OP SPORT
SCOREBOARD AND PLAQUE DEDICATION IN MEMORY OF MALCOLM MILNE
A dedication ceremony to mark the installation of a new electronic cricket scoreboard and commemorative plaque at Pocklington School in memory of former pupil , teacher and Pixies Cricket Club stalwart Malcolm Milne ( 55-62 , former staff 71-02 ), took place on Sunday 4 July 2021 ahead of an inaugural cricket match in his honour .
The scoreboard supplied and installed by Durant Cricket , was funded by the Old Pocklingtonian Association in recognition of the many years of dedicated service that Malcolm gave to OPs and the OPA committee . Similarly , the Pixies CC committee provided a memorial plaque to acknowledge Malcolm ’ s significant contribution as the club ’ s secretary and annual tour organiser for over 50 years .
Malcolm ’ s wife Jill and nephew Richard Milne ( 90-97 ) were amongst a small number of guests who attended the ceremony , including OPs , former teaching colleagues , school staff and cricketers .
Joan Gough ( 75-77 ), OP President , paid tribute to Malcolm ’ s long service and commitment to both the school and the OP Association during his 32-year career .
She said : “ Malcolm made an extraordinary contribution to the school , the OP Association , the Pixies and the wider Pocklington community and so it is fitting that we have facilitated the installation of an electronic scoreboard at school in Malcolm ’ s memory , something which will benefit generations to come .”
The Headmaster , Toby Seth referred to Malcolm ’ s love of cricket but also for his passion for helping to make Pocklington School more accessible and available to as many deserving students as possible , regardless of their background .
He said : “ Malcolm played a key role in the preparation and planning of our new Shape the Future campaign to raise funds for bursaries , and we will be inviting members of our community to donate to the campaign in his memory in due course . As such a staunch supporter of the School in so many ways , Malcolm would be heartened to know that this is part of his legacy .”
Matt Atkinson ( 85-93 ), Treasurer of Pixies CC , explained the ethos of the club which reflected Malcolm ’ s own philosophy when it came to cricket : “ He loved teaching it , playing it , encouraging people to play and he was always inclusive about who plays it . This is what being a Pixie is all about . Enjoyment , love and encouragement of cricket . We ’ ve played hundreds of games , scored thousands
MALCOLM MILNE MEMORIAL CRICKET MATCH 2021
L-R : Toby Seth - Headmaster , Joan Gough ( 75-77 ) – OP President , Jill Milne , Charlie Lambert ( 01-08 ) – OP Vice President and Pixies CC Secretary , Matt Atkinson ( 85-93 ) – Pixies CC Treasurer .
of runs and taken hundreds of wickets all because we all love cricket together . And we loved turning up for Malcolm , he ’ d always say ‘ just keep coming back ’... and we would .”
Following the dedication ceremony , the scoreboard was put into immediate use as the Pocklington School 1st XI took on a mixed OP / Pixies XI in the inaugural Malcolm Milne memorial cricket match .
Matt commented : “ It ’ s a privilege to play and fitting to recognise Malcolm for the future with this game of cricket . We ’ re playing for ‘ The Malcolm Milne Trophy ’ which will help us all remember the good work Mal did for cricket .”
Whilst the weather got the better of the cricket with heavy rain bringing the match to a premature close , it was fitting that Harry Jones scored a century for the school on this special day of tribute to Malcolm . For the full match report see below .
Malcolm ’ s Pixies Stats pixie # 2
164 appearances
2,710 Runs 88
5th highest run scorer for the club wickets
Pocklington 1st XI v OP / Pixie XI - match drawn
A combined Pocklington Pixies and OP team took on the school ’ s 1st XI as part of a scaled-back OP Summer Reunion event on Sunday 4 July 2021 . The match , which is set to become an annual fixture , was played in memory of OP , former teacher and long-serving Pixies ’ secretary , Malcolm Milne ( MGM ) who died in December 2019 .
Having started the day with sunshine and cloudless skies , to end with thunder , lightning and heavy rain was a bitter disappointment to what had been an excellent day ’ s play .
Winning the toss , the school batted first , keen to lay a strong platform to declare upon . Harry Jones was the mainstay with a wonderfully compiled century made from 171 balls including fourteen 4s and one 6 receiving excellent support from Ollie Rook with 41 off 31 balls . The school declared on 204-5 made from 58 overs .
National Knockout Finalist in 1969 at Edgbaston , losing to Hampstead
65 annual tours
With a maximum of 49 overs remaining , the OP / Pixies made a steady start , with openers Charlie Lambert ( 01-08 ) and Will Watts ( 14-20 ) seeing off the new ball pair of Kirby and Holland , before the introduction of Harry Jackson saw the demise of Charlie Lambert for 23 . Will Watts and Charlie Rook ( 87-97 ) played well , scoring freely , to set up the game for a grand finale before the heavens opened bringing the match to a premature end , leaving the OP / Pixies on 141 – 1 and Will Watts not out on 84 .
OP / Pixies L-R : ( back row ) Nick Hobbs ( 99-04 ), Will Watts ( 14-20 ), Billy Higgins ( 00-07 ), Richard Aram ( 77-82 ), Ben Byas ( 04-15 ), Frankie Beal ( 11-13 ), ( front row ) Charles Rook ( 87-97 ), Matt Atkinson ( 85-93 ), Joe Moore ( 82-91 ), Charlie Lambert ( 01-08 ), Tom Sowersby ( 05-12 ).
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