I really don’t know where to start when telling the story of Wolfie, our Wolfie, a true legend of our club and one of my dearest, closest friends. Simon Snelling (believe it or not, that was his real name) joined Richmond from Ealing in 1991. He had a reputation as something of a wild young man, talented but loose, prone to making mistakes. That may have been -partly true, but he soon proved himself to all at Richmond to be an outstanding cricketer, possibly one of the most talented to have ever played for the Club. He was devastating with the bat and skilful with the ball. He had hands like buckets; he caught everything. For a big lad (and the Wolf was always a big lad), he was surprisingly agile, an effective cover fielder in limited overs games because of his ability to anticipate and intimidate, one of the safest under the high ball you would ever see.

There are so many cricketing highlights to remember, innings of the very highest quality, and bowling spells that destroyed the opposition. Those who were present on Stanmore Common in September 1993 will recall Angus Fraser’s run-up lengthening as he ran in to bowl to Wolfie. Length balls past the bat, length balls nipping back and hitting him on the thigh; ball pitched up and smashed straight back for 4. The Wolf scored 51 that day. He saw Gus off, only to be dismissed by a terrible leggie almost immediately after. A few weeks earlier, he had led us to a 10-wicket win at Southgate, scoring 135 off 110 balls as he and Trevor Brown put on an unbeaten 231 for the first wicket. In 2002, a young Ed Joyce was frustrated by the Wolf’s nagging accuracy. He ran down the pitch, and the Wolf just pushed it past him. One of the easiest stumpings I ever had. In 2008, playing in the 2’s, he really wasn’t fit enough to bowl, but we were playing against Ealing and we were in trouble. He was nagged into bowling; he really didn’t want to. On he came; he hit a length straight away; he swung, and they nicked it. He changed the game.

Its fair to say that Wolf enjoyed a beer and, if we are being completely truthful, by the time he was a regular in the 2’s, his warm-up routine of 4 Budweisers was probably not the best example to set the younger members of the side. However, whilst he didn’t bowl that often, he could still bat and he could still catch. He was a stalwart of the 2’s for a number of seasons before he retired to the clubhouse.

The Wolf knew his cricket. I had the pleasure of standing next to him (keeper and slip) for many, many seasons. He read the game superbly, and whilst his criticisms of more recent players may not always have been as erudite as some would have liked, he offered them because he cared passionately about Richmond and about playing cricket the right way. In every sense, Wolfie was a larger-than-life character. He had his rough edges, but he was as loyal as anyone. He cared about everyone and embodied what it means to be a club man! I will miss him terribly. Richmond CC will miss him immeasurably. Old Deer Park is already a poorer place without him. Our love, respect and sympathies go to his wonderful son, Tom, his brother Ian (or Sid, as he is known to all at Richmond), and his sisters, Jane and Lisa. Rest well, Big’ Un. Today (14th June) is your birthday. I wish you were here so I could share it with you.