David Collier OBE 1955 - 2026

A Tribute from our CEO

My fellow Taverners,

Like me, many Taverners members and supporters were very sad to learn the news that our former Chairman David Collier OBE has passed away on 13 January. David, who was Chair of our charity’s Trustee board between 2017-2020 was a popular and very well respected professional sports administrator, not just within the Taverners but across the game, having also been CEO of the England & Wales Cricket Board following other leadership roles throughout the county cricket game alongside a successful career in business.

Tributes have flooded into us here at Lord’s Taverners as many members messaged or posted across our social media channels. All remarking how much David did for the charity, cricket, and Hockey, another sport he had a great passion for. Long standing Taverner and former Trustee Alistair Subba Row told me that David was a fantastic fundraiser for the charity and committed so much to ensure the charity and cricket was a pillar of sport and communities, particularly for disadvantaged young people. Many others echoed that sentiment with kind words about how David was recognised, valued and admired for his passion and commitment to our charity and the game of cricket. A number of members also said how nice it was to see David at the recent Surrey Taverners Christmas lunch just a month before he passed away.

From a personal perspective, I’ve known David for over 20 years, first meeting him when he was CEO of the ECB, our paths crossed professionally regularly throughout the next two decades. When I became CEO of the Taverners, David was always friendly, encouraging and proactive in giving me advice and his very best wishes to the team for their hard work. Coincidentally, David and his lovely wife Jenny, who herself sadly passed away last year, and his family have a long association at my own cricket club, Eastcote CC in Middlesex. Lord’s Taverners Middlesex committee member and Eastcote CC President Denise Broom told me how sad she was to hear the news and what lovely people David and Jenny were in the many years she had known them. 

David and Jenny were without doubt, very popular people and will be missed by so many. I’m sure I speak for everyone here at Lord’s Taverners when I send our deepest sympathies and condolences to David and Jenny’s children Simon, Mark and Zoe, as well as all of their family and friends. May they rest in peace. 

Regards,
Mark Curtin