Shanklin cricketers past and present gather around Dave Porter's memorial seat at Westhill ahead of the match in September. [Dave Reynolds picture]
Shanklin cricketers past and present turned out in force in early September for a special Memorial Match for club stalwart Dave Porter, who died suddenly while on holiday in Tenerife in January.
An oak seat in his memory was unveiled outside the Westhill pavilion, where he spent some many happy hours.
Mr Porter, a long-term partner in the well established Whitehouse-Porter estate agency business in Sandown, was one of the island’s best known cricketers.
He made over 30,000 runs for the Westhill club and represented the Isle of Wight, many times as captain, throughout his long and successful career.
The burley left-hander, as he was affectionately known, was a true legend of Shanklin cricket, scoring over 30,000 runs during his 40-year association with the Westhill club.
A promising footballer in his younger days, Dave also played for and captained the Island representative teams, young and old, on numerous occasions.
Fine spell
Former Hampshire and Kent pace bowler David Griffiths, now with Basingstoke & North Hants, selected a number of former Shanklin players to represent his team in the Memorial Match for his step-father. He went on to top score with 28* in 194-9, supported by contributions of 26 each from Ryde’s Lawrence Tolfrey and Shanklin stalwart Chris Lammiman.
Shanklin XI, captained by Rob Moore, chased the total down to win by 4 wickets with 6 overs remaining. Veteran Dave Woods (36) and Moore (22) getting the Shanklin innings off to a solid start with a stand of 68 for the first wicket. Then, despite a fine spell of bowling by Griffiths (3-21), a 'man of the match' innings from Seb Egerton-Read saw Shanklin home.
The game in Dave Porter's memory drew a crowd of over 200, with family, friends and former teammates enjoying a game played in a competitive spirit befitting the Shanklin legend.
All the proceeds from the various fund raising events have done to Shanklin Cricket Club in support of an ongoing project to refurbish the existing Westhill shower room and toilets.
Shanklin Cricket Club would like to thank all the volunteers and members of Dave's family, especially Libby and David Griffiths, together with Dave's brother, Brian Porter, for organising a fantastic day. It was decided that the match would become an annual event in the Cricket Club diary.
An oak seat in his memory was unveiled outside the Westhill pavilion, where he spent some many happy hours.
Mr Porter, a long-term partner in the well established Whitehouse-Porter estate agency business in Sandown, was one of the island’s best known cricketers.
He made over 30,000 runs for the Westhill club and represented the Isle of Wight, many times as captain, throughout his long and successful career.
The burley left-hander, as he was affectionately known, was a true legend of Shanklin cricket, scoring over 30,000 runs during his 40-year association with the Westhill club.
A promising footballer in his younger days, Dave also played for and captained the Island representative teams, young and old, on numerous occasions.
Fine spell
Former Hampshire and Kent pace bowler David Griffiths, now with Basingstoke & North Hants, selected a number of former Shanklin players to represent his team in the Memorial Match for his step-father. He went on to top score with 28* in 194-9, supported by contributions of 26 each from Ryde’s Lawrence Tolfrey and Shanklin stalwart Chris Lammiman.
Shanklin XI, captained by Rob Moore, chased the total down to win by 4 wickets with 6 overs remaining. Veteran Dave Woods (36) and Moore (22) getting the Shanklin innings off to a solid start with a stand of 68 for the first wicket. Then, despite a fine spell of bowling by Griffiths (3-21), a 'man of the match' innings from Seb Egerton-Read saw Shanklin home.
The game in Dave Porter's memory drew a crowd of over 200, with family, friends and former teammates enjoying a game played in a competitive spirit befitting the Shanklin legend.
All the proceeds from the various fund raising events have done to Shanklin Cricket Club in support of an ongoing project to refurbish the existing Westhill shower room and toilets.
Shanklin Cricket Club would like to thank all the volunteers and members of Dave's family, especially Libby and David Griffiths, together with Dave's brother, Brian Porter, for organising a fantastic day. It was decided that the match would become an annual event in the Cricket Club diary.
 Shanklin team-mates James Lucy (left) and Mark Ringer (right) played in Dave Porter's Memorial Match, as did former Wales rugby international Jonathan Griffiths, pictured right, opening his shoulders ahead of a lofted straight drive. Photos Dave Reynolds. |  |
