Seven of the Gloucestershire’s unsung cricketing heroes will be honoured at Lord’s after winning NatWest OSCAs (Outstanding Services to Cricket Awards).

The volunteers – who come from a range of clubs, leagues and boards – have been recognised for the tireless dedication to the grass roots game.

They were chosen by a Gloucestershire Cricket Board (GCB) judging panel following a record number of nominations.

All seven winners have been invited to a star-studded awards ceremony at the Home of Cricket on October 9th. They will also be guests of honour at a Gloucestershire home cricket match in 2018.

One of the seven, Young Volunteer winner Stefan Hunt from Cheltenham Cricket Club, has also been shortlisted in the top three for the national award, with the winner due to be announced during the event at Lord’s.

GCB chief executive Steve Silk said: “The NatWest OSCAs are a wonderful way to celebrate the unsung heroes whose work often goes unnoticed, but without whom the grassroots game simply would not survive.

“It was fantastic to have so many entries this year, highlighting the large number of deserving people we have in Gloucestershire that go the extra mile for their club, league, board or organisation. Every nomination we received was hugely deserving of recognition, but our seven winners stood out to our judging panel.

“We hope they have a day to remember at Lord’s and look we forward to welcoming them as guests to our own Gloucestershire celebration event next year.”

For details of the winners and why they won see below:

Gloucestershire 2017 Natwest OSCA Winners

Name – Club/Oragnisation – Category

Sarah Probert – Bristol CC – Heartbeat of the club

Richard Deane – Chipping Sodbury CC – Get The Game On

Chris Strong – BDCA – Leagues

John Gurney – Dymock CC – Lifetime Achiever

Brian Woodcock – Cirencester CC – NatWest CricketForce

Peter Sawyer GACUS Officiating – Umpires & Scorers

Stefan Hunt – Cheltenham CC – Young Volunteer

Sarah Probert – Heartbeat of the Club

Secretary (club and youth), executive committee member/first aider/fundraising organiser/scorer and catering/bar manager – it would take an army of people to fill the many and varied roles Sarah Probert holds at Bristol CC.

Since joining the committee five years ago Sarah has transformed the club, quadrupling the size of both senior and junior sections, bringing in new sponsors and raising significant funds.

Sarah was also instrumental in setting up a minis section which now has over 130 5-11-year-olds learning to play cricket every Sunday morning

Nominating Sarah for the award Kate Edwards said: “Sarah dedicates her life and soul to Bristol Cricket Club. Both Sarah’s husband and two sons also play at Bristol, however Sarah has become ‘mother’ to all players – junior and seniors – and especially our overseas player.

“She goes beyond the care of duty of any volunteer and there is not a day during the summer months when Sarah is not either at our club or at another cricket club supporting our various teams.

“I genuinely can’t think of anyone else more fitting and more deserving of this award than ‘Mrs P’. She is not just the heartbeat of Bristol CC, she is Bristol Cricket Club.”

Richard Deane – Get The Game On

As captain of the lowest team at Chipping Sodbury for the past 17 years, Richard Deane makes sure he “gets the game on” regardless of the inevitable last minute availability changes that come with running five senior teams.

With a “black book” of contacts Richard ensures a team always takes the field while ensuring a safe environment for young players to take their first steps in adult cricket.

Over the years, he has provided a pathway for players to develop onto higher levels of cricket within the club while still being involved in successful league-winning teams.

Richard is a master at ensuring his team has enough drivers and people that can umpire and score while still ensuring everyone gets a meaningful game of cricket. He has also done much to promote gender diversity, giving women cricketers the opportunity to play on a regular basis.

Andy Shield from Chipping Sodbury said: “Richard plays the game in the right spirit and sets a good example for others to follow. He ensures that all members of the team have the opportunity to be involved in the game and have an enjoyable experience.

“Richard is a highly respected and much valued club stalwart and thoroughly deserves to be recognised.”

Brian Woodcock – NatWest CricketForce

A mainstay of the club since joining 30 years ago Brian Woodcock could have been nominated in almost any of the OSCA categories such is the integral role he plays at Cirencester CC.

But as the man behind Cirencester’s annual NatWest CricketForce days it is in this category that he has triumphed.

Each year it is Brian who obtains the equipment, lays out the jobs for the volunteers and ensures there are enough club members on hand to make the day a success.

However CricketForce is only one part of Brian’s contribution to Cirencester. A useful left arm spinner, he is the captain of the 3rd XI and has been pavilion manager for more than 20 years.

He was also heavily involved in organising the celebrations for the club’s 175th anniversary which fell this year. Brian collected the marquee from the rugby club – arranging it’s erecting by the army, as a quid pro quo for using the nets – set up the seating and bar and then organised the staffing of events to ensure everything ran like clockwork.

In addition to his many roles at Cirencester Brian became the Cotswold District Cricket Association’s (CDCA) Division Three league secretary five years ago. In this role he has introduced innovative rule changes to allow more matches to be played and has become the CDCA’s representative on Gloucestershire Cricket Board’s Senior Clubs Development Group.

Peter Sawyer – Officiating – Umpires and Scorers

In his five years as Gloucestershire Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers (GACUS) secretary Peter has done a huge amount to develop the relationship with the Gloucestershire County Cricket League (GCCL).

Nominating him for the Officiating award, GCCL chairman Brian Hudson said: “In the past, the relationship between GACUS and the County League was not bad but a good description was probably ‘distant’.

“Since Peter took on the role about five years ago, an excellent spirit of co-operation and support has been developed to the extent that the position of ‘Umpires Representative’ on the League Committee has not been filled because business can be transacted speedily in real time without the need for unnecessary formality.”

One of Peter’s many contributions has been the organisation and delivery of the “Introduction to Umpiring” courses which, together with the League’s insistence on mandatory attendance, has done so much to improve the quality of player-umpiring and reduce disciplinary incidents.

Stefan Hunt – Young Volunteer

Only 25, Stef has already given more of his time to Cheltenham Cricket Club than most people give to their club in a lifetime.

A hugely positive and enthusiastic presence, Stef – a level 2 coach – coaches the club’s under 13s and has previously coached the under 15s. As well as providing them with the cricketing basics he is also an exceptional role model, actively demonstrating what it is to be a true Cheltenham CC clubman (and twice winning the club’s award for that role).

Stef also coaches the under 9s and in 2017 took on the role of becoming Cheltenham’s lead activator for the ECB’s All Stars initiative. Leading a team of coaches and young leaders Stef ensured that sessions were well organised without ever losing the sense of fun and enjoyment so vital in inspiring the next generation of young players. He also gives up days of his annual leave to coach on the club’s annual youth coaching camp.

In addition to his coaching roles Stef has run fundraising events like 2016’s club Race Night and – when there were a lack of other candidates – he stepped up to captain the third team for a number of seasons (despite the fact that he could have played in the 2nd XI).

Nominating him, Cheltenham CC youth coordinator John Cropper said: “Whether it is NatWest CricketForce, the club’s annual beer festival or a junior training night you can guarantee that Stef will be there, giving his time and energy to the club – always with a smile on his face.”

John Gurney – Lifetime Achiever

A member/player at Dymock Cricket Club for more than 50 years, John has dedicated countless hours to maintain and developing the club’s facilities.

As well as preparing wickets, John also repairs machines. His dedication is such that the club’s roller, lovingly restored by John, is named after him.

John has also put up a machinery shed, built the old pavilion in the 1970s and was very supportive of the club’s new pavilion – built in 2016.

He chaired the league association committee for many years and has raised thousands of pounds for Dymock through grants and organising events. These include the annual Dymock Half Marathon that has raised over £20,000 in the last 10 years.

Nominating him, Dymock chairman Martin Fowke said: “John supports our thriving youth section, preparing wickets for four junior teams and enjoys watching cricket on his square. He is encouraging and enthusiastic about current and future players, and always has time for other club members.”

Chris Strong – Leagues and Boards

Chris has served the Bristol District Cricket Association (BDCA) for more than 25 years.

Over that time, he has performed a wide range of roles including being a member of the management committee, chairing the senior section clubs and organising the annual presentation evening. He has also chaired the disciplinary committee for over a decade, managed the BDCA representative team and helped with the administration of the T20 cup competition.

BDCA chairman Trevor Crouch said: “Chris is the ‘glue’ in the B&D who performs many of the vital tasks which enable the organisation to function well. He has established positive contacts with all clubs and leads the league through its disciplinary issues with understanding and consistency.

“His various roles mean that ‘Strongy’ is well known at the majority of our clubs and has the respect of each new generation pf players with his enthusiasm, knowledge and banter.

“His is a voice of realism in committee meetings and, even if he disagrees – which is not unknown! – he unfailingly supports the majority decision.

“The B&D would need to recruit about five people to replace him which, hopefully, is not imminent!”