For the past 10 years a very special cricket match has taken place each summer in memory of Old Bradfieldian Michael Clark (H 1995-2000). Mike sadly passed away on 16 October 2012 from cancer aged 30 years. This year the event took place on Saturday 16 July 2022 with a T20 cricket match and lunch for both teams on a beautiful summer’s day at Bradfield’s pitch known as Pit.

After Bradfield, Mike had gone on to Southampton University to study Sport Science. Each year since 2013 (weather permitting) the Mike Clark Memorial Cricket Match has taken place on Pit between the Bradfield Waifs and his cricketing friends from the University of Southampton. Simon Lowndes (G 95-00) remembers Mike as having a very competitive nature and when he joined Bradfield he was “an instant hit with any master in charge of sport. He was in the firsts for at least two years in football, cricket and hockey and remarkably had time to be a junior champion in badminton.” He was also a fiercely loyal friend and highly respected by those in his many walks of life.

Remembering Mike as one of his closest friends at Bradfield, Duncan Irens (C 96-01) captained the Bradfield Waifs team this year and was involved in the very first match. Other members of the Waifs team this year included Will Edes (E 97-02), Ed Dillon (H 95-00) and Aruna Sellahewa (D 95-00) who all knew Mike. They were supported by Mike’s family, his parents George and Trisha Clark, sister Louise Koslicki (K 96-98), her old Bradfield friend Antonia Osborne (K 98-00) and the families of many of the players.

The Southampton side was led by Mike’s university friend Jeremy May. His team, some of whom had also worked in Dubai with Mike, including: Jaimie Cork, Johnny Fawls, Nick Dyson, Gareth Starling, James Barrett, Joe St John, Josh Lendel, Jonny Bough, Charlie May and Chris Rushton.

This year to commemorate 10 years since Mike’s passing, Mike's fmaily have commissioned a new bench which is positioned near his memorial tree beside the scoreboard on Pit. Pictures below show the Waifs team from the first match, this year’s Waifs team who won the game and also the Southampton players in front of Mike’s tree.

If you would like to join the Bradfield Waifs team for the memorial match next summer to play cricket once again on Pit we would love to hear from you.

Waifs team from the first Mike Clark Memorial Cricket Match

Starting top left to right: Samuel Outram, Simon Williams, David Felice, Simon Lowndes, Greg Nice, Alex Leziac, William Edes.

Bottom left to right: Rupert Cox, Duncan Irens, Ed Dillon, James Fox.