OSCA nomination for Ken King 

Ken King has been an inspirational figure in Hertfordshire club cricket for over 30 years.  He is well known throughout the county as a true gentleman and one of the most courteous and dedicated club men you would ever hope to meet.  As a direct result of Ken’s hard work and efforts over many years, North Mymms Cricket Club has become one of the premier clubs, and with one of the finest grounds, in Hertfordshire. 

Ken joined North Mymms CC, then a small parish club, in 1977 after many seasons with Northmet CC, an electricity board team.  He played in over 600 matches, bowling more than 8000 overs and took 1100 wickets.  A specialist bowler and genuine number 11, he scored less than 1000 runs in nearly 30 seasons.  He last took the field for Mymms in 2005, in his early seventies.   

Despite Ken’s significant cricketing contribution to North Mymms, his major achievements have been off the field of play.  In 1980, he took on the role of Fixture Secretary and held this position for eleven seasons.  At the same time he took a leading role in the development of the new pavilion at Home Farm.  The modest facilities at Mymms had been considered a barrier to the club entering the top flight of the Hertfordshire League, and Ken resolved to change this, replace the pavilion and thus take the Club to a higher level. 

Ken’s positive approach to the project led to the raising of sufficient funds to build a pavilion of the highest standard - he did not see the point of building something that was only ‘good enough’.  Ken was the project manager, leading the way with the architect and builder, and installing all the electric cabling and fittings himself at no cost.  Everyone who was involved in the project speaks of Ken’s determination and vision to see North Mymms with the pavilion he felt it deserved.  The new pavilion was built in the close season and opened in April 1983.    

To raise the £60000 needed to finance the project many functions were held, and Ken was often the barman, bottle washer and cleaner, usually being the last to leave an event.  His commitment to the club and the project had clearly not ended with the completion of the building work.  Ken’s vision was rewarded when North Mymms joined the top level Hertfordshire League in 1985, finishing third that season, and going on to win the league in 1990, 1992 and 2004. 

In 1990, North Mymms became the proud owner of one of the county’s first fully electronic scoreboxes.  Ken was the inspiration for this and again took the lead in raising funds and then designing, building and fitting out the new box.  Ken’s new career, following his retirement from the electricity board, was to become a leading installer of electronic scoreboards and has now worked with many clubs across the county.    

Ken was Chairman of the club from 1989 to 2004, and developed a great relationship with our landlord and President, Major General Sir George Burns.  After Sir George died in 1997, Ken declined to be nominated to the Presidency for a number of years out of respect for Sir George, but he finally relented and was elected as President in 2005.  

Another major initiative that Ken managed was enabling the boundary to be extended.  Ken was passionate in his quest to attract Hertfordshire County Cricket Club to use North Mymms for matches. The main barrier to this was a short boundary at one end of the ground, which provided easy runs for the batsman.   Ken once again used his diplomacy skills in applying to the owners of the Estate for a licence to extend the ground, which was granted in 2000.  The combination of the excellent facilities and the full size outfield meant that North Mymms was the venue for Hertfordshire County CC games in 2006 and 2007 and several Herts +50 matches during the past few seasons.   

Even when not taking the lead in fundraising or planning, Ken can always be relied upon to contribute his construction skills.  Many repairs around the pavilion or grounds get fixed by Ken in whatever spare time he may find (or make) during the week.  Recent evidence of this is the fine new post and rail fence that runs along two sides of the ground and new roof on one side of the pavilion.    

Away from North Mymms, Ken’s special enthusiasm ensured the success of the wandering side, the Malcontents, who play a full fixture list of social matches throughout the season mainly in North London and Hertfordshire. Ken selected match managers who would follow his lead in promoting the sporting and social sides of the game, and many enduring friendships have been established because of Ken's dedication.  In addition, Ken represented Hertfordshire in many over 50s matches, including the inaugural fixture against Essex at Chelmsford in 1988.      

Ken King has dedicated his life to cricket and its development over many years, and literally hundreds of people have benefitted from his efforts.  He would therefore be a worthy (and modest) winner of an OSCA, which would go some way to recognising his outstanding contribution to the game of cricket in Hertfordshire.