)}})
Obituary: Roger Snelling
The Somerset cricketing community is mourning the loss of Roger Snelling who sadly passed away in the Manor Nursing Home at Bishops Hull near Taunton on 16th June at the age of 92.
Roger was born in Ruislip, Middlesex on 4th October 1932 where he remained living until 1967 when he relocated with his job to Taunton.
He was a keen all round sportsman and played both local league football and cricket in Middlesex, which he continued to do so with Staplegrove when he moved to Somerset. Roger was never one just to play for the team he always became wholeheartedly involved and for 22 years was the fixture secretary at the Club.
During his time at ‘The Grove’ along with stalwart member Den Bishop he was instrumental in setting up the Club’s junior section.
For many years Roger was involved with the organisation and management of recreational cricket in Somerset, firstly as secretary of the Somerset Cricket Association and then in 1994 he performed the same role for the newly created Somerset Cricket Board (SCB).
In 1981 Roger was voted onto the committee of the newly formed Somerset Cricket Association (SCA) and two years later was appointed secretary of the County Knock Out Cup competitions which have their finals at the Cooper Associates County Ground.
Roger was then appointed as secretary of the SCA a position he held until 2012, after which he remained secretary to the clubs and leagues as well as the Groundsman Association, which he founded in 2005, and the County Cups Association.
During his time in office Roger worked tirelessly and among other things in 1985 he reformed the County’s 6 a side competition, in addition to which the club affiliation more than trebled growing from 49 to 172.
In 1983 Roger formed a Somerset team to take part in the National Cricket Association’s new over 50’s tournament and played himself for the first five years.He then went onto manage the Over 50s and organised a number of tours both home and overseas including several to the West Indies. From these beginnings Somerset now has teams at Over 50, 60 and 70 levels
In the late 1980’s and 1990’s Roger managed the County under 17’s and 18’s on tours to London, Essex and Kent, two tours to West Wales and three tours to the Surrey and Sussex areas. There were also local tours to Devon and Cornwall, plus the County Youth Festivals.
Reflecting on his more than 40 years of voluntary service to Somerset Cricket in 2012 Roger said: “The work that has given me the most satisfaction was negotiating on behalf of member clubs to receive funding for Club and Ground improvements from the local authorities, Foundation for Sports and the Arts, National Lottery (now Sport England) etc and funding from the Lord’s Taverner’s for non-turf pitches, nets and obtaining grants.”
Andrew Moulding who worked with Roger for many years initially at the SCA and then the SCB said: “Roger was a larger than life character who enjoyed everything that he did. Nothing was done as a chore. he did it because he loved doing it and would go full bore for everything.
Andrew added: “Roger was a fount of information and my right hand man if I needed any information about clubs anywhere in the county, he knew so many people. Sadly they don’t make them like Roger anymore.”
Roger is pictured receiving his honorary Life Membership of Somerset CCC from Andy Nash in 2013.
Roger Snelling’s funeral will be taking place on Tuesday 15th July at Taunton Deane Crematorium at 1.20pm.
