Chorleywood Cricket Club (CWCC) has informed us of the death of David Rayvern Allen. David passed away last Thursday (9 October) following a long battle with cancer.
“As well as being a Vice-President of our club” says Rob Dunstone, “David was a renowned Cricket writer, historian and archivist who was liked and respected right across the game, as the tributes in the media and on Twitter show. He was a great friend to CWCC and was always happy to sit and chat about all things cricket-related – either at the bar or out on The Common watching a game. There is a fine article remembering David on the Lords website at http://www.lords.org/news/2014/october/cricket-historian-rayvern-allen-dies/”
“Before David was ill he helped with the project to update the Cricket Club facilities” adds Owen Edis, ” He had a passion for the Club replacing its old ramshackle pavilion with a rustic traditional cricket pavilion much more in keeping with with its conservation surroundings. David wrote historic articles and helped to edit the Cricket Club’s 150 year anniversary book that was published 10 years ago. He was well known in Chorleywood Bookshop and interviewed Jonathan Agnew in the Barbirolli Hall at SCD School when Jonathan launched his book.”
David had been due to sign his latest book, the authorised biography of cricket commentator John Arlott, at Chorleywood Bookshop last month, but the event had to be cancelled due to David’s ill health. David’s affectionate teasing dedication to his wife and daughters in the book gives a glimpse at the personality of the twinkly eyed, good humoured man who was loved and respected by all who were privileged to know him, including many friends and colleagues in Chorleywood.
Arlott, the Authorised Biography, Aurum Press
‘To Rosemary, Lindsay and Briony who gave me room and knew when to leave’