John Colley
Travelling to Uganda and Africa is something completely different to me but something I am really looking forward to, challenging myself and hopefully making a real difference. I am a Director of Shine Sports Coaching in Bristol which I helped set up in 2011. I have been coaching for 10 years now, for YMCA CC, as a Club Cricket Coach and am also a qualified coach in Football, Rugby and Athletics. I am ready to be challenged with my coaching and I am sure I will be on this trip.
Best Cricket Moment – scoring my first century for Aston University in 2006 after coming in at 51/5 we chased down 293 against Coventry Uni. I still have the match ball in my front room.
Favorite Cricketer – Graeme Hick (saw him hit many centuries at New Road as a youngster growing up)
Jamie Burton
Cricket background:
Probably started when I was 7 or 8. I was lucky enough to play age group cricket for Scotland and managed to tour Australia with the Under 19s. Coaching is probably where I’ve had most success, culminating in winning the ICC Europe Young Coach of the Year. I’ve played for a variety of clubs but haven’t really played in the last couple of years. I’m open to big money offers for next season.
The low light is undoubtedly: J Burton ct C Taylor b H Colvin.
Favorite Cricketer: AB – What he can do is ridiculous. He is playing a different game.
Paul Rowe
Me – 52 year old, Stourbridge born living in Wales for 40 years and still committed to the Albion.
Played cricket from the streets to the fields of Wales (never made Lords). Would describe myself as a nudger and nurdler opening bat rather than up and at ‘em style , an accumulator of runs. On my third visit to Africa with CWB having been to Rwanda in 2011 and Uganda in 2012. Qualified as UKCC Level 2 coach and Tutor.
Best Cricket moment – My one and only 100 (August 2008 126 not out) by the seaside on an artificial pitch in Aberaeron. It was said that games were not long enough for me to score a ton but it all fell into place that day!!
Fave Cricketer – Sachin Tendulkar, Graeme Hick (being a Worcester man)
Phil Mackie
I’m from Worcester. Married with 3 daughters. I work for the BBC as a news reporter. I’m based for work in Birmingham, where my producer is Jonathan Agnew’s sister-in-law. I’ve reported on a wide variety of stories over the years, and for the past ten I’ve been the BBC’s Midlands Correspondent. I also get sent abroad a couple of times a year, most recently to Paris, during the Charlie Hebdo attacks, and Lebanon to cover the Syrian refugee crisis. I traveled to Rwanda and Kenya with CWB in 2012 to make a film for BBC breakfast & a half hour documentary for Radio 5live.
I only have level one cricket coaching badge and so will need a lot of help when it comes to the sessions in Uganda. However, I am fully trained in how to survive in hostile environments, to cope during violent disorder, and have my certificates in battlefield first aid – should things go pear-shaped.
My favorite cricketing moment? I have many. A net session with these guys in Port Elizabeth, the day before they beat England in the CWC in 2003 ranks high. Symonds bowled a succession of bouncers. I had to put my hand in a bucket of ice afterwards, after Brett Lee hit me. I was man of the match when CWB played An England Women’s XI in a T20 at Arindel. I also hit Zaheer Khan for a 6 during a proAm 6-a-side. Last year I won my Club’s player of the season award too! Not bad for 49.
Tim Kearsey
I have coached cricket for nearly 15 years on the Island of Jersey, Channel Islands. I am ICC Level II Qualified and have coached International under 19 cricketers, who are in the World Cup Qualifier this summer.
Best Cricket Moment – Somerset CC were playing Cleeve CC (Bristol) in a charity game and I met Joel Garner, Sir Vivian Richards and Sir Ian Botham. I was 4 years old. I once took 42 wickets in a league season in 11 games at an average of 8.14 and bowled the French National Captain twice in 3 balls in an unofficial ‘Test Match’ between Jersey and France.
My Favourite Cricketer is Jonty Jenner of the Sussex Academy. He is an immense talent. His father Ward has a real passion for the ‘Spirit of Cricket’ which I thoroughly believe in.