Saturday August 31st will be a day to remember for Adge John, as it was the final game he would act as the cricket scorer for his village club, Saundersfoot and it coincided in the Clubs first appearance at the Pembroke County Cricket Club blue ribband event, the Harrison Allen Bowl, writes Jonathan Twigg.
It is significant to outline that not only does it take no small amount of knowledge and skill to act as a ‘notcher’ at a cricket match, Adge undertakes this duty despite being a registered blind person and Type 1 Diabetic. At 73 years young, Adge has been registered as blind since 1982 following an initial referral to Harley Street in 1980, which resulted in a diagnosis of retinitis pigmentosa, which makes cells in the retina break down slowly over time, causing vision loss.
Adge was a keen and active sportsman prior to the diagnosis and followed a career in football, as a goalkeeper and cricket, where he was a wicketkeeper / batsman, which followed the same footsteps as he moved clubs, initially at Kilgetty, then Narberth and finally Saundersfoot, where he transitioned seamlessly, to the role of ‘notcher’. Adge won the Harrison Allen Bowl, which started in 1949, an annual 22 over, 2 innings final held at Cresselly Cricket Club in his only appearance, in 1970. Kilgetty then a division 2 side defeated high flying Carew, synonymous in the Bowl competition and the League Championship, being also a strong contender in the National Village Cup.
It was in 1990 that Adge found himself unable to drive due to his condition, something he is now supported through by his wife Libby, and many close friends and sporting colleagues, to ensure he remains part of the village club and indeed, village life. He is accompanied in all he does by his guide dog, Skip which came through Guide Dogs for the Blind (Cardiff), who provide advice and practical support, across the country.
Adge’s final game ended without his village side captain Yannick Parker, lifting the prize as Lawrenny (133-6 & 121-5) beat Saundersfoot (118-7 & 132-7) by 5 wickets, with 19 balls remaining. It did little to dampen the spirits of Adge and the vociferous band of the ‘Seasiders Red Army’ supporters, the players forming a guard of honour, to roundly applaud his entrance onto the field of play, before Adge took his place in the scorebox alongside fellow ‘scribe’ Malcolm Thomas.
“He is a special man,” Parker proudly stated. “Everyone of us, from players, club members and the community have so much time for him in what he does and as a person. He undoubtably contributes to our match day and we ensure he is part of our day throughout. He will be missed and whoever takes on the role, they will have big shoes to fill.”
The cricket scorebox community in Pembrokeshire is a hearty one, each understanding the rudiments of the scoring procedure, be it online or in the more traditional format of the scorebook, with an unenviable camaraderie to support each other, primarily as they share a cup of tea and lemon drizzle cake. Adge is by no means the elder statesmen of this fraternity, where he has scored in August alongside Octogenarian, John Laugharne (Neyland CC) at 84 and nonagenarian Idwal Vincent (Narberth CC), at 92.
The story doesn’t end here for Adge’s association to the Club. He still hopes to be part of the match day, perambulating the boundary line with Skip, both I’m sure being well received outside the scorebox, on any ground they grace. No doubt, the dulcet tones of the ‘Seasiders Red Army’ will serenade them with “Where Ever you Are” by Martin Garrix, as they both amble by.
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