Michael Welch (Year Elected - 2003) - Deceased

For many years Michael was Mr. Teddington having held every non-playing role within the club. Away from the club, he was Secretary of the League from 1980-82 before turning his attention to the Club Cricket Conference.

Elected to the Council in 1983, he remained heavily involved until 2011; in 2002 he was President and in 2008 he was appointed Chief Executive.  

He had probably more cricketing connections with Australia that any other person or organisation and many of their finest players of the 1970s, 80s and 90s were guests at his house in Teddington – “The Grove Club”.  One placement he definitely got wrong was a 17 year old by the name of Adam Gilchrist whom he sent to Richmond where he scored over 2,000 runs and helped them to their first League title!

In 2001 and 2005 he managed to get the Australian touring side to Bushy Park to participate in a six-a-side tournament.  It was only the global recession of 2008 that stopped his hat-trick. It is fair to say there will probably never be another Michael Welch!

Written by Charlie Puckett