By Dr David English MBE of the Bunbury’s Charity Cricket Club
Our Trips up the A1 to the magical spire of Alconbury will never seem quite the same. Although the Bunbury’s ride on a wave of good feelings and euphoria, every year we lose some of our members to the cruel sea of reality. How fragile life is. I dread the premonition which comes with the voice on the phone
“Hi Dave; it's Steve Turncock here “
How are you Steve Boy?
Fine, but Dave, you know Harry Pilling?
[Something gives me a chill of impending doom]
“Yes Steve”
“Well. I am afraid he died last night.”
It’s a bit like an arrow through the heart. First you get an instant picture of “Harry” and your eyes well up. David [“Harry”] Pilling was a true stalwart; a friend and the backbone of our marvellous tussles between the Bunbury’s and Dame Norma‘s XI. The invitations to raise vital funds for MENCAP from Norma and John Major over the past fourteen years have enabled the Bunbury’s to bring together some of the biggest names in Sport and Showbiz to play at Alconbury. Gary Linker, Imran Kahn, Mohammed Azharuddin, Barry Richards, Ian Wright, Bill Wyman, Clive Mantle, Jimmy Greaves, Trevor Brooking, Rory Bremner, Lloyd Honeygan and Gary Mason have all starred on that magical field beside that beautiful church whilst on the crest of hill the A1 traffic lumbers northwards.
It was my great friend Steve Turncock of Hunts County Bats who first put me in touch with “Harry” Pilling and his wonderful team led by the great former England Test Captain, Brian Close. Then a couple of years after Tim Rice had added his celebrity team and captained Dame Norma’s side against us, David Folb brought his mighty Lashings Superstars XI to take over the challenge. David Folb and his legendary partner Richie Richardson would agree that amongst the icons performing at our games, the little fellow with the wry smile really stood out. I can confirm to the others so closely connected with the event over the years [Norma and John Major, Bob Berrington, Richard Ewing, Clive Adams, Brian Close, Dickie Bird and Brian Mawhinney] that the Bunbury’s - and I am sure, David Folb’s Lashings - will continue to come to that special Cricket Field near Huntingdon to support the great charitable causes and continue the memory of “Harry” Pilling too.
Our thoughts go to David’s smashing mum, Bertha Pilling and Cousin Martin Stephenson.
We look forward to many more joyous occasions whilst raising these vital MENCAP funds.
Very best wishes
David English MBE, Bunbury Founder
