It was always going to be a Horspath Feast Day like no other.
The club knew it. Everyone knew it.
And if a reminder was needed, there it was. Emblazoned on the outfield in big white letters were the names 'Max Tommy' in tribute to the two great members the club sadly lost earlier this year.
Max Eason was quite simply 'Mr Horspath Cricket', and his speeches over the last 50 years at the traditional lunch had become the thing of legend.
As president Denis Walker told record numbers of around 120 attending this time, it was his 'favourite day', while Max's son, Robbie, described it as his dad's 'Christmas Day' with it bringing people together as he saw Horspath as one big family.
Tommy Pritchard, meanwhile, was a larger-than-life character who was in his element on such occasions. With pint in hand, while both scoring and, in the bar, he would hold court in his own inimitable way.
On an emotional day, it wasn't just Max and Tommy who were remembered as Stan Hawkeswood and Paul Headford, two big supporters of the club, had also passed away recently and were very much in people's thoughts.
With Horspath captain Will Eason joining his brother Robbie in continuing their dad's legacy by speaking at the lunch, members were entertained in a way their father would largely have approved of, although he no doubt wouldn't have told his sons that, as was his way.
Wes Morrick, the former Aston Rowant legend, captained the President's XI and recalled how having given Tommy a good send-off, he was coaching in Spain at the time of Max's funeral, so having missed it invited members to join him in raising a glass to toast Max.
Thanks were given on behalf of the club by chairman John Hilland to everyone who had helped during a year in which the club achieved an amazing quadruple with the trophies on show after winning Cherwell League Division 1, the Pullinger Cup, the Hartwell Trophy and the Oxfordshire final of the Voneus Village Cup.
A fabulous lunch, provided by chef supreme Hayden Moon, with members voicing their approval with choruses of 'Moony, Moony' was followed by the charity auction held over from the Tape Ball Competition in August with the total raised for Thames Valley Air Ambulance boosted to £2,750.
Remarkably, despite rain overnight, in the morning and a further downpour during the lunch break, there was also cricket with the match taking place thanks to the sterling efforts of groundsman David Ward and his team.
Wargrave's Sravan Konidena hit a stylish 78 as the President's XI posted 175-6 dec off 28 overs. His runs came from 58 balls and included 13 fours and two sixes.
Sussex T20 star Harrison Ward lit up this fixture with a brilliant unbeaten 125 two years ago but the former Horspath left-hander was unable to repeat those heroics, falling for 10 to Will Eason courtesy of a Josh Cummings catch in the deep.
Chris Penner and Adam Price, back at their old club after making long journeys up from the southwest, kept the scoreboard ticking before both fell to Jason Cardy, who picked up 3-16.
Ben Thompson (23no), another Horspath old boy, and Aston Rowant's Elliot Matthews (19no) ensured the innings finished with a flourish, while there was a wicket apiece for Josh Richardson and Dan Todd.
With Bob Chamberlain and Carl Thompson donning the umpires' coats and Simon Goves in charge of the scoring, Horspath were soon in trouble at 13-2 as Matthews and Liam Turnbull made early inroads.
But Richardson and Stephen Green then shared a sparkling stand of 131. Richardson, driving crisply through the covers and down the ground, hammered 69 off 46 balls with 10 fours and three sixes.
Green, who hit an unbeaten 110 in this fixture two years ago, struck 66 from 61 deliveries this time with nine boundaries and three sixes, including two with audacious scoop shots.
Both eventually fell to Ward, leaving brothers Robbie (17no) and Will Eason to fittingly see Horspath home by six wickets at 179-4 off just 24.3 overs on a day which was always so special for their dad, Max.
Helen Messenger's pictures from the day can be viewed in Photo Galleries on this website by clicking here