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{Address removed}

26th January 2007

W P Donald Esq
{Address removed}

Dear Mr Donald

I thank you for your recent comunication about my ACU&S subscription, together with its threat regarding the forfeiture of examination passes. I write to say that I am resigning from membership, and list a few of the reasons below.

Try as I may, I cannot convince myself that ACU&S has any degree of relevance in these times. It claims to be the leading umpiring (and scoring) organisation in the world but a glance at the website of the NSW equivalent, and comparison with that of ACU&S, shows that our Australian friends operate at a level undreamt of by ACU&S. Training programmes developed at much expense in recent years are little more than a reinvention of the Victorian slide show, but viewable without extinguishing the lights. Perhaps no greater declaration of inadequacy could have been made than when an umpiring controversy as serious as any for fifty years was greeted with a resounding "no comment", other than the feeble assurance that "the camaraderie of the Umpiring fraternity prevails," whatever that may have meant.

The chairman, in his role as temporary editor of how's that? added to this pathetic display by writing in praise of Ms Rebours for her "contribution to the Association", ignoring the fact that by her blind and unquestioning support of Stuart-King, what that amounted to was damage virtually as great as he inflicted. What kind of service did she render when the version printed of the "Pearson" Report, as important a document as had been produced in Association's history, was a filleted travesty of the original from which an unwary reader might infer that a few paper clips had gone missing?

Amid repeated proclamations of solvency, and contradictory statements about use of overdraft facilities, members have waited vainly to see some proper form of accounts in support. My regional councillor, Mr Bradshaw, neither communicates with me nor seeks my views and, indeed, finds it impossible even to reply when I write or e-mail to him. Martin Reed, fully involved and complicit in Stuart-King's misdeeds, remains as Deputy Treasurer. I hear now that Mr Rawson, just as involved in the falsification of accounts as Stuart-King himself, will now be a member of General Council having been elected, unopposed, as a regional councillor in Kent. This is the man who asked Stuart-King to approve purchase, for the Association, of a shredder so that "sensitive" papers - what, if in any way legitimate, could those possibly be? - might be destroyed. Even worse, he has been proposed and seconded to stand for election as Deputy General Secretary. In a recent meeting Mrs Rawson, who must almost certainly have known as much as her husband about the machinations leading to the publishing of false accounts - she cannot have been down the end of the garden the whole time - once again argued that Rawson's involvement was entirely innocent. It defies belief that General Council swallows such twaddle or even allows it to be spouted. Further, I am at a loss as to why Rawson has yet to be asked to explain certain actions which went far beyond and flouted completely any proper financial considerations. Just how were invoices recorded that went to a company (both NACLCC and NRCC) with no apparent funds? Were any payments received in response and, if so, how were they recorded? From which bank account can they have come? What do the minutes of the Finance Board have to say on the subject? Or those of General Council?

There seems to be total confusion as to the intentions of the Association. Sometime in May 2006, all the following resigned as officers of ACU&S having firmly nailed their colours to Stuart-King's ICUS mast: Warren, Say, (D) Jones, Freeman, Fielden, Farnfield, Counsell, (D) Burns, Brandon, Bennett and Bastable. This was announced in a highly critical letter published in how's that? no.303. Despite this mass defection, for that it is what it amounts to even if they lacked the honesty and honour to resign as actual members, subsequent issues have all carried glossy colour photos of Farnfield (and Graham Cooper, another loyal BSK-man) modelling ACU&S kit. What message is this meant to send? That it really does not matter what you do or say, you will still remain a member and, indeed, the magazine will continue to portray you as a role-model?

The Association seems to have lost sight of its original objectives. There seems to be a lack of will to bring to account those who, quite clearly, have either broken the law or sailed so close to the wind as to make little difference. In part control has been yielded to people with whom I disdain to associate. One is only glad that the founder is not here to see how grossly his vision has been distorted. With much regret, I resign my membership.

Yours sincerely

Peter F. Ray

cc: G Lowden Esq, Chairman ACU&S )
S Wood Esq., General Secretary ) all by e-mail.
P Baldwin Esq., Editor how's that? )