And so the league season is done, ending in a low-key way on Saturday, with nothing at stake for any of the sides in terms of promotion or relegation. The 1s lost to West Harrow and finish 4th. The 2s also lost, to league champions Harrow St Mary, and also finish 4th,, with Rhys Burke making 50 and Ryan Davies 45.

The 3s ended with a win and finish 7th, but only 2 points off 5th in a tight division. Karthik Shivaram scored 53 in our score of 271-7 and Wycombe House finished with 210, 4 wickets going to Matt Tomes-Smith.

The 4s, crowned champions of Division 5B last week, went out with a loss, but that certainly doesn’t take the shine off a brilliant season. The 5s game was unfortunately conceded and the 5s finish 10th and are relegated. The 6s though ended with a great win, and finish 9th, having propped up the table for most of the season. We made 160 in 40 overs, led by Oscar Hancock’s 86, and bowled Barnes out for 128, thanks to 4 wickets to Jim Yorath.

On Sunday, in the last game at HQ this year, we played Kensington and Chelsea and came second. We made a decent 175-4 in 39 with 58 to Sam Hall but K&C got them for 6, despite 3 wickets for Harsh Nath.

At the end of the league season – there are still a few Sundays to go – I must pay tribute to all the Saturday skippers who have done such a great job getting sides out week in and week, and all the admin that comes with that. So thanks to Ben Birtles (and Leith Cowie, in Ben’s absence), Charlie Aarons, Jack Stansfield, Dan Hayward, Sam Hall and Nick Sellers. And as a former captain of the lowest XI in the club (which in those days was the 4s) a particular thanks from me to Nick, who has done what is in some ways the toughest skippering job of all. Also thanks to Leonora for masterminding and inspiring the women’s team, to David Boothroyd for another successful T20 campaign, and the similarly successful MDL team. Lastly a huge doff of the cap to Cliff Sykes for his incredible stewardship of the Sunday sides and generally getting people playing cricket, across the club: no one does more for us in that respect.

To end on a personal note, I have to let you know I have taken the difficult decision to step back from my positions at the club at the AGM in November. I have been on the committee since 1999, Chair for 16 years as well as ‘stand-in’ junior manager for 5, and I have reached a point where I just can’t do it any more. I have been honoured beyond description to lead our great club through perhaps the biggest period of change and development in its long history and I am proud of everything we have achieved together in my time at the helm. But I have run out of puff and need to move on, difficult as that decision has been for me to reach. I would like to thank everyone who has been a support to me through what has been a difficult season.

But beyond that, I can let you know (with apologies for the late notice) that the end-of-season Presentation Night will be at the club on Friday 3 October. More details to follow – but please get it in your diaries. I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible there.

Bernard