Southwick Wanderers Cricket Club

It is with a great deal of sadness that we report on the sad passing of Ian McLeod, a Life Member and former President of Southwick Wanderers Cricket Club.

Ian was one of the Wanderers most prolific all rounders, indeed his name can be found numerous times on both the batting and bowling trophies.

Ian McLeod, Tony Preston & Pat Kane from 1977

Keith Page, a former Wanderer, who knew Ian more than most, leaves these comments :-

"Ian was indeed a gentleman. His nature was to put others such as team mates and his mother first. I knew him for 45 years and never knew him to do anything but to give others the benefit of the doubt . When I first played for the Wanderers, he carried the team to most of their victories, despite this he always apologised to the team if he failed with either bat or ball. His gazelle type running between the wickets is something I will never forget. Who ever his partner was at the wicket they new he would always back up and more often or not be near you before you set off!

He was a generous man in both spirit and deed and I for one will miss him deeply." - Keith Page

"Ian McLeod was a Wanderers legend both before and during my time at the club. His on the field exploits were well documented and even in the early 90's, when Ian must have been in his 60s and suffering from many and ache and pain he was clearly a very difficult batsman to remove. He could bowl off a couple of paces and pitch a mean lengh.

But clubs are not just made on talent alone and Ian McLeod knew how to make people feel at ease, particularly those who were new. His character was warm and gentle and he was blessed with a cutting sense of humour. His lateness and proneness to unfortunate and clumsy eventualities was legendary and something most benign- Ian of all people could laugh at this and we with him. I am very sad today as I write this. Ian McLeod wasnt just a talented cricketer- he was also a good man."

Ian Fennell

Although I had not seen Ian since a club do a few years ago we always exchanged Christmas cards with a note regarding our up to date news.  Although his writing was a little more spidery this year he was his usual inquisitive and positive self,  I had no inkling that he was possibly unwell so the news of his demise was a shock.

I joined the Wanderers as a 17 year old in 1969 just before Dave Field I think.  Dave and myself used to play park cricket with a number of others and if I recall correctly saw Ian firstly in Buckingham Park where the Wanderers played their home games for many years.  It is not an under statement to say that Ian was Mr Southwick Wanderers.  He had immense natural ability as a player in every department and clearly played below his natural standard because he loved the club and his many freinds he played with.  He carried the batting for many years and bowled mainly inswingers at medium pace of a short run up and was panther like in the field.  It was therefore sad to see him in dsiscomfort with hip problems in latter years.

Those who played and watched him at his peak were often astounded at his natural ability.

However cricket is just a game but I think reflects life and individuals.  He was without question the most generous and fair minded player I have ever come across in my now fairly lengthy career. He was the same off the field.  When I joined he was so welcoming and friendly.  You always enjoyed your cricket with Ian as a club mate and you knew that the traditions of sportsmanship and fair play were sacred to him.

Those days few people had a car and the stories of his mini with 4 players and his mother squeezed in as passengers (his mother always in the front) and the kit on the roof are legendary.  Thank goodness the breatherliser was new and not treated too seriously at that time!

He was always late.  We knew that and understood.  We always told him the games started half an hour before they did but he cottoned on to that and always arrived about the start of the game.  Although Ian was captain for many years we used to take it in turn to toss up and let Ian know what we were doing, often the game had started when the mini roared over the horizon.

For many years the administration of the club was carried out on the back of an Embassy fag packet during the season.  On a small white space he had all the players names and a note as to payment of match fees and the team for the following week.  Somehow it always worked.

He was a true gentleman in every sense and I for one am honoured and humbled to have known him.  No doubt his spirit will live on with the Wanderes for ever.  Indeed the spirit of the Wanderers encapulates Ian McLeod perfectly.

Rob Charlton

It is with great sadness I heard from my son Benny of Ian Macleods passing. I had been a friend of his since I was nine years when he lived in Underdown Road in Southwick. I first met him one day when he was playing in his garden and hitting a ball against the wall.

I can remember when he did National Service I believe he was sent to Aden in the Middle East. Not the easiest of the places at the time. However it was as a cricketer I remember him best. He was a natural, batting effortlessly, fielding superbly and bowling quite fast off a short run up.

What a gentlemen he was as well, never moody, considerate of others and also very modest. I remember talking to him and saying, “you've had a good season with the bat and ball”, and he said, “yes not bad.” I later found out that he had done the double with 100 wickets and 1000 runs during the season, almost unique in club cricket. I might add that he also played cricket during the week with another club to achieve this.

Unfortunately I lost contact with him in recent years. My final thought of Ian was the thoughtfulness of the man and the care he took of his mother, who lived into her nineties.

He was a very rare and unique man, and one we shall all miss.

Robin Wood

If anyone else would like to leave comments on Ian McLeod, please send them to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Below you can see a scan of an actual scorecard of SWCC vs Home Medina at Buckingham Park, Shoreham, from 4th September 1977 where Ian McLeod took 6 wickets and scored 43 runs as opening. A note too for Mr Dave Field, who, of course, it still swinging the ball around today ! Keith Page, Graham Jenkins and Rob Charlton can also be seen on the scorecard.  Pat Kane and Tony Preston were also playing for the Wanderers at that time, but didn't play in this match.

Thanks to Tony Preston for supplying the scorecard and photo!