TRIBUTES poured in at the United Churches' millennium dinner on Saturday November 25.

Former players and friends from around the world, opposition captains, some county players and a few Test cricketers and commentators - all with cricket and some kind of church connection in common, sent in greetings to the North Wilts club.

There in person as guest speaker was former Sussex captain and England tour manager John Barclay, who ably entertained the gathering by drawing lessons from his playing career and overseas duties. Meeting Nelson Mandella, playing against Sir Viv Richards and captaining Imran Khan had clearly left an impression.

He had fond memories of assisting South African township cricket with Devon Malcolm - one of the players whose message of support for the club had earlier featured in the evening.

United Churches were complemented on 'bringing people together and clearly providing a good atmosphere in which development could take place.'

Brought together on this occasion were players from the late 1930s (when the club was known as Methodist Central Hall) to those who began their cricketing careers almost at the end of the millennium.

Millennium awards were later presented for best performance in any season and for best career record. They included: Les Rogers, most wickets in a season (1959); Mark Smyth, most runs in a season (1991) and Adam Rumbold, best average (1998-2000).

Maurice Neate took the award for most wickets for the club, 1,177, Derek Iles for most dismissals behind the stumps (331), Mick Offer for most catches in the field (250) and John Oliver for most runs (9845). John Oliver also took the honour for most appearances for the club - playing 975 matches between 1965 and the present day.

Les Rogers was also the winner of the best club bowling average, taking his wickets at 8.61.

This year Andy Foster, Adam Rumbold, Neil Laing, John Pazzard and Dave Bamford all took seasons awards and 17 year-old Chris Sharp, the captain's award for most improved player. But topping the evening was the presentation of the Wiltshire League Tom Cooper Trophy for outstanding performance - given for the first time to a groundsman - James Hill.

Surprise guests were Mr and Mrs John Hill, owners of the land near Highworth where the club plays. Secretary David Martin expressed the views of all present in thanking the Hill family both for their generosity and sense of vision.