Our President, from 1978 until 2008, John Burrows
John passed away peacefully on 15th June 2008, leaving son, Roger, daughter, Nicola and five grandchildren, two of those being Shenfield players - Phil and James Prior. He will leave a huge gap, not only in their lives, but in the lives of all his cricket and golfing friends, as well as those of a non-sporting persuasion.
He had been plagued with health problems for some years, but was never heard to complain. He just got on with life as best he could and had a smile for everyone.
John was a member of Shenfield Cricket club for more than 50 years. He wasn't just a member - he was totally involved in the club, as was his beloved wife, Greta, who sadly died in 2003.
He was 1st XI Captain from 1967 - 1969, Chairman from 1971 - 1978 and President from 1979 until he died.
John was a true gentleman- always immaculately turned out, unfailingly polite and with a genuine interest in anyone and everyone involved with the club.
A light-hearted paragraph from Tom Gray's review of the 1978 season actually sums up John quite well. Here's what it says:
And so to our leader, Chairman John Burrows, who retains his cool on all occasions, which is surprising when considering all he has to put up with. For whether it is being dragged out on a frozen winter's morning to examine a break in, being pressured by the local constabulary to close the bar on pavilion lettings, to slag off the entire board of Courage Breweries, or to convince Alf that it must be someone else's duty to empty the chemical toilets when he is entertaining the captain of Essex in his city suit, John retains an air of unruffled calm and reflects the pensive character of a Condor smoker. Long may he reign!
1968 Saturday 1st XI - John was Captain
Front Row: C Wright J Burrows (Capt) Phil Robins J Senior G Bruce
Farewell match in 1968 for Phil Robins who was emigrating to Adelaide.
John and Phil stayed in close touch during the following 40 years.
Front Row: E Pringle R Ilott Phil Robins R Gowlett J Senior P Burford
1972 One of the many years when the annual Dinner & Dance
was held at the Heybridge
Front Row: A Robinson S Wright G Burrows E Beech S Wright S Gowlett Mrs Plumb M Bruce
1976 Celebrating winning the Greene King League 2nd XI Champions Cup
1990 John enjoys a sunny afternoon's cricket, with Derek Willmott for company
1996 Shenfield won the prestigious Bertie Joel Cup
and John was there, as always, to give his support
Front Row: A Sattar R Smith P Rider G Fisher M Maynard C Beed
2004 New Year's Day at the club
April 2004 Members celebrate John Burrows' 25 years as President
M Keane A West J Wright K Kan R Hindley J Walters J Williams B Vowles P Prior A Hayes M Wright
Seated: J Cleverley R Grief J Burrows M Jarvis R Burrows V Prior
April 2007 A luncheon to honour Alf West's 60 years with the club
as well as his retirement as Pavilion Manager
May 2007 The official opening of the new scorebox,
to replace the one destroyed in a storm
J Burrows (President) A West (Hall Bookings Manager) N Bush (Jack Petchey Foundation Officer)
R Hindley (Club's Jack Petchey Co-ordinator) M Wright (Ground Manager, League Delegate, Scorer)
Kneeling: Joe Massie Oliver Castell Tom Ballington Tim Cooper Joe Knapp Callum Cooper
September 2007 President's Day
September 2007 John greets former player, Peter Wright, here on a visit from Australia.
John and Greta's son, Roger, and daughter, Nicola, planted a cherry tree
at the edge of the ground, in memory of their parents.
Bill Hindley crafted a beautiful bench to sit alongside the tree.
