AN Abergavenny cricketer turned 80 last week and celebrated the big day by putting on his whites, picking up the bat, and going hell for leather in a friendly fixture at Avenue Road.

Cricket you might say, is in Colin Handbury’s blood. In 1955 he played for Glamorgan seconds, but he didn’t grace the green green grass of Avenue Road until he moved to Abergavenny as a sales rep for chocolate giant Cadburys in 1959, and played three seasons for Abergavenny Firsts.

In 1963 Colin was lured by the big city flash and dash and moved to Cardiff, where he took to the wicket for Penarth Firsts, but the love of a good woman and marriage heralded his return to Abergavenny in 1966, where he has lived ever since.

In 1985, Colin, alongside his old rugby playing pal Eric Ellaway formed an 11-a-side cricket team called the Wanderers who continue to play every Thursday evening, usually from Avenue Road, against village sides in something called a Strict-a-Special format.

Confused? Allow Colin to explain, “Strict-a-Special is a format consisting of 20 overs, where everyone bowls two overs. Batsmen retire after 25 runs and only return after everyone else in the team has had a bat. This mean everyone in the team gets to have a significant involvement in the game.”

For over 30 years, the Wanderers have continued to take to the pitch and Colin continues to roll back the years with both ball and bat.

An impressive achievement for anyone his age, but as the old cricketer says, “Keeping active is key to staying healthy, happy and fit when you’re my age, and what better way to do so than play cricket?”

Colin’s old friend, Eric Ellaway, who also continues to play for the Wanderers, told the Chronicle, “I’d like to wish Colin all the best for his 80th year and hope he continues to knock em’ for six for a lot longer.”

Meanwhile, the 80-year-old Wanderer would like to extend a special thanks to Abergavenny Cricket Club, especially Dick Brown and his team who have prepared the wickets over the years.

And also fellow Wanderer, Mike Rouse of Glangrwney Cricket Club, for “supplying us with pitches when none were available at Avenue Road.”

Now he’s got the business of his 80th birthday out of the way, Colin and his fellow Wanderers will turn their attention to their big showdown with Abergavenny Rotary Club on Thursday, June 16, at Avenue Road, in a fixture which despite the average age of the players is always “fiercely competitive,” with no quarter asked or given. Game on!