ON Sunday morning (October 1) Sandford Cricket Club made a special presentation to Bill Matten, President, to mark his 90th birthday and 68 years of continuous service as Fixture Secretary.

On March 31, 1949 a small group of local people gathered together in the village to discuss the possible formation of a cricket club at Sandford.

Shortly afterwards they gathered again and on the April 21,1949 Sandford Cricket Club was formed on the site which the club now currently occupies.

A young Bill Matten, at 22-years-old, was one of that group and became the first Fixture Secretary, a post he has occupied ever since.

Bill has presided over many, many changes in those 68 years but he has always moved with the times and is still actively involved with club and committee on a daily basis.

Over the years he has done practically every job there is at the club and these changes can’t have been easy for him but Bill has always encouraged progress and younger people’s ideas.

Spokesman for Sandford Cricket Club, Chris Theedom, said: “Bill is a truly remarkable person and someone who I have the greatest respect for. He is regarded by most people in the county as “Mr Sandford CC” and that for Bill is a great honour on its own.

“However, we wanted to mark his 90th birthday with the highest honour that we believe a club can give. It was decided that the pavilion at Creedy Park will become known as “The Bill Matten Pavilion” and a special commemorative plaque was unveiled by him on Sunday morning at the club amongst a large gathering of family and friends.

“This will become a permanent reminder to all members now and in the future of the importance of Bill Matten to Sandford Cricket Club and how much he has done for the club in those 68 years.

“A great tribute to a man who has given so much to cricket at Sandford and in Devon.”