30. Cricket across Four Generations : The Powell Family

The Powell association with OLCC began in 1921 when Dick joined a Club which included the young ERT Holmes as a member. Holmes went onto captain Surrey and was one of Wisden’s Cricketers of the Year in 1936.

There is no knowing how Dick came into possession of Holmes’s protector box but he did put it to good use throughout his long playing career with Oxted and then passed it onto his son Bill who also got a great deal of use from it. He handed the heirloom to his son Kevin, but the family box was spurned.

Bill started his playing career in 1947 and continued for 30 years, first as an opening bowler, then as an opening bat. He was instrumental in starting the Oxted Juniors in 1964 with matches against other local clubs. It was far from co-incidental that his son was a mad keen cricketer!

Bill was very much a stalwart of the club, regularly playing both Saturdays and Sundays, acting as Secretary and being a calming influence on the somewhat turbulent relationship between the cricket club, football club and Master Park Management Committee (some things never change!).

However, perhaps his main achievement was in getting the “new” pavilion built in 1967 and was subsequently elected a Vice President.

In 1966 Kevin (the third generation) played his first senior game away against Dorking. Living backing onto Master Park, early memories include watching the men net outside his back gate on the old strip that is still in evidence and being excited at the many Benefit Matches played in the 1960s. Ken Barrington’s benefit was particularly memorable as he brought down Garry Sobers who didn’t disappoint scoring 94 which included many sixes. Kevin was delighted to get Sobers autograph.

Another vivid memory of the 1960s was the sight of cars surrounding the boundary every week and a collection from the spectators being taken at tea.

An early playing memory for Kevin was facing the former England bowler Arthur Wellard playing for the Gaieties who made the ball “wobble” both ways. Not bad for a seventy year old.

Kevin left the club to play for the Old Whitgiftians in 1973 only to return 40 years later when his son Ross joined the club. Kevin (generally known as KP or Pinky) played his last game for the club 55 years after his first, also away at Dorking!

Ross was 16 years old when he joined and quickly made his mark taking 6 wickets in each of his first three matches for the 1XI and scoring many runs, whilst contributing to the Club’s social life. Work has prevented him playing much in the last couple of years but he and Kevin opened the batting against Outwood in 2020 putting on 62 which will be a lasting memory for them both.

Ross still lives in Oxted, so what are the chances of a fifth generation of Powells playing on Master Park in years to come?!