It is with profound shock and deep sadness that I write to you following the passing of David Collier OBE.

Beyond cricket, David made an exceptional contribution to sport more widely. He was an International Hockey Umpire and went on to play a major role in England Hockey, serving as Technical Delegate at many World Tournaments. He also served on the Board of World Hockey and, for many years, chaired its Marketing Committee, helping to shape the global development and profile of the sport. After leaving the ECB, David brought his leadership and experience to rugby league, serving as Chief Executive of the World Rugby League Board.

David was also deeply committed to using sport as a force for good. He served with great distinction as Chair of the Lord’s Taverners, where his leadership helped support and inspire young people through sport, particularly those facing disadvantage or disability. This role reflected David’s lifelong belief in the power of sport to change lives and strengthen communities.

David was a giant of English cricket, but to those of us within the Club Cricket Conference, he was much more than a distinguished administrator. He was a trusted colleague, a wise counsellor, a passionate advocate for the recreational game, and, to many of us, a dear friend.

Over his extraordinary career, David served cricket at every level. Chronologically, he held senior county leadership roles at Essex, Gloucestershire, Leicestershire, and Nottinghamshire, before going on to become Chief Executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). In that role, he guided the game through a period of significant transformation and growth, overseeing major achievements in both men’s and women’s cricket and leaving a lasting imprint on the governance and direction of the sport.

Following his retirement from the ECB, David dedicated himself to ensuring that club and recreational cricket remained central to the future of the game. Within the CCC, he was a Life Vice President, a trusted advisor, and a guiding force, instrumental in shaping the Conference into the respected and authoritative body it is today. He brought clarity, credibility and strategic insight, always grounded in a deep respect for the volunteers, clubs and leagues that form the foundation of cricket. Since becoming Chair, I relied greatly on David’s wisdom, experience and steady counsel, and I know many others did the same.

Although David mixed in the highest circles of the game, and despite being a notable workaholic, he was always a “club man” at heart. Wherever he lived, he joined his local cricket club and became an active member and supporter. His wife Jenny — who very sadly passed away last summer — was invariably alongside him, helping with teas and social events. David instinctively understood that club cricket is the bedrock of our great game, and it was this belief that drove his passionate and constant support for the CCC and everything it stands for.

One of David’s proudest contributions to the CCC came during our Centenary Year, when he invited our Patron, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, to be part of the celebrations. That moment perfectly reflected David’s respect for the CCC’s history and his unique ability to connect its proud past with its future. It also symbolised the esteem in which the Conference was held, due in no small part to David’s standing and influence within the game.

David’s achievements were recognised formally with the award of an OBE for services to cricket, alongside honorary doctorates from Loughborough University and Nottingham Trent University — fitting acknowledgements of a lifetime devoted to leadership, service and the advancement of sport.

Only last week, I was speaking with David about the continued contribution he hoped to make to the CCC and to the game more broadly. His enthusiasm, clarity of thought and commitment to service were undiminished, which makes his passing all the more shocking and painful.

David was a generous mentor, a trusted voice and a true servant of sport. His influence will be felt for many years to come — in the structures he helped shape, in the people he supported, and in the values he upheld. On behalf of the Club Cricket Conference, I extend our deepest condolences to David’s family at this incredibly difficult time. He will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. Personally, I have lost a true friend — someone I was fortunate to get to know, even in such a short time.

We will remember David with immense gratitude, respect and affection, and we will honour his legacy by continuing the work he believed in so passionately.

With sincere sadness,

Parveiz Aslam MBE

Chair

Club Cricket Conference