LCS Meeting Thursday 16th February

Two items of information for our members

The coach will leave Curzon Rd car park at 7:30 am prompt on Saturday 10th March, for our trip to Headingley. There are still 2 seats left, if you know someone who might like to join us.

2nd ITEM PLEASE NOTE

OUR NEXT LCS MEETING DUE TO TAKE PLACE ON Thursday 15th MARCH AS BEEN POSTPONED. THIS MEETING WILL NOW TAKE PLACE ON Thursday 22nd MARCH.

AND WILL BE HELD AT THE

SAFFRON LANE WORKING MENS CLUB

429 Saffron Lane. Leicester. LE2 6UF On the corner of Saffron Lane and Duncan Rd.

Anyone wishing to park their car on the County Ground, Curzon Road car park, will be welcome to do so. We thank the Cricket Club for this very generous offer. This postponement has come about, because our speaker for the night, Derek Underwood has had to cancel his visit on the 15th. We hope this change of date and venue will not affect our members too much and we are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, however, this change is out of the control of your committee.

Our Speaker at this month’s meeting, . Enjoying a pint before he commenced his talk.

February brought 200 members, guests and visitors to listen to a famous voice from Radio 4’s .

Firstly this month, I want to pass on the thanks of the LCS committee and members to our President and his wife, Norman & Barbara Harrington, for their very generous support by giving our various speakers, who require a bed, BOARD and LODGEING for the night. Norman and Barbara extend this hospitality at no cost at all to the cricket society. THANK YOU BOTH Mr. Marks gave us yet another different night, by talking about his dream team. Vic, started by naming his favourite players and then going onto talk about them, this obviously lead him onto other cricket anecdotes, and snippets of the other TMS presenters. He did say that his team had a West Country bias.

First out the bag was, Opening Bat, Arthur Milton, England and Gloucs. and Coach at Oxford University. RHB. Vic said that when Arthur was coaching, Arthur, would never dream of being seen in a track suit and Vic, could not remember him wearing whites either. Apparently, Milton was magnificent at picking winners at Dog racing. Milton was the last international at both Cricket and Football. Vic told us, that when he was first captaining Oxford, Marks, won the toss and desperate to do well, sought out the advice of Milton, on whether the team should bat or bowl. Arthur said, I shouldn’t worry too much, son; it’s not going to make too much difference. A very lay back character, according to Vic Marks.

David Osbourne, getting Vic Marks autograph along with lots more collectors.

So many people came to the meeting, you had to save your seat if you moved, notice all the coats.

The front row four are an every growing group now, this month seven wanted to be in the photo. I need to come up with a new name; due they look like a Magnificent Seven or a Band of Brothers! Answers on a postcard please. To Open with Milton, , England and Somerset. LHB. Marks said, he was very impressed at how well Tres had played the game and captained Somerset since ending his England day’s, and that how open Marcus had been with his problems of travelling abroad. Vic asked Trescothick about playing in the IPL, to which Marcus replied, I’ve thrown away me passport!

Howard telling the members about next month’s changes to the Underwood meeting.

At no 3, I.V. A. , West Indies. Glamorgan, Somerset, and many other teams. RHB. Vic said, it had to be Viv, just because he intimidated other teams so much, and the best batsman he had ever seen. Vic told us, he thought that most of the audience looked old enough to remember, Richards, STRUTTING to the .

Vic showing us his Richards STRUTT

At no 4 and Team , Brian Close, England and Somerset. LHB. Vic said, as a young man at Taunton, with Close, he was having some trouble with a spinner, so mid over, Marks thinks, I’ll get some advice from the skipper. He asks Close how to play, Closeies reply, I can play him alright, but you might struggle, lad!

Just a few of the crowd listening to Vic Marks talk about his favourite team. We had visitors from , Edgbaston, One visitor came all the way from Wolverhampton, for the meeting. At no 5, , England, Notts. RHB. Vic told us, Randall was one of the shyest men he had ever met, but great fun. Marks said the first time he came Randall to talk too, they were playing Grade cricket in Oz, for different teams. The teams got together at the end of the game for a beer, but Derek had disappeared for 2 hours, Vic said, Randall was playing with Marks 3 year old daughter, who Derek had never met before, Vic said that, both Randall and his daughter had had a fantastic time. Vic told us that Randall is now coach at .

Howard recalling these names from the past

At no 6, Sir I. T. , England, Somerset, Worcester and Durham, RHB and in his day FAST bowler. Vic told a yarn about Botham, at the pearly gates, ask me if you weren’t at the meeting, I’ll tell you the end.

Enjoying the Botham joke

At no 7, and wicket keeper, , England and Kent. RHB. This name, lead on to several other candidates, who had taken the gloves. Rod Marsh, Trevor Gard of Somerset and Henry Blofeld being among the keepers Vic mentioned. We then got a couple of BLOWERS anecdotes.

Vic telling us an anecdote about blowers and Bill Frindall. Howard laughing at the tale. At no 8, Jack Birkensahw, England, Yorkshire, Leicestershire and Worcs. LHB and offbreak bowler. and one time Coach at Taunton. Vic told us a story, about him at Birky’s end, when Jack was the umpire, at Cardiff, in the mid to late 80’s. The tale involved, Matthew Maynard batting, Vic Marks bowling and Jack Birkenshaw umpire at the bowlers end, I dare say you can guess the rest.

A packed house for this meeting. Jack Birkenshaw in the background.

At no 9, Tom Cartwright, England, Glamorgan, Somerset and Warks. RHB and R-arm Medium. Coach at Somerset, when Vic Marks arrived at the Club. The Cartwright story was about an incident at Taunton, when Gary Sobers came into bat, Brian Close, went very slowly all the way from forward short leg, to the end of Cartwright’s up, and told Tom Cartwright. Tom lad! this lads a left hander, then went all the way back to short leg.

At no 10, Malcolm Marshall, West Indies, Hampshire, RHB and R-arm very FAST bowler. This story involved, Marshall bowling at Marks. as we all know Marshall was very quick, Vic said, season after season Marshall would bowl at Marks like the wind, Vic plucked up courage and decided to speak with Robin Smith, asking why Marshall always seems to bowl like the wind at me. Smiths reply, he doesn’t like the way you walk!

Vic answering a question during the Q&A session

At no 11 Abdul Qadir, . RHB and Legbreak bowler. Vic Marks told us about playing Qadir in a test match at , England v Pakistan. Vic said, he had the worst 20 minutes he could remember batting, he was glad to be out. Qadir was making such a fool of him. Vic Marks words not mine.

And at Twelfth Man, Jonathon Agnew, Vic’s first remark about Aggers, I’m in Aggers territory, so I need to be careful what I say, but, He’s a very gifted broadcaster, BUT DON’T TELL HIM I SAID SO! Then Marks went on to talk about some of the people Agnew had interviewed on his View from the interviews. Another very good night. I hope you agree, Roger Stead, our events secretary, has put another great winter of speakers together.

Peter from the original front row four, putting the winning raffle tickets out, and he still didn’t win. The running total for this years raffle stands at £842. Many thanks to each and every one of you who support us with your hard earned cash.

Ian Davidson, the Club’s Commercial Manager, giving our members his monthly news about the club. Here he is talking about the 40th Anniversary Dinner on Thursday 12th April.

Sorry this is such a wordy piece, but I thought you might like to remember all the names Vic spoke about.

PLEASE! REMEMBER THE CHANGES TO THE APRIL MEETING,

Phil Veasey on behalf of the LCS committee.