A special game was held at Veryan to mark Andrew Tregunna’s 50 consecutive seasons as a player and also to salute Morley Johns’ 60 year contribution to the club.

For much of that period Veryan was a leading member of Senior 1 East, regularly finishing in the top six of the table and winning Hawkey Cups and other trophies.

Andrew Tregunna in his prime was one of the leading all-rounders in Cornwall, a serial match-winner for Veryan with bat and ball whose services were coveted by rivals.

Now in his 60’s, he has kept going and remains a key member of the Veryan team with his tight stints as a bowler in Division 2 West.

One of the many highlights of his decades at Elerkey Lane saw West Indian test match player Eldine Baptiste walk out to bat - and be dismissed first ball by Mr Tregunna.

There have been many dramas, not least 22 years ago when he and his father Phil, then aged 70, had to scamper three 2’s off the last 3 balls to tie with St Newlyn East.

Phil is pictured with Andrew in the late 1960’s as his emerging son was getting kitted out to play for Veryan, like generations of Tregunnas, Johns and Kendalls.

There was no shortage of excitement either when Morley Johns batted in partnership with his brother Clifford, a prolific and noisy pairing in the 1970’s and 1980’s.

One of their match-winning partnerships, against Wadebridge almost 40 years ago, came to an abrupt end when they collided in mid-pitch - and knocked each other out.

Morley, like Andrew, enjoyed more success as a bowler in the latter stages of a career which still sees him do invaluable but largely unseen work on the parish playing field.

In front of a large gathering, Veryan President Robert Jobson presented them with inscribed tankards, expressing the club’s gratitude for their outstanding service.

Robert said: “In an era when more and more players opt for greener, lucrative pastures, we have been sustained through good times and bad by Morley and Andrew.

“ They played for years in the top flight with the likes of Dave Halfyard and Philip Johns, but when calamity struck, first in the mid-1990’s and then in 2015/16, they stuck with us when we twice had to start again at the bottom in Cornwall Division 7.

“ Rather than see us travel away with only 9 players, both have regularly put their hands up to help out, despite being afflicted with serious injuries.

“Morley once offered to field at Tintagel while on crutches with a broken leg. Andrew, with his bad back, could barely walk on one occasion at St Newlyn East but hobbled out to score 92 not out with the bat and then bowl his 16 overs off a few paces.

“They have given their all for Veryan.”