Rob Ball - Vice President
Rob is a Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (FCIPD) and Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (FRSA). He attended The University of Salford: BSc (Hons).
His corporate career was predominately with MG Rover/Rover Group, where he was employed as Head of Human Resources Development, and at GKN Autostructures as Human Resources Director. He is a Founding Director of Naturally Concerned (for Alison) Limited, and Work Horizons Limited.
During the last 50 plus years Rob has played cricket for the Old Nortonians, Old Edwardians, Triplex, Bournville, and Alvechurch and Hopwood Cricket Clubs. He has appeared more than a hundred times for Warwickshire Seniors. Rob has been heavily involved in cricket administration including serving four years on the General Committee of Warwickshire County Cricket Club. Rob has also served as Chairman of the Warwickshire Cricket Board, and Chairman and President of the Warwickshire Cricket League.
Gerry Bellfield - Honorary Vice President
Gerry was educated at Brandwood Lodge Private School and Wheelers Lane Boys School where he rose to be Head Prefect prior to leaving in 1954. During National Service, he joined the 33rd Parachute Regiment and represented the regiment at both cricket and football.
On leaving the army, Gerry returned to Triplex Safety Glass (later to become Pilkington’s Glass) where he served as Marketing & Sales Manager responsible for territories world-wide winning many major contracts for the company. He also opened up Pilkington’s market for the curved multi-XXXX bullet resistant glazing for limousines for VIPS including Baroness Thatcher when she was UK Prime Minister.
His best bowling figures as a schoolboy were 6-1 for Wheelers Lane in the early 1950’s, which was a seasonal record. He was also presented with the Best All-Rounder Award in the Docker Shield Final held at Edgbaston in 1953. Following a century in an evening game for Triplex, Gerry also scored 96 against Alvechurch in the 1970’s. Gerry’s cricketing highlights include completing a hat-trick, all bowled middle stump and bowling to Alec Stewart during lunch in the West Indies v England Test Match in Barbados 1994. Alec then went out and scored a hundred in each innings of the match enabling England to win in Barbados for the first time in 59 years.
Whilst at Triplex, Gerry captained both Cricket & Football 1st X1s and played cricket for over 50 years. During this time he was also Chairman and Director of the Executive Committee of Triplex-Pilkington Sports & Social Club.
Eddie Evans - Honorary Vice President
Eddie now retired was employed as the Technical Manager for Cuxson Gerrard, based in Oldbury, having previously been the company’s Laboratory Manager and Production Manager. He is responsible for Research & Development, Quality Assurance and Control and Regulatory
Affairs. The Company is a leader in the research, development and manufacture of adhesive coated products specialising in adhesive paddings for podiatry and medical use. He was a valuable member of the Operations Management Team, Eddie is a Chartered Chemist and a Member of The Royal Society of Chemistry, the largest organisation in Europe for advancing Chemical Sciences.
He was involved in playing cricket for over twenty years initially for Triplex Cricket Club and then for Bournville Cricket Club, much of which was taken up playing in the same team as Bill Lloyd, with whom he opened the batting for several seasons. Until his retirement Eddie concentrated mainly on his bowling with the odd lower order rear-guard batting performance when required. He is also a member of Kings Heath Cricket & Social Club.
Having captained both the Bournville Cricket Club Saturday 2nd X1 and 3rd X1 cricket teams, Eddie was invited to be a member of the working party which organised the highly successful 125th anniversary celebrations. The events included a Twenty-20 cricket match against Warwickshire County Cricket Club at Bournville and the Anniversary Dinner at the County Ground, Edgbaston in 2007.
Roger Fisher - Honorary Vice President (Deceased)
Roger, born in Smethwick was a Warwickshire County Cricket Club Member for over 50 years having seen his first game at Edgbaston in the early 1950’s. He was a huge fan of both Dennis Amiss and Ian Bell. In his youth he played cricket for Holy Trinity CC, Cape Hill CC (Smethwick) and United Springs CC.
He was an acknowledged Cricket Statistician, also being both a qualified Scorer and Umpire. He scored for Smethwick CC, The David Lloyd Cricket Foundation (2013 Glasgow Under-18 Cricket Tour) and Kings Heath CC in addition to The BILL LLOYD Memorial Trust (Charity Cricket Days) to name but a few.
Roger had worked with the BILL TF from 2011 until his untimely death in 2023 being involved in assisting with the organisation of Quiz Nights, Charity Cricket Days, etc. Initially working as a Volunteer, he later became a Trustee/Director taking on the very important role of Admin Support Officer.
Outside of cricket he was a lifelong follower of West Bromwich Albion Football Club and a keen Darts player. He was at one time a friend of the late Jean Alexander (Hilda Ogden of Coronation Street fame). On his 70th Birthday she sent him a signed photograph of herself as Auntie Wainwright from her role in Last Of The Summer Wine. Roger shared his birthday (1 December) with Tim Ambrose the former Warwickshire wicket-keeper.
Roger died on 15 May 2013 following which he was honoured for all his work with The Trust by being given the title Honorary Vice-President (deceased).
He is very much missed.
Ken Hoare - Honorary Vice President (Deceased)
Following the success in developing his own Technical Engineering Recruitment Consultancy, Ken was appointed to the role of Business Manager for the Institute of Metal Finishing in 2004. The Institute of Metal Finishing was founded in 1925 and provides members with updated information on all aspects of surface engineering. The IMF also promotes the application of research and development within the industry, provides for the attainment of vocational, academic and professional qualifications and lobbies the government in relation to industry standards and regulations.
Ken was a football referee for over 35 years and was Secretary, Chairman and President of the Kings Norton Referees Association. He was honoured with the Meritorious Service Award from The Referees Association and made a Life Vice-President of KNRA.
Ken played cricket for over 40 years, firstly with Triplex CC then with Bournville CC following its merger with Triplex, being Fixtures Secretary, Secretary, Captain of both 2ndX1 and 3rdX1 and Sunday Teams. During this time he became Chairman of the Printline League, which then merged with the Midland Combined Counties League and he also served on the Steering Committee from its inception. Ken served as Treasurer for over twelve years and continued in this capacity for the Warwickshire Cricket League, being instrumental in its inauguration and also party to the negotiations with both the Central and Birmingham leagues. Ken was now a Life Vice-President of the WCL.
Ken compiled The BILL LLOYD Memorial Trust’s Charter at its outset in 2008 which is still closely followed to this day. Sadly Ken died in 2017 but is remembered fondly by all that knew him. He was a true Sportsman in every sense of the word & is much missed.
Gladstone Small - Honorary Vice President
Reverend Canon Eve Pitts - Honorary Vice President