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"There are five causes which render wholesome discipline impossible: egoism, delusion, carelessness, illness, and idleness."
Uttaradhyayana lecture 11, v.3. (From the Jaina Sutras, 6th Century BC)

By recorded delivery on Saturday morning, 18th March 2006, just one week before the ACU&S AGM, Keir Hopley and Peter Ray received notification from the Secretary to the Disciplinary Panel that both were suspended as members immediately and would remain so until the outcome of a formal hearing before that Panel was known. This was "in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 10b of the Terms of Reference of the Disciplinary Panel, Schedule 2 of the Constitution of the Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers."

Why should this be? It seems that the offence is to have brought the Association into serious disrepute by "authoring a website" and "publishing such unbalanced statement on the very public internet." The relevant letters of complaint can be read here

The two writers are both eminent actual or former members of General Council. Chris Rawson was, of course, the Assistant Treasurer (Accounts) who did such stalwart work in preparing the 2004 Accounts, now drastically revised by our auditors. (A £100,000 downward revision qualifies as drastic, surely?) Just recently, having resigned his former post, he has renewed acquaintance with his old partner in cricket and commerce, Barrie Stuart-King, as fellow directors of Community Cricket Holdings Limited. Nothing disreputable about that, obviously.

Mrs Joy Muir bears the heavy responsibility of being the Regional Councillor for the whole of Ireland, both the Six Counties of Northern Ireland, and the Republic. Her comprehensive knowledge of ACU&S is beyond challenge and can only be the stronger for her friendship with the General Secretary, Keith Smith.

How time flies, to be sure! It seems only yesterday that the Constitution was put before the membership at the 2002 AGM and, suddenly, here we are in 2006. So much has been done in the intervening time and it is only to be expected, perhaps, that some things have somehow escaped attention that might otherwise have been attended to. I was reminded of this in speaking with my solicitor who had read the copy of Mr Smith's letter that I had e-mailed him. "I shall need a copy of the Terms of Reference, " he said. "I can send that, " I replied. "And this Schedule 2 he talks about in the third line of the letter. I shall need that, as well," he went on. "I'll go on the ACU&S website and run off a copy, " I said. That is where it started to go wrong, of course. Apparently, General Council has never quite got round to preparing a draft to submit to the membership for approval. The result of that is that there are no requirements and procedures for the Panel to follow, simply because Schedule or Annexe 2 of the Constitution, ACU&S Disciplinary Procedures and Principles of Natural Justice does not exist. The words and the title are prominent in the very first paragraph of the Terms of Reference and Procedures to which Mr Smith referred, and should really prompt the reader to make the connection. It is surprising that neither he nor the Panel Chairman noticed this.

My solicitor was equally surprised. "There's a legal expression for this," he said, "but I'd better not tell you. It's a bit rude for this early in the day. Heavens! They've had more than enough time to get it done. And, of course, they'll have to have another General Meeting to adopt the schedule when they do produce it." He paused. "In the circs, I'll waive my fee. You can buy the drinks next time I see you. Enjoy your AGM!"

An appropriate letter will shortly be on its way.