Dan Hardy died on 3 October 2019 aged 67. For some time he had been battling with various cancers. When I visited him in Lytham St Annes in June, he was keen to point out that he had given up smoking earlier in the year!
Dan loved life and, until recently, was at the heart of any party. He played for Underriver CC for over 15 years before leaving to work in Singapore in 1989. Over there he enjoyed playing for Singapore CC on the Padang, where their clubhouse continues to offer a wide selection of slot machines. He was in his element.
He bowled medium pace off the wrong foot (the original ‘frog in a blender’ action) and could club the ball huge distances. Against Downe CC he scored 94 out of an opening partnership of 108 with Bill English. He never scored a century for the club, but once succeeded in skying a catch with 99 to his name. His catching and fielding could best be described as occasional.
His leadership was distinctive. He never forgot that the game was about enjoyment for all eleven players. As captain he presided over possibly the club’s most celebrated win, against former National Village champions Linton Park CC, in the Kent semi-finals of the competition. He top scored with 31 as UCC triumphed by 5 runs in a nail-biter.
He spent countless hours working on the ground and also organising the club’s annual dinner dance, initially at Absaloms and later at Goldings Farmhouse, with help and support from Catts Cottage. These occasions were well supported, hugely enjoyed and enabled the club to build up some useful ‘rainy day’ reserves.
There was invariably an incident involving Dan. Skidding into a marquee at Castle Hill CC and smashing a tent pole en route. Driving out of the locked ground at Cudham CC via a pedestrian-sized gap in a beech hedge. Shelling 4 catches in the field at Chiddingstone Causeway CC before belting his first 2 balls faced out of the ground. These are some of the printable tales.
He was a joy to play for and with. He unknowingly impacted the lives of many people, old and young, who came into contact with him through UCC. He loved the village and the club.
Adrian Barr-Smith
Dan loved life and, until recently, was at the heart of any party. He played for Underriver CC for over 15 years before leaving to work in Singapore in 1989. Over there he enjoyed playing for Singapore CC on the Padang, where their clubhouse continues to offer a wide selection of slot machines. He was in his element.
He bowled medium pace off the wrong foot (the original ‘frog in a blender’ action) and could club the ball huge distances. Against Downe CC he scored 94 out of an opening partnership of 108 with Bill English. He never scored a century for the club, but once succeeded in skying a catch with 99 to his name. His catching and fielding could best be described as occasional.
His leadership was distinctive. He never forgot that the game was about enjoyment for all eleven players. As captain he presided over possibly the club’s most celebrated win, against former National Village champions Linton Park CC, in the Kent semi-finals of the competition. He top scored with 31 as UCC triumphed by 5 runs in a nail-biter.
He spent countless hours working on the ground and also organising the club’s annual dinner dance, initially at Absaloms and later at Goldings Farmhouse, with help and support from Catts Cottage. These occasions were well supported, hugely enjoyed and enabled the club to build up some useful ‘rainy day’ reserves.
There was invariably an incident involving Dan. Skidding into a marquee at Castle Hill CC and smashing a tent pole en route. Driving out of the locked ground at Cudham CC via a pedestrian-sized gap in a beech hedge. Shelling 4 catches in the field at Chiddingstone Causeway CC before belting his first 2 balls faced out of the ground. These are some of the printable tales.
He was a joy to play for and with. He unknowingly impacted the lives of many people, old and young, who came into contact with him through UCC. He loved the village and the club.
Adrian Barr-Smith