Jo Betsworth, the popular membership secretary at Somerset County Cricket Club, was married to John Arnold on Saturday at the church of St Thomas at Cricket St Thomas near Chard.

It was perhaps entirely appropriate that 'cricket' should feature in the name of where their ceremony was held because the game has played a large part in their lives since they have known each other.

In fact John proposed to Jo at Lord's Cricket Ground last year just minutes after Somerset had won the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy.

The service was conducted by Rev David Savill who used a new cricket ball to demonstrate one of the points that he was making in his sermon, before handing it to John as a lasting reminder of the happy occasion.

England Test star Andrew Caddick was among the guests who following the ceremony enjoyed the reception for nearly eighty that was held in the nearby Tithe Barn.

Former Somerset player and coach Peter Robinson made one of the speeches and regaled those present with his recollections of John and Jo and her mother Gillian who also worked as a secretary for sometime at Somerset County Cricket Club back in the late 1960's and early 1970's.

One person who was noticeably absent was Stumpy, the Somerset Sabres friendly dragon mascot who Jo introduced to the club earlier this season.

Although Stumpy wasn't there in person he was mentioned on several occasions by the speechmakers and was no doubt close by keeping a keeping a 'dragonful eye' on the occasion before hibernating for the winter.

© SOMERSET