GRAYSHOTT Cricket Club came together on Saturday to celebrate the life of Peter Clapham, who died earlier this year, having supported the club in many ways for 70 years of his life.

Members past and present, along with friends of the club, enjoyed a reception organised by club president Phil Coleshill and his family before a match between a Club XI and the Peter Clapham XI, captained by son Gary.

The Club XI won an excellent game by just three runs, while Devi Sriharan, Barbara Roberts and Karen Sampson produce a sumptuous tea.

After the game, talk and thoughts were all about Peter as a plaque was unveiled in the pavilion and the seat donated by the Clapham family was already getting plenty of use.

This was Grayshott’s final game of a season that would have pleased Peter, with the 1st XI coming third in I’Anson Division One and both the 2nd and 3rd XIs finishing higher than any of their peers. Youngsters continued to improve, with some taking their first steps into adult cricket.

The club had its Clubmark accreditation renewed until 2021, having first achieved this standard in 2005. What Peter would probably have been most proud of today was the number of children playing cricket at the club.

With over 170 youth members and 13 teams, the club passed over 100 junior games for the first time in its history. A further 92 youngsters signed up for Grayshott’s All Stars prgramme in 2018, including Peter’s grandson, Dexter.

Peter Clapham fulfilled most roles at the club, but it is his work with young cricketers that will most be remembered. Many who played on Saturday would never have played the game had it not been for Peter.