What can you say about a man who has probably had everything said about him?  Dr David ‘the loon’ English MBE, the King of English Schools Cricket Festival.

Whilst chatting to the Legend of the Bunbury’s, we got talking about bringing kids up with Cricket and how it’s such a great education in life skills for all of us never mind the kids!!!

I remember a fantastic winter in sunny Cape Town back in 1992-93 when the Western Province Cricket Union paid seven first Class Cricket Professionals to work for them during our off-season.  Our job was to play and coach cricket in the under developed areas, to see if they had the passion and the number of players to support Western Province building brand new net facilities in their areas.

I was connected to a club called Mitchells Plain or Westridge, a place where local Cape Town city people didn’t go into very often!!!

I will always remember the very first visit to the area; I drove past naked young men out in the bush land who were painted white, as they were on their transition from boys to men.

The cricket club had two nets 100 yards apart and I had to close fifty kids from 6 years to 20 years old to look after!!!!

At the end of the 2 hours, as darkness fell I called for the kids to put the kit into the Western Province kit bag and to my dismay there wasn’t any kit in sight!!!! I sat down with the kids that were left, (one lad had run 5 miles to bowl quick in the nets) and told them I was here for the whole winter not just for one night and we need all the kit back to use for the season.  The following Thursday at the next practice through Mitchells Plain and as I drove up the road to the cricket ground an army of ninety kids would be running towards me all keen to carry the kit back to the nets.  I would flick the boot and it was carnage!!!.  The kids had so much natural ability it was awesome.  The fielding groups that took place over the oval was a joy to be a part of, the energy and passion they had for each other was something special I will never forget.

Soon new nets were built and the kids flourished, and the club went from strength to strength, I remember having twelve kids in the car after a net session dropping them off home one by one …brilliant.  Then at the end of the year the club held a BBQ in a guy’s garage and they presented me with a club tracksuit even though the club didn’t have one!!!  Great moments for great people.

That’s what I love about the LOON he brings people into Cricket that are great people, he is the most energised loveable, passionate person who has time and a story for everyone he speaks to.

Loon we all think the world of you and what you keep achieving year in and year out.

Rock & Roll on 2007.

Loads of Love

Nico & Jen xxx