Cornwall Cricket is delighted that League Secretary and County Club Assistant Secretary, Michael Weeks, has been recognised with the award of a British Empire Medal (BEM) in this New Year’s Honours List.

Michael has been a Packet Cricket Correspondent for 22 years after the former Sports Editor Leon Prynn asked him to provide coverage back in 2001.

The award of the BEM is believed to be the first such honour to be awarded specifically for ‘Cricket in Cornwall’.

Michael said: "The initial email notification marked ‘Confidential’ from the Cabinet Office asked for my approval for the Prime Minister to submit my name for approval to the King!

"Not being the contents of an everyday email, I initially thought it was a scam and almost deleted it.

"I’ve kept many things confidential over the last 30 years but none more difficult than this, having to keep it to myself for over a month.

"I still can't believe it and am immensely honoured and very proud to accept the award. My thanks of course to all my colleagues for their support and help over the years.

"The number of congratulations and kind words I’ve received  since the announcement has been unbelievable and quite humbling."

Michael was brought up watching the title-winning Camborne teams of the early sixties. 

Numerous family members featured including former England prospect Raymond Weeks, who had returned home following an eight-year first-class career with Warwickshire.

He learnt to score and play at adjoining South Crofty and Heathcoats CCs before moving up to Beacon in the drought summer of 1976. 

He served the club for 25 years beginning as second-team captain before taking up club scorer duties. He was head groundsman for two decades, and the club secretary for 12 years.

It was during that time he was elected to the Cornwall Cricket League Management Committee in October 1992 and has just completed 30 consecutive years as a member. Around the same time, family friend Mike Evans became Cornwall League Secretary and Michael assisted him, including creating a complex fixture matrix, still in use today.

In January 1995 the League were looking for a first-ever Press Officer. Michael volunteered, and continued ever since. It is now part of his duties as League Secretary, which, following in the late Mike Evans’ footsteps, he took on in 2020.

From the early 2000s, he took on Cricket Correspondent roles for The Falmouth Packet, Cornish Weeklies and Western Morning News plus for a decade compiled the Sunday Independent Results and Reports. Following cut-backs, he still provides a  weekly results and fixtures service to the local press.

Managing Director Joe Skinner said: "Michael’s contribution has been utterly extraordinary, especially given the fact that he has served without any expectation of reward for almost fifty years.

"Of the current league management committee, his unbroken contribution extends twelve years beyond that of any other volunteer."  

"We salute his efforts and thank him for all that he has done to get the game on within the county.

"Nobody has done more for cricket in Cornwall and we look forward to his contribution continuing into the 2023 season."