The Bank of England Cricket Club elects an Honorary President to act as a figurehead for the club. This individual is a stalwart who has made a significant contribution in the past, and we should be enormously thankful for the amount of hard work and dedication they have put in over the years. Our annual Presidents Day event in August (see below) celebrates this and other club veterans.
This role was re-introduced in 2020 after a small absence on a singular three year term basis.
This role was re-introduced in 2020 after a small absence on a singular three year term basis.
Peter Oliver
Peter Oliver first joined the Bank of England Cricket Club in 1960 and, apart from a couple of seasons for the 1st XI, was very much a regular in the 2nd XI for many years. "Polly" was capable of bowling a nagging line and length for long spells, including a best of 8-27 against Staplehurst on the Kent tour of 1965. Batting was less of a strong point, but none the less he finished with a career top score of 69. More typically, he also featured in the 1st XI record last wicket score of 82; his contribution was 3, and he was the man out!
In later years Peter dropped down the sides but up the batting order, peaking in the glorious summer of 2002 when he scored five half centuries for the 4th XI. The last game this stalwart played was for the Veterans XI in 2013; skilfully avoiding the seven fielders in his favourite cow corner by smacking the first ball back over the bowler's head for 4 instead. Altogether, Peter played for the club for more than 50 years in six different decades.
Behind the scenes Peter was our Chairman from 1986 - 1992, guiding the club for a period of seven seasons. This included overseeing joining the Surrey Championship in 1987, the introduction of overseas players and the inception of a fifth regular team (the 3.5s). Peter also organised the 1988 Australia and 1993 New Zealand tours and is one of only three individuals to have attended all four of the club's major overseas trips (the above two plus Barbados in 1982 and South Africa in 2003). He was also much involved with the organisation of the annual Buckinghamshire tour for over 20 years and was a dedicated committee member from 1974 - 2011.
Peter still regularly attends the Buckinghamshire tour to ensure that traditions are being maintained, and occasionally pops up on the Kent tour too. He inevitably appears whenever a 4th XI curry is mentioned, even if his glasses do sometimes end up in a fish tank. Still, accidents do happen! Outside of cricket other interests include rigging his handicap at golf, lots of travelling, beer and wine sampling, vintage jigsaws and various other old man related activities.
In 2020 Peter was deservedly elected as our Honorary President to reflect a lifetime of contribution to the Bank of England Cricket Club.
In later years Peter dropped down the sides but up the batting order, peaking in the glorious summer of 2002 when he scored five half centuries for the 4th XI. The last game this stalwart played was for the Veterans XI in 2013; skilfully avoiding the seven fielders in his favourite cow corner by smacking the first ball back over the bowler's head for 4 instead. Altogether, Peter played for the club for more than 50 years in six different decades.
Behind the scenes Peter was our Chairman from 1986 - 1992, guiding the club for a period of seven seasons. This included overseeing joining the Surrey Championship in 1987, the introduction of overseas players and the inception of a fifth regular team (the 3.5s). Peter also organised the 1988 Australia and 1993 New Zealand tours and is one of only three individuals to have attended all four of the club's major overseas trips (the above two plus Barbados in 1982 and South Africa in 2003). He was also much involved with the organisation of the annual Buckinghamshire tour for over 20 years and was a dedicated committee member from 1974 - 2011.
Peter still regularly attends the Buckinghamshire tour to ensure that traditions are being maintained, and occasionally pops up on the Kent tour too. He inevitably appears whenever a 4th XI curry is mentioned, even if his glasses do sometimes end up in a fish tank. Still, accidents do happen! Outside of cricket other interests include rigging his handicap at golf, lots of travelling, beer and wine sampling, vintage jigsaws and various other old man related activities.
In 2020 Peter was deservedly elected as our Honorary President to reflect a lifetime of contribution to the Bank of England Cricket Club.
PAST PRESIDENTS
- 2016 to 2019 - N/A
- 2009 to 2015 - Barry Hoffmann
PRESIDENTS DAY HISTORY
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Presidents Cup (Presidents XI vs Club XI)
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Hoffmann Cup (4th XI vs Veterans XI)
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