A SPECIAL evening of cricket took place at Wellington CC on Thursday when a team representing the club’s Past Players Association and a side selected by club president Duncan Short took to the field in memory of Neil Fullstone, one of the club’s best ever all-round players, who passed away earlier this year, writes David Derrick.

Neil’s memory has been perpetuated by the naming of the PPA’s Man of the Match Trophy for this game as the Neil Fullstone Trophy and this year it went to David Jones for his solid batting and vibrant keeping that saw him take two catches and make a stumping.

Before the game took place each of the PPA’s players was introduced to Neil’s parents – WCC life members Dennis and Margaret Fullstone – by PPA team captain Tim Salter and he added some amusing anecdotes in respect of each player.

Once the introductions were over Tim made two notable presentations to both the club and Neil’s parents; to the club he presented both his and Neil’s Somerset Schools Cricket Association caps from the 1975 season when they both represented the county aged 15 as well as that season’s squad photo with names and the Association’s appreciation of the performances that both Neil and Tim had made that season. This was presented to club chairman Mark Salter who spoke of its significance to the Club.

To Neil’s parents Tim presented a magnificent colour painting of Wellington Monument in all its glory and this was complimented by all involved on the evening from a playing perspective and other aspects of the game each signing a large cardboard sheet to say that they were present at the special event.

As for the game itself the PPA XI took first knock and totalled 119-6 in its 20 overs with the President’s XI making 120-5 with around an over to spare as everyone got a piece of the action.

Dennis and Margaret Fullstone would like to thank everyone who attended Thursday’s event, particularly Tim and Mark Salter.