kirk with whose widow Christine we have regular communication, not to mention an exciting two week flight with them both round Australia by light 'plane about a dozen years ago. She sends us post-cards from all around the world, which now-a-days is our proxy method of travel.

It seems that SOA has been celebrating its 80th anniversary, and that you have been busy digging up past records. No doubt you have celebrated well on the field, and I trust the annual dinner has been / will be of the excellent calibre which I remember so well in 1954 and 55.

Our lads did not perform well on or off the field recently, and with Clarke showing signs of terminal back trouble, and our bowlers having (mostly youthful) back problems too, the Ashes may return with your party. I am disappointed that Darren Lehman was out of order in regards to Broad (though I disliked his time-wasting) because he could lift our players who possibly are not enthused by their skipper. Cricket here is losing out to the all-persuasive varieties of football to a degree that I find unsettling.

The XXIX club having been founded in the image of the SOA, we continue our annual dinner, the last two weeks ago, but again I'm afraid to say though Wayne Phillips (recent 'keeper and opener if you remember) was extremely funny, he left no message, either about cricket's direction or on the English language. Heigh ho!

Unfortunately my tardiness has been due to various severe medico/surgical problems suffered by close friends and relatives, the worst being that of a very good friend/state cricketer/MCC cricket captain/MCC hockey/baseball/tennis/and for 15 years wonderful organiser of our ever increasing group at Kew Golf Club. Ian Huntingdon, 82, very fit, but now high paraplegic 6 weeks after our group of four was hit, out of the blue, by an overwhelming cyclonic wind of about 120k, lasting about 5-10 minutes, but crushing him with a very large falling cypress tree. Took me ten minutes to get to him, and an hour for the ambo and golf club staff to cut their way in and get him into the ambulance. Brother Colin has just had a very complicated carotid artery operation; my close cousin Danny also two weeks ago a severe hemiplegia, and Dottie's back is fairly crook! Heigh ho again.

Anyway your lovely book was presented to me on the occasion of my 56th appearance in 57 annual dinners. I think I was in the UK on the 57th. Our choir-master Doug Reid having died last year, I now have to lead the club song to close the entertainment. So 300 diners have a good reason to have a laugh.

Spring has been long around, the garden calls continually for help, and the shopping must be done, so I'll sign off, trusting that Diana is as well as you appear.

Kind regards from both Dottie and Ian"