LCS Meeting Thursday 11th December

Our December speaker Colin Shindler The LCS committee wish all our members and everyone one who came along to the meeting a very joyful Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year. I hope 2015 is kind to each and every one of you, and hopefully our cricket team. I’ve asked Santa, all I want for Christmas is at least, just one win in a county championship 4 day game! On a very miserable wet December night around 110 staunch LCS supporters, turned out to see the last speaker of 2014. Colin Shindler author and script writer for TV, radio and cinema, entertained us with recollections of the days when there were still amateurs in the game of cricket. Colin talked about the middle to late 50’s and the early 60’s. A time I’m sure most of the LCS membership remembers well. Colin also interspersed his talk with aspects of the modern game, and the effect that the amateur and professional era came through into today’s cricket. Like the fact that most of the modern professional cricketers went to university, and that most have three Christian names, however I don’t think this would be a barrier to anyone with talent, but only one first name. Colin started his talk by telling us that amateurs in cricket were around until 1962, that’s when the MCC ended the era of GENTLEMEN players, who were not officially paid for playing cricket but in reality got more money than the so called professional player. Colin went on to say about the professionals being exploited by the amateur captains, and gave Douglas Jardine, captain, Harold Larwood and Bill Voce, both opening bowlers, as a perfect example, when Jardine told Larwood to bowl leg theory to Bradman. However, Jardine was unable to force Gubby Allen to bowl down the leg side as Allen went to Australia as an amateur. Colin said that on old scorecards, gentlemen players were printed as, Mister then their initials then their surname whereas the professionals were printed with just their surname. He said he didn’t remember watching cricket, when gentlemen went through one gate and players went through another, when entering or leaving the field of play. I told Alan, Jeff, Peter, Colin and friend when they were standing in a huddle they looked like they were going to start singing carols. Alan on the left and still smiling said that the lads had formed a GLEE club. BUT! you may be pleased to know, I asked them not to sing until the end of the evening. I didn’t stop long enough to find out what the lads sang!

Grace road decked out for Christmas Howard introducing Colin Howard asked that if anyone who is interested in a trip being planned for early next year, to the Cotswold Cricket Museum in Stow on the Wold. Could make sure they give their name to David Williamson by the January meeting. When the final number of people interested is known your committee will sort out the details. We will require a non-refundable deposit to secure your place.

Colin telling us about how poorly the professionals were treated

Colin told us another story to illustrate the difference between then and now, amateur and professional. The incident concerned Reverend David Sheppard and Tom Graveney, who at the time, both had played for England, and had known each other for some years. After talking to each other, Tom Graveney said to David Sheppard, goodbye David I’ll see you later. An ex captain of Gloucestershire Bev Lyon, overheard this remark. Lyon went to Sheppard and apologised for the fact that Graveney had not addressed David as Reverend Sheppard. Lyon is supposed to have said, I’ll make sure that never happens again.

not so many people at this meeting

this was during the Q&A session

I want to thank Margaret Richardson for her help with the raffle also Christine and Gordon who I seconded this week. I must also thank Margaret and her husband who helped at the November meeting.

And this very kind gentleman who drew out the tickets for the remaining prizes. Not only that he also called out all the numbers as he took them out of the bag. DO I NEED TO LOOK FOR ANOTHER JOB!

Colin told us that he is writing the autobiography of England Lancs and Warks bowler Bob Barber, he told us what fun he had had during the past season going around the various grounds and talking to old players who knew and had played cricket with Bob.

Colin talking about his new book on Bob Barber

Everyone listening to Colin answer questions on his talk. I have to apologise the battery ran out on my little recorder so I was unable to record the Q&A session

Even on a wet night there are quite a lot of people for the meeting Colin telling us a little more about Bob Barber said that Bob was the last amateur captain at Lancashire Cricket Club. Then in 1962 when the amateur status was abandoned, Bob Barber moved to Warwickshire as a player. Colin didn’t say if Bob took the title professional or not. This then led Colin to ask the audience if we knew how many counties had professional captains at this time. After a lot of guesses from people, Colin told us there were only 4 in 1962. Colin said that in 1962 there were only 17 teams in the county championship. This led to several more tries, then someone said Yorkshire, which was the hint that a few very knowledgeable members of our society needed. Colin went on to name the 4, except he could only remember three, they are Yorkshire: Vic Wilson, Worcestershire: Don Kenyon, Somerset: Harold Stephenson. At the break £71 was raised from the raffle, the running total now stands at £467.10, the 10pence came from Colin Cuthbertson, he likes to hear me telling members and guests, how much the raffle as taken, announce an odd amount. After the break came our normal Q&A session. Sorry I missed getting any of the questions.

Colin answering another question

Jane Ainsworth gave the formal vote of thanks for the society

Our next meeting is on Thursday 8th January 2015. When David Collier, ex Leicestershire and then Nottinghamshire CEO and recently CEO at the ECB. Will be our guest speaker. There are two meeting in January, on the 28th ex Warks player Paul Smith will be the guest. If you got this far Merry Christmas to all my readers. (I think there are 3)

Phil Veasey On behalf of the LCS committee