Below is a tribute from Hugh Patterson, Chairman of Capel Parish Council and scorer at Capel CC

Don Foreman - sitting 'beyond the boundary'

At first glance, it could be seen as a strange idea writing the cricketing memories of someone who never played cricket for Capel (or anyone else as far as I know). But Don Foreman became an integral part of the identity of this parish's cricket club over the last decade since its reforming in 2011.

After an initial meeting, the committee of the newly re-founded Capel Cricket Club found themselves (unsurprisingly) in the Dovecote Inn. Don was standing by the bar and became involved in the conversation. At the time he confessed he had no interest or understanding of Cricket but wished us well. However, when the following spring came about - our first season with Paddock Wood as our home ground as the Pavilion and square were being restored - Don emerged as our most vocal supporter with his own '4' and '6' cards which he waved enthusiastically on the (initially rare) occasions when a Capel player hit a boundary. He was loud in support of the representatives of his community and quite prepared to overlook their early cricketing failings.

Don became heavily involved in the 70th anniversary celebrations of the 1942 Capel vs London Counties game which had brought first class cricketers to the Capel Recreation Ground during World War II, and he researched the details of the event. His interest in local history was also invaluable as he took the lead in the historical research that allowed the club to piece together its previous history. You can see the article he wrote together with some fascinating old photographs on the club's website at https://www.capelcricket.co.uk/about/

As the club evolved Don took charge of publicity. In the early years he persuaded the Courier to publish his summaries of games and he wrote the regular monthly article reporting on the club for the Parish Magazine. For this he would sit on the boundary, Don as 'The Press' next to me as scorer. Woe betide any captain who started the game before the advertised time as Don regularly turned up to home games on the dot and did not want to miss a ball. He also wanted to know all the names of the players and demanded the scorer be given a team list to make his job and mine easier. He was at times irascible and was not afraid of making his views known if he was not happy, but he was also amusing and interesting company - discussions on the burial places of the Italian Royal family or the nature of German democracy are not that usual on village cricket grounds - though sometimes I had to remind Don that the scorer needed to watch every ball which meant I couldn't always reply to him immediately.

Don enjoyed the social side of the club, a red wine or two at the bar during and after the game and (before Covid) Cricket teas. He was an ever present at social events like the annual quiz - the cricket club became an important part of his life in his last decade - but he even more an important part of the club.

He gave up writing his parish magazine articles at the end of last summer though after his illness became apparent, he continued to attend home matches earlier this season when he felt well enough. He was able to attend the President's Lunch where he was surrounded by his friends from the club. His last match was four days later on 18th July - before the rain came down and washed the next three fixtures away. It was sad that his favourite away fixture at Burwash was also a victim of the rain this year.

Farewell Don, you will be missed by all your friends at the club. UTC (as Don always signed off his emails) Up the Capel!