Clem Driver, Essex's long-serving scorer has decided to hang up his computer and pen with immediate effect.

Clem, who first started scoring for Essex in 1982 also scored on tour with England to Australia and India during his career. A well-respected after-dinner speaker, Clem unlike others of his ilk, took to scoring by computer well, and although he, like all the other scorers had problems adapting to these new skills, he never complained. The other 17 county scorers and many county cricketers who have befriended him will certainly miss his dry wit.

The Essex scorer decided to call it a day, after a visit to Old Trafford where he had a fall going up to the dressing rooms and to quote Clem himself, ``apart from the fall, the final curtain was having to put up with the dreadful music, particularly the disrespectful Hallelujah Chorus when an Essex wicket fell, and the loud public address announcements'' which he admitted, ``was an abomination of the game of cricket''.

He retires to his beautiful home in Saffron Walden and his long-suffering wife.

The new Essex scorer is to be David Norris, who has been in the wings for a number of years.

Vic Isaacs Senior County Scorer