Graeme CEssford returns to the RAF Graeme Cessford has swapped the leafy surroundings of Worcestershire picturesque New Road ground for a very different landscape in the Falkland Islands. Cessford, 31, had two years playing county cricket as a fast bowler on a sabbatical from the Royal Air Force but he returned to active service after he was released by Worcestershire at the end of the 2014 season. Cessford was posted initially to RAD Spaeadam in Cumbria but since late August he has been working in the air traffic control tower of the Mount Pleasant airfield on the Falklands. ” One of our roles is to drive round the airfield scaring away the birds from the runway, which is actually pretty good fun. We fire off bird-scaring cartridges,” Cessford said. ” On a good day we have about eight aircraft movements, but they always seem to be around the same time as each other. It is also weather dependant as it can be sunny one minute then six inches of snow the next. ” Before he was posted to the Falklands, Cessford had continued to play representative cricket for the RAF, which is where Worcestershire first spotted him. ” I spent the summer playing for the RAF, which is always good fun getting back playing with a good bunch of lads,” he said. ” We had our T20 tournament at Lords where we won our first match against the Navy and were then narrowly defeated by the Army, who were the best team on the day. ” Also a highlight of the summer was playing for the Combined Services at great grounds like Edgbaston and Arundel. ” Due to my posting with the RAF being back up north I returned to play club cricket for Chester-le-Street in the North East Premier League. ” I played for them for seven seasons before I got the chance with Worcestershire so it was nice to go back.” Despite the disappointment of being released by Worcestershire, Cessford enjoyed his stint with the county and the opportunity it gave him to play first-class cricket. ” I learnt a lot about myself over the two years I had at Worcestershire and I can be proud of what I have achieved,” he said. ” To come into the game at 29 after dreaming of playing county cricket for years. I have to say a big thank you to the backroom staff at Worcestershire. I gave it my all, I ticked the box to say I have played.” {{ak_sharing}}
