Mr Chairman made up for his shenanegans today by presiding over the ceremony of the burial of the old Gnome, the former Prat of the Year award, which came to it’s sad demise amid a cloud of suspicion and not a small slice of superstition. The Gnome was in the care of last year’s P.O.T.Y. winner, James “Mayhem” Mayland, and shortly after it was reported broken, the ancient tree that stood proud on the boundary of the cricket ground fell foul of the stormy winter weather. Coincidence?

To appease the Gods, the old Gnome was laid to rest today, forever to be looking up at those who walk out from the pavillion to take to the pitch. In a ceremony fitting of ECC lore, the Gnome lay in state while the groundworks were carried out through the morning. At midday, those present gathered as the Gnome was lowered into the ground by Vice Chairman, Dave Waring, who then said a few short words before handing over to the Chairman. The Chairman popped open a bottle of bubbly and poured the first drops over the Gnome. The Gnome was then toasted by those present while the Chairman cast the first clod of earth onto the Gnome and Dave Waring finished by relaying the turf over the Gnome.

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