14/08/2026
To everyone at Barby Cricket Club & both the local & cricketing community
It's difficult to find the right words for how grateful we are to all of you — for the kindness, support and care you've shown Will, and us, through what has been an incredibly difficult and unexpected time.
We were lucky enough to visit Barby last year and meet so many of you, and we saw first-hand what a wonderful community you've built. It was easy to see why Will was so keen to come back for another season. What you have at Barby is something special.
When Will had his accident in Barcelona, being so far away in New Zealand was frightening, and at times overwhelming. Knowing he had people from Barby who could help — people with connections in Barcelona — gave us enormous reassurance. You went far beyond anything we could have expected from a cricket club.
We'd particularly like to acknowledge Ryan Sneddon, who travelled to Barcelona to help Will with his hospital discharge. He wasn't the only one who put his hand up — several others from the club offered to go too — but the fact that someone was willing to get on a plane and actually be there for him at such a hard time meant more than we can properly put into words.
A very special thank you also to Kerry Norton, whose kindness and care for Will has been extraordinary. She's looked out for him in so many ways — almost like his UK mum — making sure he was okay when we couldn't be there ourselves. Kerry, we will always be grateful for that.
And to Chey and Alex — thank you for your wonderful hospitality, and for making Will feel so welcome and at home. Having somewhere safe and comfortable to stay while he recovered made a real difference.
The fundraising Barby started was also the spark for other clubs to come forward and support Will. Knowing that your kindness set that off has been genuinely moving for us — what began with your club spread much further, with other cricket clubs and communities wanting to help too.
Through all the pain and fear of what happened, watching that support come through from so many people was uplifting in a way that's hard to describe. Your generosity has helped turn what was an absolute nightmare into something that's also taught us a lot about human connection. We'll remember the people who rallied around Will, the friendships that grew stronger, and the kindness that surrounded him when he needed it most.
This whole experience has reminded us that sport is about so much more than winning games. Cricket brings people together, but it's the friendships and sense of belonging that make a club truly special. Over time, a club becomes a community — and a community can become something very much like family.
That's exactly what Barby Cricket Club has shown us.
We feel incredibly lucky Will found his way to Barby, and even luckier he's been welcomed into such a wonderful group of people. What you've done for him — especially while we've been thousands of miles away — will never be forgotten by any of us.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for looking after our boy.
And please know the kindness goes both ways. If any of the Barby family ever find yourselves in New Zealand, our door is always open. We'd love the chance to return even a little of the hospitality and friendship you've shown Will.
With our heartfelt thanks to every single one of you,
Sue and John Hamilton family ❤️
