Dr Dave Allen is a retired academic who taught in schools and university across the arts. He has been an active musician and music historian through his adult life and remains involved in those projects. He was an unremarkable club and league cricketer in the Portsmouth area, and coached cricket in schools and clubs.

In addition to his Life Membership at Hampshire, he is the county’s Hon Archivist, has written a number of books on Hampshire’s history, has edited the Hampshire Handbook since 2009, and broadcasts on the county’s matches for Southampton Hospital Radio and Radio Solent’s ball-by-ball commentaries.