David Pollard
Right-hand Bat
Right Arm Bowler​
​
Debut: 01.07.1977
House: Grove
At LP: 1960-1965
Was there ever a more determined cricketer than David Pollard? In the days when the OLCC allowed itself a once-a-year lapse into competitive cricket (proper cricket as Mickey would say) David’s was always the first name on the team sheet.
You always knew you would get full value from David. His innings would frequently begin with that lunging, head-over-the-ball forward defensive that he learned at LP and then blossom into a series of sweeps and cuts followed by that scurrying, head down shuttle running where the legs seemed to move faster than the body, Top of the pile in Mickey’s IGALOT (I’ve got a lot of time for) chart introduced by the president at the dinner one year, David was also (like Mickey) frequently bemused by the inanities of OLCC jovial cricket. “I just don’t understand what they are talking about” was his regular observation.
Dubbed “The Good Doctor” by the Scribe of the OLCC Chronicles (with a nod to W G Grace, the other “good doctor”) his first match was in 1977 and his last, in Mickey’s sixtieth birthday match 2003. In between he recorded over 4,000 runs, including one hundred and 13 fifties, took 87 wickets and claimed 67 catches. When invited to bowl the captain usually found himself surplus to requirements as David positioned his field – and made the choice of fielders in each position – like a battlefield general.
If all this makes him sound a little serious that would be to undervalue the charm and sincerity of a man who reflected well the values of Leighton Park. And all of us who were there remember the brilliant speech at the tenth anniversary dinner when David listed his all-time OLCC XI and concluded that Robert Stein’s bat, so often facing towards square leg as he played the ball, would one day complete the circle and come back facing the bowler.
We all rejoiced when he found happiness with the wonderful Sarah, and wept when it ended all too soon. A true and trusted friend.
AWM