History of the Cranbrook Lynxes Cricket Club How it all Began

An extract from THE CRANBROOKIAN of 1947, headed O.C. CRICKET IN AUGUST reads as follows:

“On August 16th this year we play the Old Suttonians at Sutton. If, as we hope, this fixture is played in future years, we want to add to it one or two more and so begin a modest cricket week based on the School ground”.

From this initial idea the Club was formally started with the election of the following Officers in 1950:
 

President	F.W.L.Evans	(Master i/c Cricket)
Vice Presidents	A.W.Rammell	(Former Headmaster)
	C. Russell Scott	(Headmaster)
	G.D.Durtnell	(Old Cranbrookian)
Joint Honorary Secretaries	E.A.Couchman	(Horsley 1936)
	P.A.West	(Crowden 1939)
Honorary Treasurer	P.M.Groves	(Cornwallis 1946)

The first Rules were agreed at an A.G.M. held in August 1953 and these were modified at a similar meeting in August 1955.

The inaugural match was played against Old Suttonians in 1947. From the early 1950’s a series of matches were scheduled for the 2nd week of August, which became known as the “Lynxes Week”.

Lynxes Cricket has been an important part of the annual programme for Old Cranbrookians ever since.

There can be very few Old Boys Cricket Clubs which have been operating continuously for such an extended period on the same ground.
 

The Early Years
"Joe " Evans held the position of President of the Club until shortly before his death in 1980. He was succeeded by Peter West who held the position for a further 15 years.

Throughout this time the Club was run by the Officers and Committee in a fairly formal manner with members being specifically elected.

The fixture list was developed with games against Cranbrook Town, Bluemantles and other Old Boys sides (such as Old Merchant Taylors and Old Roffensians). The social side of the week was always important with visiting OCs being allowed to stay in boarding houses, use the school swimming pool and tennis courts. The Windmill Pub was always much in use.
 

Developments
The fixture list altered somewhat over the years and in 2007 it was decided to move the “Week” to early July to better attract current students. It now begins with a game against the School and the OCA. Golf Day - but the aims are still the same: to bring together OCs of all ages (especially recent leavers) to enjoy cricket in familiar and friendly surroundings and at a reasonable cost.

Most matches are now played with a 50 over per side format..

Nearly a decade ago several new ideas were introduced as the result of work done by a sub-committee of Jeremy Lawson (Allan 1990), Nick Pink (Crowden 1995), Patrick Coyne (Webster 2007) and Max O’Collins (Webster 2009). The aim of these new ideas was to modernise Lynxes Cricket whilst retaining its traditional values and ideals. Events with different formats have since included The Lynxes “Lash” (7 aside) and 30 overs per side matches.

The Club has become more open, seeking additional playing support from relations of current students and OCs and in 2017 our first female player, Izzy Cloke (Allan 2018), represented the Lynxes.

The Committee continually tries to make the whole Lynxes cricket experience even more enjoyable for players and spectators alike.

Social events held during the week have included barbeques and restaurant outings but many more hours are spent in the company of fellow O.C.s in the pavilion or the local pubs.

Dinners were arranged to celebrate the Club’s 25 th., 40 th., 50 th., 60 th., 65 th., and 70 th. Anniversaries.
 

Current Organisation
The Club is operated quite informally through a small Committee  - President, Gary Marshall (Horsley 1977), Chairman, Owen Dearn (Webster 2012), Treasurer, Sam Stibbs (Allan 2012), Nick Manser (Rammell 2011) and Joe Schindler (Allan 2012).

Match Managers are responsible for “on the day” issues. External umpires may be appointed for matches.

The Club has always been operated on a self funding basis. Income was previously raised from membership subscriptions but is now solely generated by match fees and sale of refreshments. The club funds were increased significantly in 2017 as a result of a 70 th Anniversary year raffle.

Use of School Facilities

The Club has always enjoyed the use of Big Side, the pavilion and the services of the School’s groundsman at no substantial cost (apart from a gratuity paid by the Club). Headmasters and many members of School staff have played for the Lynxes.

The Club is privileged to play on a ground with notable history. In 1850 it was the venue for a match between “The Gentlemen of Kent” and “The Gentlemen of All-England”. The Pavilion was built in 1963, funded by Old Cranbrookians. The Honours Board inside the pavilion bears the following text:

“This games pavilion was opened by Mr F.W.L. Evans, Vice-Master, on 13^th July, 1963, and it is named after him as a tribute to one whose inspiring contribution to Cranbrook sport is outstanding. It replaces the pavilion given by him to the School in 1935.”

The Lynxes benefit from the major refurbishment of the pavilion which took place in 2018.

In recent years the Club has purchased outside furniture (which the school also uses) and has made significant contributions to the School’s acquisition of a sprinkler system, an electronic scoreboard, a boundary rope and a portable sightscreen.

Any food which is prepared and served by the School’s catering department is paid for at pre-agreed rates.

The revised timing of the week to early-July and changes in school policies / regulations now preclude any use of school facilities other than the cricket ground and pavilion.

Liaison with the School is ongoing – notably with Karen Radford (Bursar), Stephen Hooper (Groundsman) and Graeme Edmonds (Catering).
 

Lynxes Records and Achievements

The Lynxes have now played cricket in the “week” or in the Cricket World Trophy competition against over 50 different opponents, of which 18, including The Old Cranbrookians from Sydney, Australia, have been genuine Old Boys teams,

Nearly 500 matches have taken place and well over 500 players have represented the Club.

In 1990, the Lynxes won the first "Cricket World" Cup knock-out competition for Old Boys teams and we were successful again in this competition in 2005.

Traditionally the Old Cranbrookians played against the School during the summer term. More recently the organization of the OC team has been the responsibility of the Lynxes Club. H.J. (Henry John) Wybourn (Crowden 1951) was one of the club’s most loyal members from 1952 until his death in 2010. In 2003 the Lynxes decided to introduce a cup in his name to mark his 50 years of attending Lynxes week. The John Wybourn Cup is awarded to the winning Captain in the Lynxes v School game.

Other Cups are awarded for bowling and batting performances during the “Week” in memory of former Lynxes, David Winterbottom (Crowden 1959) and Andrew Bond (Rammell 1955).
In such a Club there are always a few real stalwarts. Notable contributors include:

• Gary Marshall (Horsley 1977) – current Chairman of the Club, over 150 matches played and over 4,500 runs scored.
• Tim Spelling (Horsley 1972) – former Chairman of the Club, 260 wickets taken.

Lynxes LMS
The Lynxes CC are in London too!
We are currently participating in the Last Man Stands 8-a-side league which takes place in Regents Park on Sundays. The games are every few weeks and we have a squad of Old Cranbrookians that play.
If you would like to get involved then please contact Owen Dearn on 07855 788254.
 

Communications

The Club also has its own Facebook Group – Lynxes Cricket Week

Past Presidents
 

F.W.L.Evans	Staff	(1947 – 1979)
P.A.West	Crowden 1939	(1979 – 1998)
J. G. Barham	Crowden 1960	(1979 – 2015)

 
Past Chairmen
 

F. W.L.Evans	Staff	(1950 – 1965)
E.S.Couchman	Horsley 1936	(1966 – 1968)
J.G.Barham	Crowden 1960	(1969 – 1985)
J.W.W.Taylor	Allan 1967	(1986 – 1996)
H.Youngman	Allan 1983	(1997 – 2003)
T. R. E. Spelling	Horsley 1972	(2004 – 2009)
G. H. Marshall	Horsley 1977	(2010 – 2014)
Nick Pink	Crowden 1995	(2015 – 2020)

 
Past Secretaries
 

E.S.Couchman	Horsley 1936	(1947- 1962)	Joint
P.A.West	Crowden 1939	(1947- 1962)	Joint
E.S.Couchman	Horsley 1936	(1963- 1965)
D.J.Winterbottom	Crowden 1959	(1966 – 1974)
M.J.Jenner	Horsley 1967	(1975 – 1980)
J.Philpot	Allan 1977	(1981 – 1991)
E.Hussell	Cornwallis 1987	(1992 – 1994)
J.C.Thompson	Webster 1991	(1995 - 2004)

 
Club Officers 2021
 
President
 

G. H. Marshall

Horsley 1977

(2015 - )

 
Chairman
 

Owen Dearn

Webster 2012

(2021 - )

 
Committee
 

Sam Stibbs	Allan 2012	(2016 - )	Treasurer
Owen Dearn	Webster 2012	(2016 - )	Match Secretary
Nick Manser	Rammell 2011	(2017 - )
Joe Schindler	Allan 2012	(2013 - )