Liam Peck – Demijohns Cricket Club

January 23, 2026

In memoriam: Sue Simpson

Dear Demijohns,

It was with great sadness that I learned of Sue’s passing on 9th January. I know that some of you attended the gathering today to celebrate Sue’s life, and I was sorry that, with my Headmaster away and me needing to deputise, I was unable to join you.

For anyone of my vintage or earlier, Sue was as much as an integral part of the Demijohns as any playing member, and more so than many of them. I remember her as one of life’s great encouragers, always keen to offer support from the boundary rope and a consoling- yet, crucially, never patronising- word when one traipsed back to the pavilion. Sue was particularly kind to me when I joined the Club in the 1990s as a young graduate, and, by virtue of her impeccable manners, flawless diction- uncommon even by then- and hint of inner steel, she instantly inspired in me a deep respect. It wasn’t long before I was invited to 8, Queen’s Park Gardens to enjoy one of her magnificent home-cooked lunches after two hours of Club Committee ‘business’. It was plain that Karle thought the world of her, as well he might, and I seem to recall one slightly less guarded moment when, touching upon how they met, Sue simply said, “Karle made me laugh”. Together they were the gold thread that ran through the Demijohns for its first 50 years and well beyond that. We owe them both an equal debt of gratitude and shall create a proper occasion to acknowledge this when we play Caterham C.C. at Old Caterhamians on Sunday 30th August at 1330. I hope that, if you can, you will join us.

Rest in peace, Sue.

Yours,

Stuart

(Chairman)

May 16, 2025

Peter Shaw, 5th October 1938 – 21st March 2025

The club sadly learned of the passing of Demijohn Peter Shaw earlier this year. Peter played 69 fixtures for the DJs between 1970-1987, amassing a total of 1163 runs and remains the 15th highest run scorer in DJs history. Peter’s wife Leslie has kindly provided a photograph of his Demijohns century (100*) in his penultimate appearance vs The Trumpers in 1987. Peter also ranks highly among Demijohns fielders with 25 catches and 4 stumpings to his name. He moved to New Zealand with his family for 19 years in the early 1990s before returning to the UK in 2012. Sadly he passed in March this year aged 86 after living with Parkinson’s disease for 18 years. His memorial was held in Chalfont St Peter in April, and he is survived by his wife Leslie who would welcome contact from anyone in the Demijohns community who remembers playing with Peter. Please get in touch via the Demijohns email.

August 12, 2024August 12, 2024

Demijohns card first W of 2024, and back-to-back 5-fers

Demijohns have done well to play 9 fixtures this season despite a regular ongoing struggle for player availability – 42 players have turned out for the side thus far which is testament to the power of ringers in friendly cricket! Things have been looking touch and go for a first winless season since 2008 despite some good individual and team performances. We have managed 2 draws – firstly against Oporto (see tour report) and most recently versus Further Friars in the pleasant Wiltshire village of Erlestoke. Despite a strong opening from Le Clercq (30) and Ritter (33), a lynchpin innings from Stuart Bachelor (96* and declared(!) on 219-9), a 10-man offside field and the best efforts of ringer Sam Cripps in taking DJs’ first 5-fer (10-0-60-5) since 2020, we were unable to take the final 4 wickets in time.

Ringer Sam Cripps bowled with searing pace vs Further Friars to take DJs’ first 5-fer since 2020

DJs travelled to Maidenhead to play Pinkneys Green in the penultimate match of the season with the prospect of a strong Caterham side also to come. While off to a good start batting first at 115-3 off 21.0 with top scores from Tom Hill (45) and Bach (30), the well-known middle order tumble came and DJs settled on 170 all out after 35 overs. Pinkneys’ two openers made an assured start at 26 runs from the first 4 overs before their number 2 and 3 were trapped LBW. Astute bowling changes by skipper Tom Ritter brought the heat from Dom Hewitt (7-2-30-2) and a refined spell from Jeremy McGahan (9-2-24-2) to control the run rate and dismantle the middle order, with opener/skipper dismissed by Hewitt for a patient 51. A recall to attack the tail brought up Liam Peck’s maiden 5-fer with spells of 7-2-25-2 and 2-0-8-3 to leave Pinkneys 140 all out with 14 overs left to play and bring home the first Demijohns win of 2024. We are grateful once again to ringers Ronak Chandreja (Maidenhead & Bray) and Ganesh Poon who added valuable runs to our total at 9 and 10, and both bowled well (Chandreja 7-0-34-0; Poon 3-0-10-1).

July 1, 2024August 12, 2024

Jack Lovell, 1994-2024

Demijohns bitterly regret to announce the untimely and wholly unfair passing of St John’s College, Oxford alumnus and Demijohns club member Jack Lovell in January 2024 shortly after summiting Mt Kilimanjaro. Jack was a joy to be around and his loss has been keenly felt by all Demijohns with whom he played. We have extremely fond memories from his debut DJs tour of Menorca in 2022 during which he impressed with the ball (taking 2 wickets and deserving more), bat, and in the field despite sweltering heat. Jack always entertained at the post-match debrief with his infectiously positive attitude towards life and towards cricket which was much needed in the modern Demijohns era. Sadly Jack’s DJs career was cut far too short at just 5 appearances; we are sure he was to be a DJs force for the ages. Such was Jack’s contribution to his maiden Demijohns overseas tour, this year the club has inaugurated the Jack Lovell Cup – a trophy to be awarded annually to the touring Demijohn who is able to most closely invoke Jack’s cricketing talent, impish charm, and enthusiasm for the social side of touring cricket.

Jack’s funeral was attended on Friday 16th February 2024 by Demijohns President Ian Davies and wife Sara, and Honorary Club Life Member and Groundsman Ian Madden and partner Tara. Jack’s parents Debbie and Steve have advised that there will be a memorial match at Jack’s local club Felbridge & Sunnyside CC in East Grinstead on Sunday 21st July 2024 that all would be welcome to attend and spectate. Donations can be made in Jack’s memory at the link here.