The Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes has been deeply saddened by the loss of two gentlemen in recent weeks, who both played a significant part in the history of the tournament over many years.
Johnny Bell was a truly memorable character, superb company and raconteur who lived an incredible life to the full and who enriched the lives of many both on and off the field.
Johnny, originally from Marchwiel in North Wales organised many amazing cricket festivals at his family home of Marchwiel Hall, which regularly attracted Test stars. An excellent cricketer in his own right, he played for Wales in the ICC Trophy of 1979, the qualifiers to the ICC World Cup, where his nation narrowly missed out on a place to Sri Lanka. He was also a member of the MCC and went on many playing tours with the club.
He captained Marchwiel to victory at Lord’s in the Village Knockout competition in 1980 and 1984. Johnny played in the first ever Sixes staged at the Gymkhana Club 1988. He continued travelling as a player, with Bob Cooke’s Drifters among others, with whom he was a Cup winner in 1992, as well as an playing his part as an umpire.
He became organiser and sponsor of Marchwiel Outlaws, who were Cup runners-up to Surrey Vagrants in 2005 and then Bowl winners the following year after defeating Lord’s Taverners. He was an extremely popular figure around the tournament, introducing Paul ‘Hagar’ Jones to it, for which we owe him a huge debt of gratitude.
The big fella moved to Pattaya to live permanently, remaining a regular at the Sixes, with his side continuing to compete for a few years after. His final visit was in 2018, and while his condition meant he could not return Johnny watched the live feeds and was always supportive of those involved in the running of the tournament.
Tony Gough was another there from the beginning, becoming the Sixes Head Umpire for many years until handing over the baton to Hagar, who we thank for helping us with information on the two gents.
Tony was a native of Bridgnorth in Shropshire and played Shropshire league for his hometown club as a young man. A slow pie chucker was his style, ideal for future umpiring some of the participants at Chiang Mai. He went to college in Bangor, North Wales and qualified as a teacher, eventually moving to Hong Kong as a civilian teacher with British armed forces. He moved to KGV grammar school in HK becoming one of the doyens of local umpiring. Tony retired from KGV to live in Phuket with his beloved Norma.
A wonderful gentleman, high class official, and popular leader with many friends attached to the tournament, his dedication to umpiring is shown when in 1991 just four of them stood throughout the event. Hagar was in his first tournament and is sadly the only one still with us.
Both gentlemen enriched the lives of many who met them in Chiang Mai. They loved cricket and our Sixes tournament. They will both be sadly missed, with the 2025 Sixes paying tribute to them fully in the magazine, and on the opening day’s memorial service.