For some forty years after World War II, Bill Siveyer was very well known and liked around the cricket grounds of Kent. He had a jolly, chuckling manner which brought him friends wherever he went.
Bill joined Bexley in 1947. He was a very useful all-rounder, an accurate opening bowler and a capable batsman. He is the only President to have taken all ten wickets in an innings for the Club.
He played in all the Xl’s over the years and was for a long time captain of the 2nd XI. He took captaincy very seriously, constantly re-setting the field, but after the game he was a model of friendliness and hospitality, generally dispensed through a haze of 'Senior Service’ tobacco smoke. He expected his team to be sociable too, and would speak sharply to anyone who failed to talk to the opposition in the bar afterwards.
With the passing of the years his hip joints began to stiffen, but he cut down his run up to a couple of strides and improved his leg cutter to the extent that he was able to bowl with success for the 2nd XI in the 1970s in the South Thames League, when he was nearly sixty years old. He was thus living support for the idea that medium paced bowlers with good actions can often continue to bowl well at an age when less resilient players have given up the game.
Bill was mainly interested in cricket and cricketers and found committee work frustrating. He took great pride in the cricketing successes of his sons Alan and Graeme. who were outstanding players for the Club in the years 1970-1985. He would have been delighted that his grandson Gary is a keen member of the Colts Section. He is pictured here presiding over the 1977 Annual Dinner.