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Last year I walked with Ian
Botham on his last “stroll” from John O’Groats
to Lands End. (Well done Ian, “The very best of British Beefy,”
eight walks in all, 4,500 miles, £4.5 million raised for Leukaemia
Research - an incredible “Feet”) Flinty, determined,
indefatigable, inexhaustible, stubborn, never complaining about
any pain, a real hero and great leader.
It is no coincidence that these are the replica qualities possessed
by Brian Close who captained Ian at Somerset. They are exactly two
of a kind.
I and the Bunburys have idolised Closey for many years playing against
him at Alconbury where he captains Norma Major’s XI.
After the game, he is the hardest person to leave. We sit around
and listen to his passion and his thoughts on how the game should
be run. Years ago, he should have been made chairman of the selectors.
His players would have run through a wall for him. Beefy certainly
did.
Two years ago at the age of 69, Closey finally played for us. Nothing
had changed. Driving us on, commanding immediate respect. Brian
Close, a timeless warrior. Likes his flask of tea for the long drive
home.
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