Our Story
Cricket has been played on Chislehurst Common since 1738. West Kent Cricket Club was founded in 1812 and moved to the Common in 1822, while Chislehurst Cricket Club was formed in 1876. After sharing the ground for more than a century, the two clubs merged in 1980 to create Chislehurst & West Kent Cricket Club.
Protected by the unique Chislehurst Commons Act, the Club continues to play on the same historic ground nearly three centuries later. At the heart of both the Commons and the local community, the Club remains a place where sport, heritage and community life come together.
Jonathon has lived in Chislehurst for most of his life and has worked in estate agency since the age of 20, beginning his career with his father, Alan de Maid. In 1996, he founded jdm Estate Agents in Chislehurst High Street, growing the business into a network of nine offices specialising in residential sales and lettings across Southeast London and Kent. In 2024, Jonathon became President of Chislehurst & West Kent Cricket Club, where he is leading the campaign to rebuild the club’s historic pavilion as a lasting community asset. He is also actively involved in a number of local community initiatives and remains passionate about supporting the village he has proudly called home for most of his life.
Paul is Owner and CEO of Evans Turner (Finishes) Ltd, a specialist engineering and manufacturing business delivering bespoke metal fabrication and architectural finishes. A graduate engineer with an MBA from Imperial College, he has spent more than 30 years helping to grow and develop the company and is also an inventor, holding patents for specialist architectural products. Paul’s connection with Chislehurst & West Kent Cricket Club spans generations. He first played for the Club at the age of 10, following in the footsteps of his father, a former player and Chairman. A committee member for more than 35 years and Junior Secretary for the past 12 years, he has helped rebuild and grow the Club’s thriving junior section. Today, both of his sons also play for the Club.
Piers has been Chairman of Chislehurst & West Kent Cricket Club since 2021 and has been a playing member since joining in 2003 at the age of 10. A lifelong cricket enthusiast, he also plays football and golf to a relatively high standard and has sung at competition level. As a teenager, he represented the club across multiple age groups and teams, playing up to five times a week. At just 16, he became U11 Manager and Sunday XI Captain, later taking on numerous leadership roles, including 1st XI and 2nd XI Captain. Born and raised in Chislehurst, Piers has built a successful hospitality career and now runs the Anglesey Arms in Bromley. His dedication has helped shape and promote the club which has been, and will continue to be, a highly treasured and vital part of his life.
Rachel is the Secretary of the Club and has lived in Chislehurst for over ten years, and locally for 30; her husband is a vice-President of CWKCC. Until recently, Rachel was the Board Secretary of the Competitions and Markets Authority, supporting the members of the Board and the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC) around their meetings, including supplying papers, taking minutes and also proactively following up any actions for ARAC. Rachel led the team who supported the CMA’s committees, ensuring these were run efficiently with a high level of customer service. She is now semi-retired and enjoys providing secretariat and governance support to the Club Committees.
Dr Joanne Hopley is a highly experienced patent attorney with a PhD in Physics. She began her career in intellectual property at the Ministry of Defence before joining a small firm in London which has now grown into one of the most highly regarded IP firms in Europe. She has been an equity partner at that firm for almost 25 years, including several years as co-managing partner. She now serves as Finance Partner, overseeing financial operations across multiple offices in the UK and Europe. Her professional skills have translated to support extensive fundraising initiatives, raising over £20k in projects for schools associated with her two children, as well as various cricket club projects. She continues to contribute her time voluntarily to support Chislehurst and West Kent Cricket Club and the wider community.
Carina McEntire is an executive search and leadership specialist with more than 30 years’ experience advising boards, CEOs and senior leadership teams across the life sciences, healthcare and technology sectors on UK, international and global assignments. With an academic background in Psychology and Organisational Psychology, she has a particular interest in leadership, motivation and human potential. A Chislehurst resident whose husband and two sons have all played cricket at CWKCC, Carina has also supported fundraising and community initiatives through volunteer roles at St Nicholas C of E Primary School and Eltham College. She supports the club’s pavilion restoration and heritage project through her work on its fundraising, heritage and pavilion committees.