It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of one of the Melbourne Cricket Club’s most beloved contributors and characters, John Bell. Health complications following a recent fall at home saw him pass away in hospital yesterday.
Variously known as “Belly”, “Tinker” or “Dinger”, John’s association with MCC Premier Cricket began in 1995/96, when he took on the key role as Team Manager of the Men’s 1st XI. He’d answered an advertisement and received only the briefest inductions from Mark ‘Dos’ Anderson before being thrown in the deep end.Despite his laid back and unassuming style, Belly’s impact was immediate. He managed the wide variety of personalities within an ambitious, fiercely competitive dressing room with aplomb. He provided sympathy and support where required and calmly stood his ground where necessary as well. Combined with a strong work ethic and sharp insight into the game, this approach saw him win universal respect and forge enduring friendships across generations of players over a quarter of a century.
As Team Manager for the 1997/98 1st XI Premiership (pictured below), Belly held his own amongst eight former/current/future Victorian representatives, three of whom would also represent Australia. So impactful was his contribution, he was named Best Club Person that season, winning it for a second time in 2002/03. He held the role of 1st XI Team Manager for a decade and was also a highly-valued Net Captain for a number of seasons.
While he was comfortable debating issues big or small within or beyond the game of cricket, his cheery approach drew people into his orbit and he was a much-loved figure amongst opposition clubs also.
He was employed by MCC as Cricket Secretary from 1999 to 2002 and acted as Convenor of the MCC Club XI Competition for four seasons. He was a 50-year member of the broader MCC.
His enduring commitment to the Club was underlined by his decision to take up scoring relatively late in the piece, starting with the Men’s 4th XI in 2011/12. His likeability as much as his technical prowess saw him progress to the 3rd and 2nd XIs, as well as two seasons with the Women’s Premier 1sts.
He filled an array of other roles over the years, including at times grueling tasks such as driving the bus on Kensington trips.
Michael Sholly was captain-coach of that 1997/98 Premiership side and lauded Bell’s contribution.
“Belly came on board and quickly established himself as a valued member of our team,” he said.
“He calmly went about his business but frequently went above and beyond to help in any way he could. He had a great feel for the game and instinctively knew which rein to pull, and when.
“The way he operated commanded respect but in an understated way. Players knew that he had their backs and they also knew where they stood with him. As a leader he was a real asset because you could rely on him to do not only anything you’d asked him to do, but many things you hadn’t even thought of. And then at the end of the day, he was someone with a sound perspective on how the game had played out.
“He was just so loyal and embodied so much of our Club culture it couldn’t help but rub off on people. We were all better for it.”
Chairman of the MCC Premier Cricket Committee Andrew Kent said Bell had been a wonderful servant.
“It’s true that all clubs are built on the hard work of volunteers, but Belly was ‘one out of the box’,” he said.
“He was dedicated and committed, comfortable in his own shoes and he possessed an abiding commitment to what he believed was right and what was best for the team or the Club.
“While a player’s form might ebb and flow, or a team’s fortunes do likewise, Belly was a consistent presence: strong and supportive and always with a smile on his face.
“On behalf of all the players, coaches, volunteers and supporters, I just can’t speak more highly of John Bell and the enormous contribution he made to the Melbourne Cricket Club. He was so loved at the Demons and we will miss him dearly. His legacy lives on in the lives of so many he impacted and I pass on my sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.”
John Bell had a way of welcoming many who approached the Clive Fairbairn Pavillion at the Albert Ground.
His favoured greeting saw him announce your full initials followed by your last name and then “how are you?”
Back in the days before live-scoring, he would answer the phone in the clubrooms in a familiar manner: “This is the picturesque Albert-on-Queens, John Bell esquire speaking…”
He had a number of oft-repeated ‘Belly-isms’, which included “Get off the grass!”, “Don’t come the honky-tonk with me” and “What are ya laughing at?” (invariably in response to something he’d said).
His philosophy on many things – and perhaps life itself – could be summed up by another of his favoured phrases: “Sometimes that’s just the way the mop flops…”
John also made a distinguished contribution to the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA), holding roles with Bulleen Templestowe Football Club and Old Scotch Collegians before joining the VAFA Executive. He was Vice-President from 2003-2008 and awarded Life Membership in 2009.
JWR Bell now joins his late wife Lynette, who passed away in 2003. He is survived by his daughters Helen, Sandra and Melissa, son-in-laws Andrew and Ben, and grandchildren Ashleigh and Jaxon.
We will advise funeral details in due course.
John Bell
1st XI Manager: 1995/96 to 2005/06Cricket Secretary: 1999/2000 to 2001/02
MCC Club XI Convenor: 1999/2000 to 2002/03
Scorer:
Men’s Premier 4th XI 2011/12
Men’s Premier 3rd XI 2012/13; 2013/14; 2014/15
Men’s Premier 2nd XI 2016/17; 2017/18; 2018/19; 2019-20
Women’s Premier 1st XI 2012/13; 2013/14
MCC Best Club Person Award: 1997/98 and 2002/03
Vale John Walter Robert Bell
25/1/1943 – 23/5/2022
