Everyone at Upminster Cricket Club was deeply saddened to hear of the death of Wendy Langston last week. Wendy, along with husband John, was a Vice-President of the club and made a huge contribution to the club’s development and progress for a number of years.

Wendy’s eldest son Tom joined the club’s colts section in the late 90s and he was soon joined by brothers Sam and Ben, and sister Beth. With all four children playing for the club Wendy began to become involved in the administration of the junior section and became a crucial and much valued member of the Colts Junior Committee. At this time the club’s junior numbers were much smaller than they are today but Wendy and the rest of the team began to put things in place which would help the club’s colts section to grow and prosper. Ideas such as coaching in schools and summer camps, things which have since continued for many years and are now common place at Upminster and many other clubs in the area, were all started and originally organised by Wendy. Her time and energy, along with that of the likes of Paul Bussey, John Sutton, Clare O’Dowd, Sandra Aggio-Brewe, Jackie Insole and Gary and Liz Evans, amongst others, is a big reason the club’s junior section is where it is today.

As Wendy’s own children neared the end of their time in the junior section they all began to play senior cricket for the club. With John also on hand to help out on the field when needed, there was many a game at that time which would feature three or even four Langstons on the scorecard with Wendy lending support from the side-lines. Over time Tom, Sam and Ben all moved out of the area at various points and were not able to play as regularly for the club, while Beth moved on to Loughton’s ladies team (as the club did not have a ladies team at that time) before becoming part of the Essex and then England ladies set ups. Everyone at Upminster was very proud to see Beth named as a member of the England 2017 World Cup Squad who went on to win the competition on home soil. Tom, Sam and Ben have also been a big part of the on field successes of Upminster Hockey Club at various times in the last 15 years, and Wendy was extremely proud of all of the children’s sporting achievements.

Wendy’s work for the club was recognised in 2004 when she was awarded the Dick German Club Member of the Year award, and around the same time both her and John were made Vice-Presidents of the club.

Unfortunately, due to ill health Wendy was not able to continue to play as active a role in the club in recent years. However, she always followed the club’s continuing progress keenly and would have been proud of the continuing strides forward the club has taken. Without the likes of Wendy many youngsters who have played for the club would not have had the opportunities to play cricket which they have done and the club would not be in a position to continue making such progress.

Everyone at Upminster Cricket Club would like to pass their best wishes and condolences to John, Tom, Sam, Ben and Beth at this difficult time.

The Club were also saddened to hear of the passing in recent weeks of two long term supporters.

John French Snr was a keen follower of the club for a number of years, and sadly passed away in early November. John was father to one of our Vice-Presidents, Clare O’Dowd, as well as grandfather of two of our former players Jack and Sam O’Dowd and current colts player Nathan French. John was a regular at the club on Friday nights for many summers, enjoying a beer outside the pavilion while his grandchildren took part in colts training, and he was a keen supporter at senior games when Jack and Sam were in action. Our thoughts are with Clare, son John French Jnr and the rest of the family at this time.

Former player Gwynne Harries sadly passed away on 16th November. Gwynne played for the club towards the end of his playing career although the majority of his playing days were spent at Brentwood, where he was an opening bowler. Gwynne had lived in Upminster for a number of years and was a keen follower of the club as well as a regular supporter of the club’s Benefit Matches with Essex. The club would like to pass their best wishes and condolences to Gwynne’s wife Judith and the rest of the family at this time.