Matt Billing
It is with the deepest regret that we have learned of the sudden death from natural causes of young Matt Billing last Monday.

This tragic event has taken from us one of our own.

The Billing family from Portbury Lane are stalwarts of Failand & Portbury CC. Cricket with and for our club has for the last decade been a major part of their and our lives.

18 years old Matt started with the club's junior sides at U11, under team manager Simon Bachelor. He was an integral part of successive year group teams, organised by his mother Jane, with father Rod, and with his brothers Ted and Harry, through to U15s and latterly for the club's senior sides - the Sunday XI, Midweek XI and the Saturday league sides.

Matt, a talented cricketer with an endless enthusiasm for the game, was known to and played with club members, senior and junior, of all ages. As a dependable, easy-mannered local boy, latterly young man, he was always ready and able to get out on the cricket field to play for any club team, whatever the circumstances, when the call came. And we were always pleased to have him play.

Matt's future was the brightest and was all before him. He left for work at The Priory, working to save for his gap year ahead of going on to university next September. But suddenly, seemingly without reason, he was taken from his family and friends, leaving them with their memories of him.

For us, at Failand & Portbury CC, our memories of Matt are of one of our own.

As a mark of respect to the Billing family, a minute's silence in memory of Matt will he observed at the ground today before the start of the game against Old Bristolians.

An "open" service of remembrance will be held at St Mary's Portbury at 11.00 am on Tuesday 30th September 2008 and Rod Billing has asked us to convey that any club members and junior players who can attend will be welcome.

Our deepest sympathies are conveyed to Jane Billing, to Rod, Ted and Harry, and to the Billing family.

Robert Humphreys
Secretary