Whilst the memory of a remarkable week for our Club is still very clear in my mind, I wanted to express some of my thoughts to you about your massive contribution to the Bunbury Festival, down here at Fullking.

Firstly, I feel it is poignant that you have just spent a few days at a ground, which was created by Spen Cama, because the deep abiding passion in his life was the wonderful game of cricket.  Having now met you, it is clear that you too have the same genuine love and fervour for the game.  It is no accident, therefore, that you have both given so much time and resource to sustain its healthy future.

David, you are a special man!!  I know you have been told this many times before, but I just want to state how much I have got to admire your efforts during the past few days.

What struck me most was the marvellous relationship you have built with the talented youngsters who were playing.  This is no easy task with young men you have not met before, but as the week progressed it became clear that they realised that your interest in their welfare and futures was heartfelt and entirely genuine.

The undoubted respect they now have for you is vital, because there is more chance that they will adopt some of your own values- on cricket and on life in general.

They will, I hope, realise the joy that comes from matching fun and pleasure with politeness and courtesy to others, and the success they can achieve in life by having and showing respect.  Respect for each other, respect for authority, respect for the rules of the game and respect for the ethics of sport.  These are, I believe, some of the values you hold dear and I am sure they will have learnt from your continuing demonstration of these throughout the tournament.

Above all, to quote from your second book (!), I trust they will learn to “love the game more that the prize, because without the game there is no prize” and “go out and live the dream”.

David, although scores of people contributed so much to such a memorable tournament, you gave it its heart and soul, - with your wit, your charm, your enthusiasm and your genuine interest and concern for everyone you meet and spoke to.

Your wit, your sparkle, you cheerfulness and your great sense of fun also gave us all the added pleasure of the festival spirit, in the true Bunbury way.

They say that great leaders need to have creativity, vision and imagination and to give inspiration to others with cheerfulness, honesty and positive ness.  You are a great leader and motivator and it is a real pleasure for me to be able to count you as a friend.

Finally, to take another quote from your book, I hope most sincerely that, as a Piscean, you are blessed with more sweet dreams and less of the demons of the day, in the future.  You certainly deserve it to be that way!

With all good wishes and bonhomie.

Yours truly
David Bowden
The Preston Nomads CC Family