Everyone at Surrey CCC is saddened to hear of the passing of Daphne Hubbard.
The very best wishes of everyone at the Club are with Daphne’s family.
Born just over the road and christened at St. Mark’s Church, opposite Oval Station, Daphne worked at Surrey between 1986 and 2018 – she was a much loved and increasingly vital fixture at the ground for 32 consecutive seasons.
Originally employed to work in the shop when she was 56, as Daphne grew older she took on different roles around the Club, eventually settling in the vital job of welcoming fans on matchdays and distributing scorecards. In this role she quickly became the undisputed Queen of the Pavilion, greeting Members with a friendly smile, a free scorecard and a selection of sweets which she had purchased herself that morning on her way to the ground.
Her last season in the job was 2018 – her final game was the County Championship celebration against Essex, which took place shortly after Daphne’s 88th birthday.
The joyful energy she brought to the Club was contagious and wonderful. Every morning, before gates opened, she would complete a circuit of the office, handing out sweets. She always lifted spirits and many of the staff came to see this as one of the highlights of the day.
Daphne was made an Honorary Life Member of Surrey CCC in 2009 and, in 2014, spoke to the Club about her time working at Surrey:
At teatime during day two of the fixture between Surrey and Kent at The Kia Oval, a tribute to Daphne was read with her family present. Members in the Micky Stewart Pavilion stood to applaud Daphne in recognition of her contributions to the Club.
