After an incredible 30 years of dedicated service, our long-standing Chairman, Brian Dawbarn, has stepped down from his role following this week’s Annual General Meeting.
Brian first joined our club in 1990, at a time when we were struggling, with just three teams in operation. He quickly became an integral part of the club, joining the committee in 1991 and helping to expand the playing sides to five by 1995. That same year, Brian was elected Chairman—a role he embraced with vision and determination.
One of Brian’s earliest and most ambitious projects was the development of the new ground on Rawreth Lane. This monumental effort began with securing an £85,000 grant from Sport England, alongside raising an additional £85,000 from members—a loan repaid in just five years. After years of hard work, the new ground was ready, and play began there in 2003.
Brian also played a key role in establishing our youth section, launched in 1996. His dedication and guidance have seen it grow into one of the club’s proudest achievements, nurturing future generations of cricketers.
In 2009, Brian’s tenure as Chairman faced a crossroads when he was taken seriously ill. While he offered to step down, the overwhelming support of the committee and wider club helped him return to the helm once he recovered. His resilience during this time exemplified his unwavering commitment to the club.
Under Brian’s leadership, the club has continued to flourish. Highlights include the creation of a third pitch, the construction of the scoreboard and double nets, and advancements in sponsorship and live match streaming.
Through the highs and lows, Brian has been a guiding force. His tenure was crowned by the 1st team’s pinnacle achievement in 2021: winning the Premier Division.
Brian said on Wednesday:
The club is in a strong and healthy position, ready to move onwards and upwards, thanks to good leadership and exceptional camaraderie. Most importantly, I didn’t achieve this alone—I had incredible support from so many people over the years.
In the early days, this included the Walker family, Paul Dudmish, and Andy Thurogood. In more recent times, I’ve been fortunate to have the unwavering support of the Frosts, the Mayfield family, Richard Verrinder, Ben Francis, Tom Peppiatt, Trevor Nunn, Paul Harmsworth, Andrew Barker, and many others. Their contributions have been vital in driving the club forward.
I’m not stepping away from the club entirely and will continue to serve in my safeguarding role. The most important thing now is to fully support my successors, Ben Francis and Tom Peppiatt, as we continue to build on our success and take the club to even greater heights
Newly elected Chairman Ben Francis said:
We all recognise how instrumental Brian has been to the club’s success over the past 30 years. Stepping into this role, we face the challenge of delegating and taking on the many key tasks that Brian has so capably handled for so long. We certainly have big shoes to fill!
This isn’t just the committee’s club—it’s our members’ club. The spirit and camaraderie we’ve seen growing in recent years are what we want to nurture and build upon. We aim to strengthen our sense of community and family while continuing to raise our standard of cricket.
My role isn’t to dictate a fixed plan for the club but to work with the committee to create a development plan shaped by the input and guidance of our members. Tom and I will be working closely together, with him taking on many of my responsibilities when I’m not available.
Finally, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Sally Dawbarn, whose support has enabled Brian to give so much of himself to the club over the years.
We are deeply grateful for Brian’s remarkable contribution over the past three decades and wish him all the very best as he steps down. His legacy will forever be woven into the fabric of Rayleigh CC and there aren’t the words to express our gratitude for all he has done for our community.
