The Real "Wick Man" Claimed by Cancer

Much loved and admired former president, captain and latterly umpire John Tilley passed away this week following an all too brief battle with cancer. Vice-president Richard Jell broke the news to the club and said John would be "sorely missed at the Wick and by Muriel and all his family".

Tilley was involved with Hampton Wick Royal Cricket Club for more than thirty years and the news of his death, which circulated on Thursday evening, prompted a flood of tributes to the club.

The 1xi, at home to Kempton in the Fuller's Cup, marked the news with a minute's silence lead by skipper Joe Ewen and wore black arm bands in tribute as did the 2xi away at Chiswick & Latymer lead by David Fudge.

Tilley, described as "a legend", "wise, witty, ascerbic and cantankerous", "a real man of the Wick", "a fair umpire... who would give short shrift to optimistic bowlers" and "a really lovely man" will have his funeral at All Saints Church, Dedworth, Windsor at 2pm on Thursday 7 May followed by tea at the Oakley Green Hotel, Oakley Green, Windsor.

John's wife Muriel has requested that instead of flowers there will be a collection for the hospice where John died. She has also asked that there are no black ties so those attending from the club should wear a Wick tie.

Jane McMahon is coordinating numbers for the tea for Muriel so if you plan to go to the tea please let Jane know. Her email is jane128@btinternet.com.

The Tributes - edited for reasons of space:

Whether as wicket keeper, umpire, President or 200 club organizer John was always fair, whether with members of the club or the opposition. He was a calming influence both on and off the field. On a On a personal note John gave me some very sound advice when I took over as Chairman Always a gentleman he is a sad loss to the club. Thank you JT for your huge contribution to the Wick.

Keith Nicholls Chairman

Every so often someone comes into the system who is truly irreplaceable. Such a man was John Tilley. John joined the Club shortly after me and it did not take long to realise that here was a Clubman of real talent. The Club was going through many changes, the old kinstonian H.C. were forced to leave us because of new regulations re:pitches and then arson destroyed the pavilion. John undertook any task thrown his way with glad heart and was justly rewarded on assuming the presidency. He continued to organise the Fundraising arm, the 200 Club, for a number of years in addition to his other commitments to the Club and to his Church. Throughout my involvement with the Wick it has always been my privilege to have worked closely with John but now the time has arrived to turn around and find he is not there and get on with it.
Rest in Peace, John.
You've earned it.

Neville Marshall

I can pay no better tribute to John than to say that he was a true Wick man. Warm, generous, humorous, sensible and always good company. I recall him joining the Club in the 70s and soon realising that he had found his cricketing home.

He and Muriel were great supporters of the Club and once John's playing days were over his administrative skills came to the fore and he served many years on the committee. He was Club President 1992 to 1997 and latterly had added umpiring to his cv.

John was of course a bank manager and I will always remember our day out at Lords for the NatWest final in 1985. Because of the Kiwi connection, he gave me a ticket when Nottinghamshire (and Richard Hadlee) reached the final. We had a great day and saw a superb game, Nottinghamshire chasing Essex's 280 and losing by one run with wickets in hand!

The Wick will not be the same without John but he will love long in the memories of all those who knew him.

Christine Sewell

Very happy memories of JT go back a long, long way. He kept wicket, played - and I'm sure umpired (though I didn't experience this element of his great commitment to The Wick) - as he lived his life, in an understated but wise and totally reliable way.

When I re-visited the Wick - probably too rarely - JT was a constant, always offering a welcome face to visitors and regulars alike. I'm so sorry that I can't be there on Thursday but I'll be thinking my own celebratory thoughts of John's life nevertheless. It was a privilege to know him.

Clive Rockell

JT was a great Wick man.....he was always there - President's games, Golf Days, Umpiring us when we were promoted to the Premier Division (no coincidence there I assure you!), Club dinners, BBQ's etc. He always made time to speak to each of us - in his own inimitable way and helped us to appreciate the game of cricket and to enjoy our great club. He will be sorely missed.

Sorry I am out of the country on Thursday - but will be with you in spirit.

Ian Geddes

I played one of my first games at the Wick under his captaincy in Sunday 2nd XI in 1980. Blimey that is nearly 30 years ago. He was definitely a skipper of the old school but gave us young whipper snappers enough rope to hang ourselves with " a well I told you so twitch" of that moustache. JT did have the driest of dry senses of humour. Muriel and JT were a constant fixture during my playing days and represent all that is great about the Wick. Always friendly and welcoming, JT will always be remembered fondly by the Webster family and he will be greatly missed by us all.

Mark Webster

Dear John
Probably the best wicketkeeper/umpire/bank manager ever to play for the wick!
The wick will miss you big time.

Snods

This is very sad news, and I too will be there to pay my respects to a great guy and a real man of the Wick.

I was just talking with Smudge a few minutes ago and remembering the not out decision Charlie mentions, along with the fact that he sent me on my way in my last league game-no complaints, it was as plumb as the one in Charlie's game!

My memories of JT are of him keeping wicket until he was well over 50, and also of batting with him to draw a game at Leatherhead many years ago. He was always very proud of his 1 not out which secured that draw!

I also remember him keeping goal for the HWRCC football team in the days when we used to play against the Southfields schoolteachers-he played in goal for Nat West Vets even after he gave up wicket keeping I believe. He was quite a good keeper, especially for his age. Indeed, we found out his true value to us when he retired and we put Colin Ledward in goal. Colin had some idea of what to do as he was a hockey goalkeeper I believe, but he had difficulty with the idea that you stopped the ball with your hands-so he didn't stop it at all!

Of course after he stopped playing, John then took to umpiring. The main thing to say about his umpiring was that he was a fair umpire-you knew that, great clubman that he was, that was not going to help you if you were caught bang in front-no fear or favour, up would go the finger. And if you were an optimistic bowler (why do Ewen, R. and Webster. M. come to mind?) short shrift was likely to be the order of the day.

All in all, a great man to have known and who will be sadly missed.

Peter

An end to a great innings that anyone would be proud of.

JT - Wise, witty, acerbic, cantankerous - a true legend of the Wick.

It was only after many years that I realised just how good an umpire John really was. His decision making had by then transcended to a level barely understood by mere mortals.

As a batman or a bowler you were judged by John not so much on the individual merits of the appeal but for the greater good of the game.

Whether it be a subliminal message that you should have retired long ago, or as a lesson in humility, John delivered his judgement with the surety of a man empowered with the belief that it was his Presidential duty to protect the wider values of our great game.

Having been personally adjudged by JT on many occasions I must confess that I thought at the time that he was either the embodiment of random decision making, blind as a bat or held a personal vendetta.

How shallow I now feel.

It's taken me years of reading Neville Cardus and many visits to my analyst to realise that a legend such as JT, whilst not always fully appreciated and understood in his day, still had the resilience and fortitude to always do what he thought was right.

JT - for all the above, for your tireless dedication to the Wick and your indefatigable spirit -

I will miss you

Tom McCarthy

A true gentleman in every sense of the word ... now umpiring some of the greats of the game ... rest in peace JT you will be sorely missed but never forgotten

David Ford

John always supplied me with my first post-match G&T.

Alison Whitcher

A really lovely man. He declined more lbws off my bowling than any other single umpire! And who else could decline in such a sardonic and disdainful manner? Days at the wick can never be as good again. R.I.P.

Richard Ewen

A lovely man who will be sadly missed.

We joined HWRCC at roughly the same time and my abiding memory will be at my 50th as he gave Culham not out when he was rattled on the pads slap bang in front of all three. His reason when I politely enquired after the match was that he had come to see Culham bat (god knows why), NOT some pie thrower bowl. Maybe he got the batter and bowler muddled up!!! JT all over.

Standing at slip was an interesting experience when he appealed... do you remember the loud growl that ushered forth? Enough to put the fear of god into the umpire (and the batsman for that matter).

Charlie Browning

One of the nicest people I've ever met. Never a bad word about anyone. Top man

Charlie High

A true gentleman and legend of the club. I had the utmost respect for him and he put all the other umpires around in the shade.

Gareth Jones

I had the true pleasure of keeping his company for the past 17 years... A kind, honorable man, that will be missed by all! WICK Through & Through!

David Fudge - 2xi Captain

A true Gent of the Wick

As one who has had the great fortune to play league cricket with JT - a skilled keeper in the old school and a true competitor. A great loss to the Club and Family. [JT even took stumpings off me when standing up ...that is behind the stumps!]

Will be missed down at the Wick...

To Muriel and Family our very deepest sympathy our thoughts are with you

Adrian Risman

He really was an example to me of how the game should be played, of sportsmanship and he was a true Wick Man. I will miss him.

Nick Clark - Hon Secretary