Paul Hooper joined the club in the mid-sixties and became an instant hit at Sandilands. A proud Whitgift pupil, Paul was a hard-hitting top order batsman. He tended to deal in boundaries as opposed to quick singles. Or singles of any type come to think of it!

He also bowled some off-spin and took many a fine catch after a swallow dive in the slips off spinners Terry Kent and Mike Burrows.

His enduring nickname Whipper was acquired after a Saturday night out up in Soho. These exploits gave Hectic correspondents (ACC's weekly newsletter) a field day in non-stop banter and the nickname stuck fast. But more on his social side later on.

On the field, when Paul was batting if the ball was there to be hit he would always bite. There were many a cricket ball lost in the Lloyd Park undergrowth that he dispatched with the help of his long-handled Gray Nicholls. And if not all went for 6, then they certainly gave extra cover a long wait till they came down!

In 1968 he scored 125* in the first match of the season and throughout the early years of the Surrey Championship was a consistent performer. In 1970, he scored over 900 runs in the season but none were more important than the 35 he got in a low-scoring ‘Cricketer Cup’ match against a genuinely star-studded Beddington CC. Addiscombe made a mere 87 and Whipper’s match winning innings will live long in the memory.

Paul also skippered several Addiscombe sides and later became an encouraging mentor to the younger players before retiring from playing in 2000.

But as well as being a fine player, it was his exploits off the field where he also made such a big contribution to the club. For a start, he certainly liked his food. At tea-time there was a manic rush to grab one’s chair and sit down and eat before Whipper’s gargantuan appetite decimated the tea to the chagrin of latecomers.

He had a creative spell as Social Secretary, having been “told” by Club President Joe Peirce: “You are my man and you will do it well”. Uncle Joe was spot on and Paul helped organise the fantastically successful Addsparkle Winter extravaganzas.

He also organised three cricket tours to Amsterdam. On one visit Addiscombe sensationally defeated the Dutch National side. He also masterminded innumerable after-close-of-play games. Blindfold Sightscreen Walking was a favourite and the hilariously incompetent efforts of the competitors defied belief.

A few years later he became ACC Chairman. In the published history of ACC, author Peter Williams refers to Paul as follows: ‘His experience and thought in depth and deed has been a sure safeguard in protecting the welfare of the club….Paul Hooper may fairly be described as Addiscombe’s own built-in House of Lord’s.’

Beyond ACC, his off-field activities also included many years on the committee of the Club Cricket Conference which represents over 1000 clubs in the south of England. This service culminated in Paul becoming the 99th President of the CCC in 2014. A fine honour.

Whipper's strongest suit though was his continual crusade that club cricketers should always socialise after the game, especially with the opposition. This passion prompted him to form The Paralytics CC, a wandering mid-week side. This was 50 years ago and today Paul is the President. ‘The Paras’ play mostly in Cricket Weeks and with the Addiscombe fixture dovetailing in with President’s Day there is always a handsome crowd in attendance at Sandilands. And to Paul's approval, most will still be there in the bar well into the evening!

The Whip has been a Vice-President of his beloved Addiscombe for many years and remains a dedicated supporter of the club.

Chris Whitehouse

Read Chris' other Past Player Profiles

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