Worcestershire Cricket Society have made their chairman Bill Tansell a Vice President and Life Member in recognition of his outstanding contribution over many years.
Tansell – a well known and highly respected figure in local cricket circles – has relinquished his duties with the Society while he recovers from a long term illness.
But the Society committee felt it was felt appropriate to mark his sterling service with the double honour and it was approved by members at last night AGM.
Tansell, a Worcestershire CCC supporter since 1962, played and-or officiated with Worcester Taverners for 44 years and Barnards Green for a decade.
He was an umpire for 40 plus years in addition to being chairman of the National Cricket Conference and Midlands Club Cricket Conference.
Members also rubber-stamped the previous reccomendation that current Worcestershire CEO Matt
Rawnsley and former captains Norman Gifford and Phil Neale should also be elected Vice Presidents.
Former Worcestershire Secretary-CEO Mike Vockins has agreed to become the new chairman of the Society.
Other officers elected were: Vice-Chairman and Newsletter Editor – John Curtis; Secretary – Mike Hitchings; Treasurer – John Meredith; Speaker Host – Richard Shaw; Raffles – Ken Hipwell (winter evenings) and John Meredith (end of season); Committee – Tricia Dyson, Michael Douch.
The Society membership subscriptions will remain the same for 2018-2019 at £15 (single) and £25 (double) but admission fees for non members to the winter cricket evenings have been increased to £5 in line with other societies.
Matt Rawnsley then entertained members with a lookback at his Worcestershire playing career and by giving his thoughts on the future of the game and for the County before participating in a Question and Answer session with members.
*The Cricket Society stage their winter cricket evenings on the second Tuesday of each month in the Hick Pavilion from October through to March.
