Essex Outfielder : The Unofficial Essex CCC Forum
Off-Topic => In The Hut => Topic started by: Andy on March 23, 2026, 10:43:11 AM
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Just seen that PN is stepping down from the BBC Essex broadcasting team. Will miss his commentaries and it is a shame that the trio of Newton, Davies and Gledhill has ended. I know it is common knowledge that he has had health problems so wish him a long retirement.
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yw834105zo
I always enjoyed his partnership with Dickie- and the gentle bickering as Dickie alludes to in the article. It's a shame he won't be continuing in commentary and I hope he can enjoy his retirement.
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I wish him a long and happy retirement. It should have been a few years earlier, before his legacy started getting tarnished.
I would have said the same about the most of the greats on Test Match special as well.
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Sad news indeed, both him and Dickie had many stories recalling players and innings through the years which enlightened those who watched and listened to Essex cricket.
A long and happy retirement Paul .
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The anecdotes that Don Topley comes out with. Are at least recent, sometimes from the previous evening. And the details are correct.
Enough of the Australians at Southchurch Park, in 1948. Long deceased members, who left when they were collected by the men in white coats.
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This makes me sad, a real end of an era and I hope the club give him a send off at the first home game. One of the key voices of Essex cricket for many a grown adult, including me. Capable of describing the action, whilst also keeping the listeners entertained through his stories. Always tried to involve the listeners and unlike the modern day broadcaster, was never afraid to criticise the team when warranted. I've always respected him and Dick for that.
Best compliment I can pay is despite him ageing, his broadcasting ability never appeared to lessen, which can't be said for others. He'll be badly missed, especially if it means more of 'you know who!'
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The anecdotes that Don Topley comes out with. Are at least recent, sometimes from the previous evening. And the details are correct.
Enough of the Australians at Southchurch Park, in 1948. Long deceased members, who left when they were collected by the men in white coats.
Hello Don - nice to see you praising yourself.
In what world is your post accurate - he's one of the most irritating commentators and he gets it wrong a lot.
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This makes me sad, a real end of an era and I hope the club give him a send off at the first home game. One of the key voices of Essex cricket for many a grown adult, including me. Capable of describing the action, whilst also keeping the listeners entertained through his stories. Always tried to involve the listeners and unlike the modern day broadcaster, was never afraid to criticise the team when warranted. I've always respected him and Dick for that.
Best compliment I can pay is despite him ageing, his broadcasting ability never appeared to lessen, which can't be said for others. He'll be badly missed, especially if it means more of 'you know who!'
I totally agree -
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A shame to see him go and I'll miss his intelligent contributions. He had hinterland, unlike many commentators. I still remember his phone in score service from the 80s and 90s when that was the best way to find out what had been going on that day...especially when I dialled up the service to find that we had quite incredibly won at Bournemouth after following on in 1992.
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We wish Paul all the very best, we shall miss the 'dream team' of Paul and Dick commentating together - not that we've heard much of that in the last couple of years, with the Beeb cuts. Suppose we'll be getting even more women commentating badly.
Lynda and Steve
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We wish Paul all the very best, we shall miss the 'dream team' of Paul and Dick commentating together - not that we've heard much of that in the last couple of years, with the Beeb cuts. Suppose we'll be getting even more women commentating badly.
Lynda and Steve
Oooooooh contentious
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This makes me sad, a real end of an era and I hope the club give him a send off at the first home game. One of the key voices of Essex cricket for many a grown adult, including me. Capable of describing the action, whilst also keeping the listeners entertained through his stories. Always tried to involve the listeners and unlike the modern day broadcaster, was never afraid to criticise the team when warranted. I've always respected him and Dick for that.
Best compliment I can pay is despite him ageing, his broadcasting ability never appeared to lessen, which can't be said for others. He'll be badly missed, especially if it means more of 'you know who!'
Nothing I'd disagree with here. I hope Paul's health holds. The BBC show on Wednesday should be worth a listen
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We wish Paul all the very best, we shall miss the 'dream team' of Paul and Dick commentating together - not that we've heard much of that in the last couple of years, with the Beeb cuts. Suppose we'll be getting even more women commentating badly.
Lynda and Steve
Oooooooh contentious
Afraid we've not heard a woman commentator we've thought was any good yet, hence the comment. It may be that men's lower register voices fit better with the pace of the game.
Lynda and Steve
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At least the Commentator who sounded as though he was suffering from Indigestion, Laryngitis and Sleeping Sickness at the same time. Is long gone.
No more plugs for The Cricket Society. Not that I had the slightest intention in joining.
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I've just got round to listening back to the BBC Essex documentary about Paul online. A very nice piece, Victoria Polley (I assume it was her) did a great job putting it together. Would recommend it to anyone who hasn't had the chance to listen.
I didn't realise just how ill Paul was/is. Very sad.
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I wonder, the way things are going. When there will be more people in the BBC Essex box, than the media centre next door. I am surprised that Reach (Retch) Group newspapers have not printed a story about the retirement, describing Paul Newton as beloved. They use that description for everything else.
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Just seen that PN is stepping down from the BBC Essex broadcasting team. Will miss his commentaries and it is a shame that the trio of Newton, Davies and Gledhill has ended. I know it is common knowledge that he has had health problems so wish him a long retirement.
I've just happened upon your post, Andy. I had no idea Paul had retired.
My earliest memories of listening to Paul, and indeed Dick and Nick Gledhill were on the old BBC Essex MW 1531 on a Sunday afternoon, in the Sunday League, I believe in the day's when the only broadcast radio commentary was of that competition - and long before the migration to online. Think BBC Essex had a little caravan vehicle, akin to an ice cream van that used to sit at the top of the open seating beyond the River Stand.
I often disagreed with what PN said, but found his ability to enunciate so well, bringing the game to life and having the effortless means to speak without endless repetition during a tedious third-afternoon of a County Championship game for example.
Most fondly, I'll recall his ability and independent thought when he and Dick rightly criticised some questionable (I'm being generous) decision making on and off the pitch from ECCC. I clearly recall the Club getting defensive and refusing to do interviews - No loss there!, for a certain period when Irani, Fletcher and East were making the Club a laughing stock.
One stands out, not sure if PN was on commentary, but the aforementioned DE in his CEO role, was being interviewed at a Sunday League match at either Colchester or Southend, in front of a packed out ground - spouting something along the lines of; that 'people don't watch cricket at the weekend any longer', to which Paul or Dick stated that he was obviously referring about all other matches apart from the one he was speaking from live. Comedic genius!!
Hope you have a happy retirement, Paul.
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When there was a falling out with the club. There was a commentary on a Sunday league game. Where the remarks became more pointed as the game went on.
It started off with comments. Of, the ball has gone down to the executive suite. Yes, the boxes are completely empty, nowadays.
Then finished with open questions to the club, or anyone else. Who had the answer. Why is Peter Such not playing? Why is Tim Mason playing?
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I think it's sad that no presentation was made at the first home game.