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MAD Tributes

In date order of sadly passing away

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“Noel Patrick Reilly” (#021)

1946 – 2008 (62)

Noel was landlord at Jude the Obscure in Walton Street, Jericho until 2001 and co-founder of the original team. A constant source of spiritual inspiration for both Jude and MAD, Noel’s generosity towards the team in both its incarnations was unwavering. He played 3 times for the Jude, scoring 3 runs at an average of 1.00. His most impressive display came perhaps against The Beehive in Swindon in 2000, when his exertions in scoring a single proved so telling that he when he finally left the field of play it was on a stretcher.

Noel sadly passed away in the latter half of 2008. His son James said his father was “the perfect landlord”. He added that, “he has been described as a chain-smoking intellectual Irishman, a bunch of contradictions and the archetypal landlord.” Throughout his career Mr Reilly could be unpredictable, banning people for the ‘wrong hair’ or for the ‘sin’ of drinking in another pub — but he always let them back after a few days. Close friend John Somer described him as “generous to a fault, cantankerous and wonderful.”

Noel Patrick Reilly (1946 – 2008) – posthumous Honorary Patron to The MAD. He will be fondly remembered.

- Antony Mann 2008

“Adrian John Fisher” (#046)

1965 – 2011 (46)

An imposing character, well known and respected for many years around Oxford, The MAD (in those days, The Jude) first came into contact with Ade while he was captaining the now defunct Team With No Name, one of the old Oxford cricket teams which has sadly now gone the way of most old Oxford cricket teams. Back then the Team With No Name were a decent side, and Ade would cut an impressive figure as he strode to the crease at first drop and proceed to flay the inept Jude bowling to all parts.

When the No Namers disbanded, Ade set up base at the Marsh Harrier pub, and at one point even cobbled together a Marsh team, though in fairness they were a useless bunch of less-than-part-time misfits who even the Jude had no trouble caning. Soon Ade was forced to accept his inevitable fate and join the ranks of The MAD.

Ade was probably the greatest skipper that The MAD never had. His cricketing knowledge was deep, and he was never shy in offering it. Not one to suffer fools gladly, his forthrightness was a hallmark of his direct and engaging personality. Given time, he may well have turned The MAD into a crack unit of actual sportsmen. Instead they remain to this day the bunch of fools he was content to suffer.

As Ade said many times, bowlers win matches, and it was with his bowling that he made the greatest impact. His swashbuckling batting style became less effective as The MAD faced stronger opposition and he lost the desire to run, but his beguiling slow bowling often bamboozled even the surest of batsmen. His best figures of 5-15 are testament to that. Some there were who said that he bowled pies, but perhaps there was an element of jealousy in that friendly taunt. His lobbed tarts and flans were deadly against the tail, or indeed any batsman playing for The Marlborough Arms. If they were pies, then they were the tastiest in Oxford.

Ade was an indispensable member of The Jude and The MAD, a friendly landlord in times of need, and a fine man. He is sadly missed.

Adrian John Fisher (1965 – 2011). Too well loved to ever be forgotten.

- Antony Mann 2011

“Philip John Holt” (#031)

1970 – 2022 (51)

Phil Holt (player #31) was an old school friend (and fellow real ale fan) of mine who bravely volunteered to make his Jude debut in 1999 when visiting Oxford on a beer trip, and when, predictably, the Jude was short of players. Phil took a debut wicket versus the Old Tom at Cutteslowe Park, and seemed to enjoy the Jude cricket experience so much that he joined us on Tour in Weymouth the following summer. On Tour he played two further games at Little Bredy and Martinstown, scoring three runs (HS 2) and taking a further wicket (BB 1-8), and during which he famously acquired the nickname "4.1" due to a badly written chalkboard in the pub pool competition (which he won) - see Ant's match report #030 for the Tour in 2000. 

It would come as no surprise to me that Phil was keen to try his hand at cricket, nor that he won the pool competition, as he was more than proficient at a number of sports - pool, snooker, hockey and skiing amongst them. His greatest skill, however, was at chess, which he had played from a very young age, and very recently he had been invited to represent England at over-50s level. Sadly, Phil had had a history of health problems, having a kidney transplant ten years ago, and more recently being diagnosed with skin cancer. Phil had to turn down the opportunity to represent his country due to his failing health, and lost his battle with the disease only a few months later.

Phil's career for the Jude was a brief one but a successful one – he has the unique distinction of playing three games for the Jude and being involved in three victories; no other player has a 100% win record having played more than once. 

Only two other members of our current squad played in the same team as Phil, and I doubt they will remember much of those matches that far back in time. I, however, had known Phil for just over forty years, and like others who had had the pleasure of his company, will miss his wit, his warmth, his friendship. The world has lost a good man, and I have lost a good drinking companion.

- Matt Bullock 07/12/2022

“Anthony Michael ‘Doc’ Mander” (#035)

1946 – 2025 (79)

It came as a great shock to us all to learn of the passing of Tony Mander. Tony was brought up in the Peak District in Derbyshire, qualified in medicine at Sheffield University, and had worked for many years as a Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist at The Royal Oldham Hospital.

It is fair to say that Tony Mander excelled in his medical field, with a special interest in nutrition and the menopause, publishing over a hundred books and scientific papers on the topic and becoming President of the Food & Health Forum at the Royal Society of Medicine between 2019 and 2021. He also served as a consultant at the Nuffield Manor Hospital in Oxford and split his time between his houses in Greenfield and Headington.

Away from his work, Tony enjoyed cartography, literature and history, but it was his passion for cricket and good pubs that brought us together; as a friend of Noel Reilly and a customer of the Jude the Obscure, it was inevitable that he would eventually put his skills to the test on the cricket field.

Tony debuted for the Jude alongside his son Ben in August 1999, joining the exclusive “duck on debut” club against Isis at Queens. He would go on to make sixty-eight more appearances, scoring 318 runs and taking three wickets. He achieved his highest score nurdling his way to 34 off 82 balls against the Marsh Harrier at Pembroke in 2001 and achieved his best bowling return of 2-10 on tour at Stogumber in 2004.

It's fair to say Tony’s contribution to the club was even more significant off the pitch than on it. He was very generous to the club both with his time and his money; he was a frequent attendee at AGMs and on tour, he provided sponsorship during harder times, gave medical assistance on occasions (general first aid rather than his specialism, thankfully), and would watch matches and provide valued support and advice whenever his busy schedule allowed. We made him a patron of the club in recognition of his kindness, generosity and friendship.

Tony was a member and supporter of the youth cricket and disability sports charity The Lord’s Taverners. A number of years ago, I was lucky enough to be invited to his table at the annual Brian Johnston Memorial Dinner, hosted by the real MCC in memory of the legendary BBC commentator, and held in the Long Room at Lord’s. I was treated to a fantastic night’s dining in great company at an iconic venue, with another cricketing legend, the statistician Bill Frindall, providing the after-dinner entertainment, and future England opening batsman Nick Compton joining us at our table for the meal.

The opportunity to enjoy an evening in the Lord’s pavilion, to see the memorabilia including the famous honours board, as well as enjoying a few pints of real ale afterwards in the members’ bar is something which I will never forget (or tire of telling people about), and will be one of many memories of spending time with Tony that I will forever cherish.

- Matt Bullock 15/07/2025

“Benjamin ‘Doc’ Mander” (#036)

1980 – 2025 (45)

When Antony Mann was burdened with the captaincy for the notoriously difficult post Tour match in August 1999, away against Isis at Queens, Ant, no doubt with Noel’s help, bolstered the dwindling numbers of players by recruiting Noel’s old friend Tony Mander and his son, Ben. Ben would have been around 20 at the time, and showed great promise in his first innings, hitting 17 not out in a heavy defeat.

The Mander father and son combo became a regular fixture in the team, Ben developing his skills mixing a good dose of nurdling no doubt learnt from his father and some big swings of the bat, some of which connected. He also developed as a bowler; an unusual action generally foxed the batsmen and the wicket keeper alike, but after an expensive start he became a valuable wicket taker with a very respectable economy. Ben had good hand-eye co-ordination and was very effective in the field; a very sharp caught and bowled dismissal earning him the nickname “Iron Hands” as he barely flinched when sticking out one hand to catch a ball smashed back towards him with incredible force.

Ben departed Oxfordshire for Cornwall in 2004, returning occasionally to play for the team as his father, now retired from The MAD, watched on from the side lines. Which was fortunate, as Tony’s medical services were called upon in a heavy defeat at Astons in 2012 in what would be Ben’s last game for the club.

It’s fair to say Ben had more than his fair share of troubles in his life. He lost his sister Emily many years ago, and of course his father Tony passed away in 2025. I’d like to think we helped the young Ben develop some self-confidence; I think he enjoyed being part of the team, being given a chance to contribute on the pitch and the post-match social side off it. We all lost touch with Ben in recent years as he battled to overcome his personal difficulties. He returned to Cornwall, and latterly to his native Manchester, which is where he was when his mother Katherine announced the sad news of his passing. RIP Ben.

- Matt Bullock 22/01/2026