2016 HANDBOOK Patron HRH The Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh KG KT

Founder President Henry Grierson John RT Barclay

Past Presidents Sir Pelham Warner, Sir John Hobbs, Sir George Allen CBE TD, GO Shelmerdine, H Sutcliffe, H Grierson, F Appleyard, Sir Robert Menzies KT CH QC, AER Gilligan, HEH Gabriel FCIB, SC Griffith CBE DFC TD, JRF Temple, His Hon WA Sime CMG MBE QC, EW Swanton CBE, Sir Leonard Hutton, BAJ Johnston CBE MC, Lt Col JR Stephenson CBE, JA Bailey, Sir Oliver Popplewell, CA Fry.

Life Vice President DL Hamilton

Honorary Fellows RG Munn, MC Barton, Dr FJ Imms, PH Bown, CDE Bazalgette, JF Hyde Blake, JA Williams, CF Openshaw, BD Hunter

Honorary Life Members JR Reid OBE, DK Gaekwad, RB Simpson, MJK Smith OBE, R Illingworth CBE, JT Murray MBE, Sir MBE, KK Vervelde, DRW Silk CBE, R Subba Row CBE, MJ Stewart OBE, GHG Doggart OBE, DL Underwood MBE, Lord McLaurin of Knebworth DL, Sir and COMMERCIAL INSURANCE Group GP Carson.

Officers

Chairman of the Club SINCE 1948 TR Woodcock Hon Secretary Hon Treasurer Hon Fixtures Secretary Hon Membership Secretary EBC Aitken PL Rebera AK Fare Mrs PM Gaywood 01980 610836 0117 986 6055 0161 790 3351 01474 702106 Lark (Group) Limited is one of the top 40 UK brokers that has [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] achieved Chartered Insurance Broker status – the gold standard of excellence, professionalism and integrity in insurance. Curator of WG Grace’s Grave: This status recognises our commitment to delivering the highest HD Smith quality service. [email protected] Our expertise and knowledge is utilised to provide the most suitable cover with competitive premiums from first class insurers based on Executive Committee: our clients individual needs. The Officers of the Club plus PW Fawkner-Corbett (Vice Chair), PA Mason, C Neill, DP Owens, JM Roberts, RAJ Walton and ID Witchell. COMMERCIAL | PRIVATE CLIENTS | EMPLOYEE BENEFITS Dinner Committee: Chairman: ID Witchell

Key Personnel Coordinator Cricket Tours Management Secretary, XL Golfing Society DP Owens Hasan Jafri - 07882 635228 AJ Colbeck 01874 624381 [email protected] 020 7602 6184 [email protected] Rob Nelson - 07710 602866 [email protected] [email protected]

Handbook Editor Website Manager Club Archivist B Scovell Brad Scarborough C Openshaw 0208 464 4133 07867 127443 01892 538351 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Front Cover: Bjorn Mordt strikes the winning boundary to reach his in the Inter District Final at Swindon, in which Surrey and West Sussex won for the first time at the expense of Wales. 3 www.thefortyclub.co.uk

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The historic aim of the Forty Club has been to take cricket to the schools (both state and public) by offering them In 2015 we showed a small operating surplus and overall and youth XIs fixtures against experienced cricketers who maintain a sound financial position as we head into the will encourage the young cricketers to play the game New Year. The initiative for schools to advertise in our to the highest standards of performance and behaviour fixture lists and handbooks continues, and in the best spirit of the game. Nowadays, most of the with the aim of growing the club’s Balance sheet as at 30 September 2015 Notes 2015 2014 130 or so schools and youth XIs which we play against income to offset the ever-increasing £ £ are able to enjoy the services of professional coaching, so expenses involved in producing Current assets we can leave the performance side of the game to them. and distributing these publications. Advance payments 1(a) 1,323 236 Meanwhile the Forty Club will continue to promote the Membership subscriptions remain Spirit of Cricket, to encourage the young men and women our major source of income, and 2016 Lloyds Bank Plc: General account 4,109 20,385 to play cricket, stay in the game, enjoy it, develop their sees the full membership subscription General No2 account 21,033 5,125 skills and to applaud and recognise good performance. increase to £30 (as announced last Dinner account 10,764 751 Created originally for players aged 40 years or , the NW district golf day. The Quadrangular and Triangular year). Despite the increase, the 37,229 26,497 Forty Club now accepts full membership from players matches with the likes of MCC, the Lord’s Taverners, subscription continues to be very aged 35 and over and, in a trial that began in 2013, Free Foresters, the Gypsies and others were all keenly attractive for a wandering cricket club Less: Current liabilities associate membership from players of 18 years and older. competed. Plans are well advanced for the Society’s in the UK. All direct debits have been This is not to say that there has been any diminution in 60th anniversary celebrations at St George’s Hill GC on changed to reflect the increase and will Advance receipts 1(b) 8,070 210 the standard or example of play that we wish to set: we December 14, 2016 be effective from 15 April 2016. Net current assets 29,159 26,287 want to fill the gap between the ages of, say, 28 and 45 when players are leaving league cricket, looking for good I should add that we won both our fixtures against MCC I take this opportunity to respectfully Representing: quality midweek non-league games, and who are not yet this year. The cricketers won a very convincing victory remind those members who pay their General fund/account old enough to represent their county senior sides. at Jesus College Cambridge, and the golfers won equally annual subscriptions by standing order Balance 1 October 2014 25,510 19,379 The Forty Club played 221 UK fixtures in 2015, of which convincingly at West Hill GC. to ensure that their standing orders are (Deficit) / surplus for the year (page 4) 4,989 (215) 143 were against schools, colleges or youth XIs. We won changed to reflect the increase. 59, lost 64, drew 29, cancelled 66, mostly due to bad All this adds up to a lot of activity. It means that for Transfer to/from No. 2 Res fund (5,357) 8,155 weather in the north, and abandoned three. Twenty-nine our members and associate members who want to get I was glad to have the opportunity to Transfer to Dinner reserve fund - (1,809) centuries were scored (11 of them against schools), 11 five- involved, whether it be golf or cricket, there are masses gain an insight into the planning of this 25,142 25,510 hauls were achieved (nine of them against schools of opportunities stretching from Strathallan in Scotland, year’s Quadrangular Tournament at and two of them by the same player, Martin Southwell, across Wales, to Taunton in Devon and across to Margate Newport Cricket Club. It was quite an Dinner reserve fund/account who is 63!). in Kent. In 2016 we shall be touring South Africa and eye-opener from a financial perspective Balance at 1 October 2014 751 119 Spain and in spring 2017 we plan to tour . and demonstrated the importance Surplus / (deficit) for the year (page 5) (2,117) (1,151) In addition we toured Dubai and in the spring, of our maintaining a sound financial Transfer from General fund 5,357 1,809 playing 12 fixtures, as well as hosting the Quadrangular The Forty Club aims to come out of the secret shadows footing in order to be able to ensure Tournament – XL, SGS, Dansk XL and Cricket Espana – at and be a force for good in cricket. We are hoping to the smooth running of major functions Movement on Advances and Receipts 6,773 (26) Newport CC in Wales, where we ended up sharing the find a part to play in the National Cricket Conference like the Quadrangular Tournament 10,764 751 main trophy, with SGS winning the T20 trophy. There was projects and help promote this beautiful game. We want or the Annual Dinner. I congratulate also an autumn tour to Oman and Dubai, and in February to help the ECB’s engagement strategy to get a bat and the organisers of these two highly Overseas tours reserve fund/account there will be a spring tour heading to South Africa. ball in as many hands as possible. We want the young successful events, Peter Owens, Barry Balance at 1 October 2014 - 8,151 cricketers that we play against to share and perpetuate Aitken, Ron Hart and Ian Witchell. I Surplus / (deficit) for the year (page 6) - 4 The Golfing Society has been busy too. They had 39 our enthusiasm and passion for the game. And, equally would also like to thank the Chairman, Transfer to General fund - (8,155) matches on their card and were able to play 37 of them, importantly, we want to satisfy our members by Executive Committee, auditors and the winning 14. Their spring and autumn meetings at the providing for them interesting, enjoyable and challenging District Chairmen for their help and - - Berkshire were a huge success and there were short tours cricket across the UK and elsewhere. support during this past year. to Scotland, the Kent coast and to Lancashire, where they Advances and Receipts (6,747) 26 played the NW district cricketers and also took part in the Barry Aitken, Honorary Secretary Peter Rebera, Honorary Treasurer 29,159 26,287

4 5 The Forty Club 2016 Handbook www.thefortyclub.co.uk PRESIDENT FORTY CLUB CAMARADERIE

I do feel proud and most honoured to succeed Charlie New President John Barclay was set to ease himself more year. The final tribute came from chairman Tim Fry as President of this wonderful and remarkable into the job and leave the speechmaking to others but Woodcock, who spoke with warmth about the retiring club and, indeed, follow in the footsteps of a most he came off the bench to play a stout , standing President, Charles Fry. distinguished collection of past Presidents. Thank you in for the indisposed Derek Underwood as the number all so much for having me and for the warmth of your 2 speaker. Former Secretary and President of MCC Roger Knight welcome. I shall do my utmost to support the Forty delivered an up beat message about the improvement Club’s important objectives and help sustain and In his usual stimulating, amusing style he spoke about in cricket and players’ behaviour and praised the develop cricket in the most positive light in the future. the camaraderie of the Forty Club and its important New Zealanders for bringing smiles back into the Let’s keep up the good work of past years as the game place in English cricket, handing down the message of international game. and life evolve: a worthy challenge. sportsmanship to the young. He said he was in awe of the hard-working officers “of this wonderful club”. John Barclay presented the Forty Club Trophy to Nick I must make a confession before I start. So far, Hammond, the very assured captain of King’s School, I have neither played for the Forty Club (that It was a night of tributes – to Charles Fry, Barry Worcester, and this was Hammond’s speech: can, of course, be put right – hopefully against Aitken, John Widgery after his 10 year as Fixtures compassionate opposition), nor have I, in all these Secretary, Tony Fare (the former NW Chairman Gentlemen, years, been a member of the Club. Huge apologies now Fixtures Secretary), Paddy Gaywood for her all round but I shall do all I can to make up for lost phenomenal 49 years as Membership Secretary, Mr John Claughton, chief master of King Edward’s School, time in my support for the Club’s ideals and the Treasurer Peter Rebara and Dinner Committee Birmingham and father of the recipient of last year’s XL inspirational effect these have had upon the young. chairman Ian Witchell, who is carrying on for one Trophy, recently wrote a paper for HMC school headmasters This is especially close to my heart. It takes no great observation to see that the Forty Club’s fixture list reaches far and wide to encompass and encourage school cricket in a way that instills in the young a love of the game, and enhances their lives as few other activities possibly could.

For so many of us the joys of cricket first emerge at school. The skills of the game get their first chance to flourish there and, at the same time, great friendships are made. Here, matches played against opposition schools are naturally hard-fought and competitive. There is rivalry and honour at stake, not only amongst the players but also between teachers and parents. But, by contrast, against clubs, and particularly the Forty Club, the atmosphere will be somewhat different. In these games there is the chance for youngsters to show their skills without fear and with greater freedom. It is much hoped that something of this deep love and respect for the game will be as possible. Already I am greatly in awe of those who channeled into the blood and continue to flow freely do so much work and give such energy to the Club’s as schoolboy cricketers emerge into mature grown management, and so to the game: Barry Aitken, Peter ups. And then they in turn will return to play matches Rebara (with whom I remember playing cricket way against the self same pupils they once were. This is back), John Widgery and Paddy Gaywood. There must a treasured ideal and an important one too – one for be many others too. And finally a thank you to an which the Forty Club is justly renowned and admired. old friend Brian Scovell, who asked me to write these More than anything else, there is much fun and joy to words. I now look forward to giving you and the Club be had through such cricket in a world where time has all the support I can. been squeezed somewhat and therefore opportunities to play are sometimes more restricted. Thank you again so much for having me as your George Sheppard (Queen’s Taunton – West), Beth Caunce and Maudie Cousins (St President. Andrews University Ladies – Scotland), Oliver Jackson (Dauntsey’s – South), Phil So now, onwards and into the future in which I must Wakefield (Ormskirk School – NW), Nick Hammond (King’s School Worcester look forward to meeting as many members of the club John, President – WM, the national winner), Tom Foster (Pocklington School – NE), Alex Copp (Dartford Grammar – Kent & East Sussex) and James Nijjar (Repton School – EM)

6 7 The Forty Club 2016 Handbook www.thefortyclub.co.uk outlining the problems that school cricket was currently experiencing in the face of the growing demands of public THE XL CLUB HALL OF FAME 2015 exams. No longer is it possible to field one’s strongest team week in week out, particularly during the weeks either side of half term at the end of May. During the four years in King’s 1st XI I have noticed more of my teammates making Date Player District Fixture Achievement themselves unavailable on Saturdays. Of the three priorities Fri, April 23 Liam Tegg CP Sutton Valence School 100 that a sixth form cricketer usually has in the summer term, cricket is in danger of becoming a poor third behind work… Ben Ackland WE Queens College Taunton 103* and partying. Wed, April 29 Andy Robertson WM Shrewsbury School 104* A few of Mr Claughton’s solutions to avoid cricket dying Mon, May 11 Simon Gerring WE King's College Taunton 111* out altogether in some schools are to play shorter overs Wed, May 20 Andy Solomons [g] WE Millfield School 120 games around exam time, make better use of festivals and to play one’s stronger fixtures at the end of term, with fewer Chris Barnett SC Glasgow Academy 120* games against clubs. However, we at King’s play three T Smith CP Duke of Yorks's RMS 14.5-4-40-9 club teams, all towards the end of term, against MCC, the Gentlemen of Worcestershire and the XL and I have to say Thurs, May 28 E Anderson WM Inter District v EM 108 that very often these games are the most enjoyable to play S Dellow WM Inter District v EM 5.5-1-16-5 in. For many years Roger Wickson has been playing in or Wed, June 03 S Holliday WA Inter District WE v WA 126* managing an XL side and if his team are not exactly all finely tuned athletes, they are all good, experienced club Wed, June 03 D Steele CP Inter District: SO v CP 4-2-6-5 cricketers – a Sri Lankan Test match opening bowler played Tues, June 09 G Barker NE Pocklington School 6-2-27-5 against us recently – who play the game in the right spirit and are fine ambassadors for the Club. Thurs, June 11 B Mordt SX Ardingly School 126* Wed, June 17 R Hill CP Dover College 13.3-0-61-5 This year’s fixture was a particularly close affair and was one of the many highlights of my season, another being playing Thurs, June 18 B Brogden WE Colston’s School 14-0-96-6 for Worcestershire second XI against Lancashire and doing a Mon, June 22 L Farndale SC Hutcheson’s GS 100 poor man’s imitation of , hitting several fours off Simon Kerrigan. A tour to Sri Lanka with the school and R Young SC Hutcheson’s GS 12-0-28-5 a trip to India with the Worcestershire Academy to learn how Thurs, June 25 M Adamson SO Dauntsey’s School 21-8-34-5 to play spin better – some of the England Test batsmen also Mon, June 29 S van Greunan NW Bolton School 119 might have benefitted – have also been great experiences and are evidence of how good cricket has been to me. Tues, June 30 B Butt NE Woodhouse Grove School 104 perception will eventually help to overcome the problems Wed, July 01 S Lugg EC/NT Chigwell School 7-2-24-5 However nerve-wracking, and despite having sleepless facing school cricket I mentioned earlier. In his attempts to nights, it’s a great thrill to be able to attend this dinner describe the game of cricket, the words of Alistair Cooke, Tues, July 07 D Allaway SX Inter District: SX v SO 100 and speak in such a historic and wonderful venue and I am the English US-based broadcaster not the cricketer, will be Tues, July 07 G Dilruck [g] EC Chingford CC 150 extremely grateful to the Forty Club for the invitation and far more relevant to members of the Forty Club than to a for the award of the trophy. As all of us here appreciate, 17-year-old schoolboy. Thurs, July 16 J Trueman EM Inter District EM v WM 132 cricket is far more than just a game and I hope that this Wed, July 22 R Rebera WE Nailsea CC 103

Alistair Cooke KBE (1908-2004) was one of England’s R Hutchinson WE Nailsea CC 100 greatest broadcasters and he delivered his weekly Letter Mon, August 03 M Southwell EC Loughton CC 18-4-55-5 from America listened to by millions around the world Wed, August 05 B Allon CP Sibton Park CC 100 for 58 years. He recorded 2,869 in total. He covered most of the momentous events in the US in that time and Mon, August 10 M Southwell EC Cappanelle CC [on tour] 11-2-29-7 was only a few yards away when Robert Kennedy was Wed, August 12 A Robertson XL MCC 115* assassinated in 1968. When he died some of his bones were dug up and sold by a deranged surgeon who was K Arsal XL MCC 153* convicted for the offence and sent to jail for… 58 years. Thurs, August 27 C Turner NW SX 105* The man died at the age of 49. Alistair said: “It is not the winning that matters, is it? To coin a word – it’s the Sun, August 6 S Naylor SX NW 104* amenities that count: the smell of the dandelions, the puff Tues, August 8 N Dowers SC Crathie CC 101* of the pipe, the click of the bat, the rain on the neck, the M Wilkshire WA SX 113 chill down the spine, the slow, exquisite coming on of the sunset… and dinner…. and rheumatism.” B Mordt SX WA 100*

8 9 The Forty Club 2016 Handbook www.thefortyclub.co.uk YOU CAN’T KEEP RON HART OUT OF THE NEWS DUKES BALLS SWING THE

With the Forty Club needing five from the last over with ASHES ENGLAND’S WAY four in hand in a fixture against Bluemantles at the Nevill Ground in Tunbridge Wells, Ron Hart lofted the second from a young leg-spinner for two and then sweetly drove the third to the long-on boundary to seal victory. In the delirium that followed England’s Ashes win last summer, one man who played a small but significant Bluemantles were put in and scored 227-7 in 43 overs, part in that victory slipped under the radar. Dilip sportingly leaving a reasonable target. In reply Steve Jajodia, a longtime member of the Forty Club and Faulkner set the platform with 79 before Ian Wilson, who supplier of the Club’s cricket balls, is owner of the had opened the , made a belligerent 64 in XL’s British Cricket Ball Company Ltd, the manufacturer of 229-6. The Herbert Hunter Memorial Trophy was created in the Dukes cricket ball which England’s seamers used to honour of the revered former secretary of the Forty Club and such great effect against Australia. is presented to the winner. It now resides in the Forty Room at the Farmers’ Club until our next Bluemantles fixture. Darren Lehmann and Michael Clarke were banking on the two Mitchells – Starc and Johnson – terrorising The Harts’ 50th wedding anniversary and Edelgard’s England’s batsman with a barrage of short-pitched birthday were celebrated a week later and one of the family bowling but the ball appeared to swing and seam events was to dine at the top of the Shard. Arthur Genders, more than usual and Australia’s quicks were outdone his 13-year-old grandson, played for XL at Sissinghurst last by , James Anderson, Steven Finn and season and bowled tidily. “He was electric in the field,” said Mark Wood, as the hosts completed a 3-2 series win. the surface by hand and the ball is finally treated by HELPING THE Ron, who will be proposed by the Executive Committee for Jajodia says was fortunate with the toss a flame to dry it, or ‘lamped’. The process takes up to election as an Honorary Fellow at the 2016 AGM. and believes that “if Clarke had won more tosses then three hours and that is why profit margins are low. “We RISE OF BAVUMA things might have been very different”. aim for the highest quality,” says Jajodia. In the same week The Pantiles, where Ron once owned two flats, was flooded to a depth of four feet in the same road The Kookaburra is the preferred ball Down Under but He has two plastic containers: one for balls of the off the Nevill Ground in Tunbridge Wells by flash floods. support for the Dukes is growing fast, with former very highest quality and one for balls to use in a In 1991 the Forty Club toured South Africa and we met John national captain Ricky Ponting urging Cricket Australia lower standard of cricket. “It’s instinct,” he says when Passmore, an overseas member since 1965, who arranged to use Dukes balls in Sheffield Shield matches to help explaining how he chooses which container in which a game against Langa CC in one of the most deprived acclimatise their next generation of batsmen to the to put each ball. Two boxes of his very best six balls parts of . The township of one square mile had TRAGIC DEATH art of swing. is also a strong supporter, are sent to the ground before a Test match with a sign 50,000 black Xhosa-speaking residents living in appalling OF NAMIBIA’S RAYMOND saying: “I think the Dukes ball is the best on every saying ‘Do not touch’. It’s usually Stuart Broad’s job to conditions. It was a no-go area for whites, with the surface. It should be used universally around the pick the ball when England field first. exception of John, who paid for and sponsored the pavilion. VAN SCHOOR world.” When the next Ashes series takes place in At our tour dinner, attended by Bob Woolmer who was 2017/18, there is every chance that the Dukes – first A chief difference between the Dukes and the coaching another township club Avondale CC, we collected launched by Thomas Duke in 1760 – could be the Kookaburra is the stitching. The Dukes has six seams £500 to pay for equipment for the Langa youngsters. chosen ball. which are held tightly together, whereas the Australian Raymond van Schoor, who played against the Forty ball has four. This helps the Dukes keep its shape for Nick Hoult wrote in after Temba Club in 2009 when we toured Namibia and also played Dukes already supplies approximately 10 per cent of longer. The quicker bowlers shine one side and apply Bavuma’s unbeaten 102 in the drawn second Test at for Kent/East Sussex when he was cricketing over here, the balls for Australia junior cricket, as well supplying sweat to the other, hoping that the aerodynamics will Newlands: “Langa CC was formed in 1976 by a white met a sad death at the age of 25. On November 20 he balls to the West Indies and South Africa, and Jajodia work in the right conditions – for example, when philanthropist in the apartheid era who has since died. He collapsed during Namibia’s five-wicket win against Free sees Ponting’s backing as a key factor. “Especially as there is cloud cover. Often it’s not that simple. A club was called ‘kaffirboetie’ (black lover) by the whites but State in a South African domestic game and was rushed Ricky was sponsored by Kookaburra when he was batsman himself in his younger years, Jajodia picks respected by those he helped in the township as he realised to a local hospital. Although initially believed to be captain!” he says. out Sir Richard Hadlee as the greatest swing and seam his dream of promoting cricket there. One story goes when dehydration, scans soon revealed that the cause of death bowler he’s seen. “He had so much control,” he says. he drove into the township in the middle of a revolt in the was a stroke. He had captained Namibia and scored The material for the handmade Dukes is sent to a emergency in 1985, his car was surrounded by an angry more than 4000 runs in 92 appearances. factory in Pakistan and the cork and leather balls are Jajodia was born in Bangalore and educated in an mob. When he asked them what they wanted, they said then dispatched back to Walthamstow in south London. English school after migrating with £5 in his pocket. He ‘Mr Passmore, please find us more cricket bats’.” Cricket Namibia president Richard Frankle said: “On They are then given intensive hand treatment. Firstly worked in insurance but, like most Indians, he loves behalf of Cricket Namibia, I express my most sincere the red dye is added and the ball is pressurised by a cricket and in 1973 he started up the sports company After his century, the 5ft 3in Bavuma said: “I condolences to the entire van Schoor and La Cock families. milling exercise using steel grips, which goes back Morrants, which went on to take over British Cricket looked at the kids here today playing on the outfield in the Raymond was a tremendous asset to Cricket Namibia to the early days of cricket-ball manufacturing and Balls Ltd. Jajodia’s story is one of a small guy who lunchtime. I saw half of them were from Langa and must and the national team. He was taken far too early from ensures that the ball is perfectly round. The balls are stuck at it and persevered. Now a youthful-looking know my name, so whenever I go back I know I am going us. We however accept that Almighty God needed him to stamped with the name, synthetic grease is rubbed on 70-year-old, he is still forging ahead towards the front. to have those kids running around me.” represent the Heavenly Angels! May his soul rest in peace!”

10 11 The Forty Club 2016 Handbook www.thefortyclub.co.uk IS BUTTLER THE LAST OF Jos is not one of those batsmen who use a heavyweight Number 3 in the graveside service was Susannah Groome, blunderbuss of a bat. His chosen bats weigh 2lb 8oz daughter of our member Nick Startup, who sang two ENGLAND’S ‘WALKERS’? – about average for top-of-the-range bats. In his five songs beautifully. Between the services a group went to years at King’s College he scored prolifically against Beckenham CC’s ground near the church where EW (Jim) our bowlers and one of his opponents, XL member Swanton used to preside in the bar ordering pink gins Andy Ashfold, recalled: “The first time I saw this after his innings for the Club, sometimes partnering Henry It took Simon Heffer, a political commentator, to point little 15-year-old coming in at No.7 I suddenly Grierson in the 1930s. Jim was looked upon as the cricket out that appears to be the only ‘walker’ realized he should have come in much reporters’ equivalent of WG – a huge man in every aspect. in the England squad. In the Lord’s Ashes Test, earlier. Soon it was raining sixes.” He gave the Address at the 150th anniversary of the birth Buttler, who used to score sixes off XL bowlers of WG at Beckenham Parish Church in 1998 and concluded at King’s College, Taunton, walked when he His power through the ball, usually that Grace “found cricket a country pastime and left it a could have stayed at the crease and called for straight down the pitch or out to extra- national institution”. a review. cover, is exceptional and his timing is near perfect. He attributes his success The 75-minute service at St. George’s, attended by around Heffer wrote in the Sunday Telegraph: “He with the reverse-sweep to playing a lot 120, was simply magnificent. The 30-strong choir was walked a moment before the ’s finger of squash. “It’s very similar,” he says. tremendous and WG would have been very proud of what went up, having been behind. It was was laid on for him. Readings came from MCC President not the first time he had done it and it was one His deteriorated during the Roger Knight, Deputy Secretary Colin Maynard and author of those moments when one deeply regretted that Ashes but he is intelligent enough to sort A SLIGHT HICCUP Simon Rae, while The Cricketers of Hambledon was sung terrestrial television no longer carries live coverage, for things out for the coming season. The most by Malcolm Banham. An Address came from BBC sports it is the sort of thing one would want millions of young heartening thing about him is his niceness. There are AT WG GRACE’S presenter Rob Bonnet and the highlight was a brilliant men and boys to see a sporting hero do. We hear too often no rough edges and he evidently loves enjoy playing oration from the Right Reverend Doctor Michael Turnbull, that there is too much money in cricket now for there to be at the highest level. GRAVESIDE SERVICE CBE, at the end. His depth of knowledge about cricket, WG room for quixotic displays of honour. Or perhaps the longer and many others was remarkable. Canon Derek Carpenter Buttler stays in the England side, the more that attitude In the XL 2012 Handbook we prophesied that Jos has another immense collection of WG memorabilia which of decency – a decency that used not too long ago to be would take over from Craig Kieswetter as England’s On a dank but warmish October day last year, the act of was part of the exhibition at the church and congratulations synonymous with the game itself – will rub off on some of wicketkeeper-batsman in limited-overs cricket and remembrance commemorating the centenary of Dr. WG go to him and his team for organising this wonderful day. his teammates and remind a rising generation just what that has proved to be right. The South African-born Grace’s death at the Elmers End Cemetery, the number 7 cricket, but more generally life, is supposed to be about.” Kieswetter had his career brutally cut short at the of the Order of Batting, had just finished and Canon Derek The next night MCC held a dinner in the Long Room at age of 27 after a delivery from Northamptonshire Carpenter looked up and said, “Is Tim Woodcock, the Lord’s in honour of WG, which attended by 202 people How many XL batsmen walk? Most don’t but there is allrounder smashed into his helmet and chairman of the Forty Club, here?” There were 72 people including seven descendants of the great man. Again, it a reasonably high percentage that do. They realise that damaged his left eye. Kieswetter played cricket for there, mainly local dignitaries, MCC members and officials, was a memorable occasion – excellent food, good wine staying put often causes unpleasantness. If everyone Millfield and, like Buttler, struck a number of sixes off Beckenham CC former players and others, and there was and entertaining speeches from Roger Knight, Tim Rice, walked there wouldn’t be rows. XL bowlers. no sign of Tim. the Earl of Bathurst, Jon Rice and a panel of WG authors and experts including Simon Rae, Ian Bevan and Roger He was number 8 in the : ‘The laying of a Tomlinson whose book Amazing Grace is high in the floral tribute by Tim Woodcock, the chairman of the Forty Hardback List of 2015 sporting books. Tim Woodcock sat COMPTON RETURNS TO Club, who will speak about their association with WG and on the top table, and yes, he arrived early. Howard Smith’s maintenance of his grave.’ Carl Openshaw THE ENGLAND FOLD shouted, “He doesn’t appear to be here.” “Oh well,” said the Canon, “we’ll go on with the Blessing.” THE FORTY CLUB’S ANSWER TO WG Congratulations to on his unexpected Ten minutes later after the 25-minute service had return to the England Test side. Nick was dropped in concluded in front of the pristine grave of the Great 2013 after scoring two centuries in nine Tests but returned Cricketer, lots of people were still standing around talking for the series win in South Africa. He wrote a fine article and discussing the best way to traverse the uneven path, Stuart Faulkner, a wicketkeeper who about sportsmanship in the 2007 XL Handbook and which was undergoing resurfacing. Suddenly two red- plays for Margate and one of our best ended it by saying: “As role models we set our goals faced gentlemen appeared behind some of the collapsing batsmen, started the season with a not in terms of runs, wickets and victories but rather edifices that went for graves in the Victorian era – Tim and beard not knowing that it was the in values, ethics and being a quality human being. I Howard. Tim said: “I’m very sorry about this, the traffic is 100th anniversary of WG’s death. am constantly reminded every time I walk through absolutely terrible.” “Never mind,” said the Canon, “we On the actual date there was an air the Grace Gates of my grandfather’s prowess. Rarely can perform the laying of the wreath.” raid on October 23, 1915. The crew does one regale his hundreds but rather the smiles, the of a Zeppelin was dropping hand- entertainment and joy he brought to a troubled nation.” Photographs were taken and later Tim gave his speech at held bombs around Mottingham, 5.30 at St. George’s Church before the main 7.30 service where he lived. Early in the season Stuart An interesting fact about the Compton family: Denis hit that followed. He explained XL’s role, along with MCC, top-edged the ball into his chin while playing for only three sixes in his 78 Test matches and Nick hit three maintaining the grave and the most common remark Margate. He said “blood was everywhere and I had in his first 11. was: “I’ve never seen this part of the Cemetery in such to take off three inches from my beard”. Now it has fine condition.” grown back.

12 13 The Forty Club 2016 Handbook www.thefortyclub.co.uk MANAGING TO AVOID TOPLEY, CRANE AND Alex Davies, and Mason Crane FACING STUART BROAD DAVIES MAKE THE GRADE

The Forty Club were faced with the daunting prospect of batting against a young Stuart Broad at Oakham In recent Handbooks we have picked out three youngsters School in 2004. who have played against XL and predicted that they may well reach international standard, so it has been a pleasure David Steele, the then coach of Oakham School, came to see the trio going from strength to strength. Reece into the dressing room half-an-hour before the start Topley of Essex was selected for England’s ODI and T20 and said: “You’ll be glad to know that Stuart Broad side against Australia last summer and toured UAE and is playing!” He laughed and walked out. We knew South Africa over the winter; Mason Crane of Hampshire he was an exciting prospect who was on the books at featured for England at the Under 19 World Cup and Leicestershire. former England under 19 international Alex Davies starred for Lancashire at NatWest Finals Day. The batting order hadn’t been resolved and there was no rush to volunteer to open the innings, with XL In the 2010 Handbook we reported on Topley’s having won the toss. Everyone knew Stuart was very demolition of an Eastern Counties side at the Royal tall and very quick, particularly by our standards, Hospital School, Holbrook, near where he was born in and some were searching for their chest protectors. Ipswich. Aged 15, he was only allowed to bowl five overs Eventually two openers agreed to risk it but just in a spell and finished with figures of 10-3-22-3, with XL doubt, make the grade as long as he doesn’t get his head before the team left the dressing room, David burst bowled out for 74. The article was headed: ‘Is this the new turned by Loughborough or other national coaches who back into the dressing room to inform that the school Stuart Broad?’ Topley stands 6ft 7in, one inch taller than advocate ‘formula bowling’. As for the next Shane Warne head had told Stuart he couldn’t play. Broad. He was wearing a shirt with Broad’s name on back – well, he’s got a long way to go!” in 2009 and said, “Stuart is the cricketer I’d like to copy if I The match was eventually rained off. XL had have a chance.” Our 2013 Handbook first highlighted Crane’s ability when struggled to 191-5 in 52 overs with Duncan Bembridge we wrote: “Ron Hart’s XL team were 27-1 at Lancing scoring a brilliant 121. Oakham reached 31-0 in 10 In the intervening six years Reece, son of former Essex College last year when 15-year-old Mason Crane came overs and we put it down as a moral victory… and a bowler Don Topley, has filled out and bowls his left-arm on to bowl. The tiny boy marked his run and called up lucky escape! swing, seam and cutters at around 82-85 mph. Of the four close fielders. Willie Boone was striking the ball well limited number of first-class left-arm quick bowlers in until then. ‘His first ball pitched outside leg and turned The following season Broad played five the country, Topley probably brings the ball back into the more than a foot and bowled me,’ he said. It was almost a Championship matches and finished second in right-hand batsmen better than the rest. His height also Shane Warne moment, reminiscent of the delivery which Leicestershire’s bowling averages with 27 wickets at gives him the edge over his rivals. bowled Mike Gatting at Old Trafford in 1993. In less than 26.44. He was well on the way to fame and fortune. an hour XL were bowled out for 42 with Mason having He made his England T20 debut at the Swalec Stadium the incredible figures of 9.2-4-11-8. Ron said, ‘He turned it on August 31 and fooled Australia’s Mitchell Marsh with square, both ways. I’ve never seen anything like that’. Raj WHERE ARE THE (Charterhouse) and Trevor Bailey (Dulwich a back of the hand slower ball timed at 68 mph. As the Maru, the school cricket coach, said: ‘He is very confident College). Len Hutton, Bill Edrich, , ball knocked off the bails, there was a tremendous noise and determined and he is a single child. His father wasn’t WORKING-CLASS Tom Graveney, Godfrey Evans, Jim Laker, Tony Lock, around the ground. “It was massive,” said Reece. “I’ve a cricketer and it has been a sacrifice for him and his wife and Alec Bedser were all from relatively never heard anything like it and I felt privileged to be to send him to a public school’.” ENGLAND CRICKETERS? humble backgrounds. Today 93 per cent of pupils are there. It went very well. I think I only bowled two bad educated in state schools and on average cost £7,000 balls but that will make me concentrate harder.” His four Alex Davies, born in Darwen, also featured in the 2013 per pupil per year. The other 7 per cent are educated overs cost 35 runs and Nasser Hussain said, “he bowled Handbook. He played three matches for the Queen in independent schools where on average £11,00 is very well with plenty of variation… it was a good start to Elizabeth GS in Blackburn and scored 126*, 78 and 99 In the final Ashes Test last summer at the Kia Oval there spent per pupil. his international career.” against XL, leading the then NW chairman Tony Fare to were five public school boys in the XI who had played say: “He is one to watch for the future. As a 16-year-old he against the Forty Club: Alastair Cook (Bedford), Looking around the Oval during the 2015 Ashes Meanwhile, , a former leg-spinner had a fantastic technique and many people who saw his (Worksop), Jos Buttler (King’s, Taunton), Stuart Broad Test it was noticeable that it was hard to find anyone before injury curtailed his bowling, was full of praise for 126 commented that they hadn’t seen such talent in one so (Oakham) and Steve Finn (Parmiter’s). The other six – Ben who wasn’t from the middle or upper classes. Surrey Mason Crane, writing in that the Hampshire young for a very long time.” Terry Lord, Match Manager, Stokes, Adam Lyth, , , make big efforts to invite inner city boys and girls leggie was perhaps the most promising spinner on the wrote in his report: “Remember this name!” and Mark Wood – all came from middle-class families and to matches and most of them are admitted without county circuit. Mason, 19, has had two winters abroad could not be described as working-class or inner city. charge. But cricket still needs to do more to tap an with England development squads and has gained height, Now 21, Davies is Lancashire’s wicketkeeper when Jos enormous source of undiscovered talent. The Forty strength and extra skills, including the slider patented by Buttler is playing for England and he top-scored with Contrast that team with the England XI at the Oval Club has tried to help out but there are almost his hero Shane Warne. According to Hampshire chairman 47 in Lancashire’s first limited-overs triumph since 1992 in 1953. There were only two from public schools: insuperable difficulties to overcome. Rod Bransgrove, “He is a good player and a smashing lad when they beat Northamptonshire by 13 runs in the but he still has to keep working to progress. He will, no NatWest T20 Blast final.

14 15 The Forty Club 2016 Handbook www.thefortyclub.co.uk THE PASSING OF ARTHUR Sibton’s Sunday put on a record last-wicket stand of 164, scored a century MORRIS – AUSTRALIA’S side. It wasn’t a and took 4-71. “I was a bit naïve at Yorkshire and I’ve knockabout, it knuckled down here,” he said. GENTLEMAN was reasonable standard. I played Jason Ratcliffe, deputy CEO of the Professional first-team cricket in Cricketers’ Association and Mark Robinson, the then the Kent League but cricket manager at Sussex, were the people who saved The Australian players wore black armbands as a tribute after I ached a bit Ollie’s county career. Mark said: “We pride ourselves to the death of former Australia Test opener Arthur Morris and my eyes started on trying to make the best out of everybody. Sometimes who died at the age of 93 last August. Arthur scored 3,533 to go I decided it works, sometimes it doesn’t. We believe everybody runs and averaged 46.48 in 46 Tests and one of our former to drop into the deserves an opportunity to be the person they want to members Christopher Martin-Jenkins said of him: “He was second team which be. Ollie has been as good as gold and he crosses the a charming and relaxed person for whom cricket was never suits me fine.” line brilliantly.” a matter of life and death.” Arthur was also a close friend of Raman Subba Row, one of our honorary members. ROBERT SMITH’S Tim is a self- employed carpenter MAX SEAGER RIP: STILL Alec Bedser called him his bunny because he got him ROMANIAN DOG CAMPAIGN and many of our out 18 times but in 1953 Arthur bowled Bedser at Old members work for BATTING HIGHER THAN Trafford, one of only two wickets he took in . HAILED BY THE SUN a very good boss They walked off arm in arm and Arthur said, “I have to – themselves. He TOM GRAVENEY look after my bunny!” has played against Ian Robinson, our Arthur once sacrificed his wicket on 99 to allow Neil One of the last of people you’d expect to appear in The Quadrangular Tournament skipper who also bowls left- Harvey to stay at the crease in a Test against South Sun must be Eastern Counties chairman Robert Smith but arm. “A couple of years ago I played against his son Ollie When Max Seager was still playing golf and carrying Africa and Harvey said, “It was one of his great acts as a in midsummer last year Rupert Murdoch’s newspaper and I see that he’s had a good comeback with Sussex after his own bag of clubs until he passed away last gentleman. He didn’t need to do it. It was my fault.” published a story about Robert saving Romanian dogs he left Yorkshire. He’s a very useful cricketer but he didn’t October, he often joked that he went in ‘batting’ ahead from an early death. have such a good day in that match.” of the great former England batsman and captain Tom Graveney in a golf tournament. In recognition of the MIKE BLATHERWICK’S The writer called him a successful British tycoon who has Twenty-three-year-old Ollie was sacked by Yorkshire last vast amount of work he did for the Forty Club, our FACTORY RISES FROM business connections in Romania and has saved hundreds year for minor disciplinary reasons and on his debut for Editor has included Max in the obituaries ahead of of these animals. When asked to comment on the story by Sussex against Durham at Chester-le-Street last May he Tom Graveney. That will give him a chuckle! our Editor, Robert said: “I think the right description of me as a tycoon should be ‘a fading tycoon’.” STRAUSS DOGGED BY KP TIM SMITH SHOOTS DOWN THE DUKE is the man who exiled KP from the England OF YORK MILITARY scene and when he unveiled a statue of AE Stoddart at the SCHOOL’S BATSMEN 100th anniversary of the legendary England cricketer’s death prominently displayed in Hampstead Cricket Club’s pavilion was… a framed KP England one-day shirt. Andrew Strauss (right), Chris Tooley (2nd), Gavin Except for a jokey comment in his speech about Piers Scovell (4th), Brian Scovell (5th) and Nigel Kees (7th) England still needs a left-arm quick in the mould of New Morgan’s PR work on behalf of KP, the England Cricket Zealander Trent Boult and 44-year-old Tim Smith, who Director ignored the thorny issue of Pietersen’s continued Stoddart (1863-1915) captained England in cricket and joined the Forty Club three years ago, might just be the absence from the England team. “The problem is rugby and in 1888 he scored a world record 485 for answer. “But I’m not as quick as I used to,” he said after participation,” he said. “Ninety per cent of schools don’t Hampstead v The Stoics. Stoics beat Hampstead by 54 runs taking 9-45 on the cliffs overlooking the English Channel play cricket and we have to do something about it.” in a commemorative match. ‘Our Beloved Stod’ committed at Dover on May 20. suicide by shooting himself in the head in 1915, the same Mike Blatherwick (right), one of our members, saw his B3 Seeing Strauss at the final Ashes Test at the Oval he year that his great rival WG Grace died. cricket-making factory near Nottingham burn down on It was the best analysis by an XL bowler last year, appeared to have lost a lot of hair since he took the job but June 6, causing around £200,000 of damage. Firefighters with eight batsmen dismissed bowled and one lbw. “It his cheerfulness and calm remain. He was the person who XL member Gavin Scovell, who was also at the Lahore spent hours battling the flames and the smoke was seen was swinging a bit,” he said. “After I took four Ron helped the smiles return to England’s dressing room, with shooting when terrorists attacked the Sri Lankan team for miles around the town. Mike said the company rose (Hart) took me off and I thought I’d have a graze in the assistant coach Paul Fabrace – who was suffered gun shot coach seven years ago, scored 35 for Stoics and another XL like a phoenix from the ashes – an apt description as the outfield. A bit later he said, ‘Have another over’ and I wounds during the Lahore terrorist attack in 2009 – another member Nigel Kees also played, although less successfully England cricket team clinched the Ashes at took a wicket and he kept me on for 14.5 overs. It wasn’t key figure in the team’s resurgence. as he was caught on the boundary. earlier that summer. my best figures. Those were 9-17 against Wingham for

16 17 The Forty Club 2016 Handbook www.thefortyclub.co.uk CONGRATULATIONS TO British production company Sunset+Vine, who TONY FARE TAKES from multiple injuries. Well, he’s done it again. While previously won a Bafta Award for their cricket coverage walking in September at Glaramara, 783 feet in height COLIN NEILL’S SCOTLAND on Channel 4, beat 20 other companies to win the TV ANOTHER TUMBLE and just under three miles from Bow Fell, he caught his rights to televise all international ICC tournaments for foot and severely injured a knee. Once again a helicopter the next four years and also the inaugural Pakistan from the NW air ambulance in Blackpool landed nearby Super League in Dubai in February. Scovell will be the and he was conveyed to the Barrow Infirmary. Since then XL’s Quadrangular Tournament final in Newport, senior match director. On January 22, 2011 our new Fixtures Secretary fell 100 Tony has had his knee repaired and is ready to continue South Wales was washed out at the end of July with XL feet down the 902-feet Bow Fell in Cumbria and was his career as a determined Lake District mountaineer and and SGS Netherlands sharing the trophy on the same lifted by a Sea King air ambulance from RAF Boulmer walker. Another of our members, Neill Brindle, also fell weekend that the ICC World Qualifier final and taken to the Carlisle Cumberland Infirmary suffering down a mountain in 2004 and survived. in Dublin between Scotland and the Netherlands was TERRY HALE BOWS abandoned without a ball being bowled. OUT AFTER 54 YEARS Scotland and the Netherlands shared the trophy and OF SERVICE both countries qualified for the World Twenty20 in India in March. Colin Neill, former President of Cricket Scotland, must have been delighted with the way Scotland performed. We wish Terry Hale a happy retirement after his exertions on and off the field for the Club. Carl Unfortunately the ICC’s new ruling junta of India, Openshaw said: “He signed up in 1971 at the age of Australia and England have decided to reduce the 34 so the current policy of introducing under-age number of countries competing at the 2019 World Cup players is not as new as one might think. He scored from 14 to 10, angering the Associates in the process. 105 on debut and went on to play in 30 consecutive They were also informed that their annual handouts seasons. From 1971 to 2000 he played 141 matches, from the central fund had been cut. Amin Kasim, who scoring 4,635 runs at an average of 48.79, with seven skippered SGS in Newport, said: “This is not good for centuries and 30 fifties. He also took 52 wickets at Holland’s cricket. There will be less money for coaches, an average of 20.79.” Terry served on the Executive improving grounds and recruiting new players.” It Committee for 33 years and hardly missed a is anticipated that the ICC will have to reconsider meeting. this matter in view of the volume of complaints. A compromise of 12 is possible.

After the World Twenty20 Qualifier, David Richardson, A TERRIFYING the ICC CEO, said: “I’d like to thank all the players and EXPERIENCE ON EUROPE’S match officials for the quality of their performances and for the excellent spirit in which all the matches HIGHEST MOUNTAIN were played. It’s great that there have been no on-field disciplinary issues at all and that the matches have been played in an atmosphere of competitive sportsmanship. It is important also to thank the tournament hosts, Cricket By Roger Wickson (Chairman of West Midland) Ireland and Cricket Scotland, for an excellent job.” As chairman of a small cricket club, I am sure that all One of our members Gavin Scovell was in charge like-minded cricketers will understand the need to try of the television coverage in Edinburgh and Dublin and and find new ways of fundraising and last September I millions of cricket fans around the world saw arranged to climb Mont Blanc, Europe’s highest peak at the tournament. Another of our members, Giles Clarke, 15,871 feet with five friends. now President of the ECB and a prominent figure at the ICC, came under criticism in a film called Death We made the base camp at 5,000 feet and having ST BEDE’S REARS ANOTHER Alan Wells, the ex-Sussex player who is the cricket of a Gentleman which premiered during the Trent decided that the climb was too dangerous for me I master at Bede’s, takes up the story. “We have a link Bridge Ashes Test last year. Two cricket writers Jarrod waited to hear from the others, who sent a message they INTERNATIONAL CRICKETER with the Cricket Association and every two Kimber, an Australian, and Sam Collins of England, were 150 metres from the summit. The temperature was years we give a scholarship to a young Barbadian to spent four years making the documentary and they -10C and with no water the two of them were in a very help him to pass his A-levels. Shai had two years with built up a strong argument about the ICC’s alleged bad state, almost about to die. Fortunately the others Around the time Willie Boone scored 85 to beat Bede’s us and proved to be not only a wonderful cricketer but cavalier behaviour in running world cricket. India was managed to reach them in time and eventually they School’s second XI in Upper Dicker, Sussex by five also a wonderful young man who was very popular supposed to receive half of the anticipated income of managed to return by a different route. wickets last May, a former pupil had just made his Test throughout the school. He didn’t play against the Forty £1.6 billion from 2015-2023 and Australia and England debut. His name was and he opened the Club because these days we put out a younger side.” will share a quarter, with the other 25 per cent going The charities to benefit were the West Midlands Air batting for West Indies in the third Test against England to the other full member countries. Contrast that to the Ambulance, The Brain Tumour Charity and my club at in his native Barbados. Though he didn’t make big John Hawkins, who took four wickets to win the Man Premier League where each of the 20 clubs receives an Gofundme.com/shipstoncc-AAS. scores, the West Indies won the match to square the of the Match award against Bede’s, might have relished even share of the income. series 1-1 and cause tremors in English cricket. taking on the next !

18 19 The Forty Club 2016 Handbook www.thefortyclub.co.uk GAYLE OUTDOES KP IN Gayle’s favourite expressions, and the boys cleared had two XL members at the crease, Bob Collins and the ropes on six occasions. “Six?” said one of the boys. another schoolmaster Ben Fraise. But Umer thwarted SIX-HITTING CONTEST “It seemed 16”. Jim Keys, our opening bowler, ought them to bring him remarkable figures of 13-1-68-5. to be handed a commendation for conceding only 20 runs in his nine overs. XL finished on 231-7 – a commendable draw. XL’s tally ALDENHAM SCHOOL of sixes was three, but most of the boundaries were 70 metres or more.

KP must have had an efficient SatNav to find Aldenham’s first XI toured Barbados in 2008 and Aldenham School because it lurks in a beautiful, Eighteen-year-old Lee Tyrell wants to Kraigg Brathwaite, the West Indies opener, scored a backwater part of Hertfordshire two miles from be a county cricketer and has already big total against them and another Windies opener of Aldenham, the village where none other than Mike come on as a substitute in a previous generation, , visited the Atherton lives. On the day of the match, June 24, two Worcestershire matches. He school a few weeks earlier to set up cricketing links when Robert Smith’s squad of 12 began to arrive, our with Aldenham. editor ran into a rather worrying incident. Bearing bowls around 80-85 mph and models right, up the start of the M1, the drivers of two white himself on . His feats vans ahead had to brake sharply as a light blue saloon were recorded in Wisden in 2013 started to slow down and tried to do a U-turn in the IF THE CAP FITS... three-lane road. A build-up of vehicles were forced to A bowling machine was set up to propel the ball at 63 when he scored a maiden century slow down before the driver of the blue car realised mph and the two heavyweight champions of world- against UCS and took a hat-trick in he’d made a mistake and changed direction. As we cricket six-hitting took turns to strike out to try and his 5-9 against Mill Hill. “Earlier in overtook him, now going the right way, he merely come out on top. A fusillade of balls rained out of the smiled and waved. middle of the first team ground and almost over to the the season I took 7-7 and we bowled square of the second pitch. Watford GS out for 20,” he said. It There was more frustration. Soon after, we started was a good idea to rest him! to turn into Aldenham County Park by mistake; a wasn’t in his best form. He’d had a late circuitous one-way road led us to the exit barrier night celebrating his 153 for Somerset the previous which had a sign indicating that the charge was £4.50. day and as for KP, someone said: “He was a bit ratty at We explained the position through one of those ‘push first but later both of them joined in talking to the lads the button and speak’ devices and a young lady said, and signed some memorabilia”. Gayle’s best effort Aldenham School’s 236-5 in 36 overs was “Everyone has to pay.” After a lot of persuasion, she was 118m to KP’s 117m, and Gayle was duly declared distinguished by two outstanding catches in the field. eventually relented. the winner. New member Ollie Doward held the first on the mid- wicket boundary, 75 metres away, and XL’s captain Twenty days earlier KP and Chris Gayle had starred Charlie Irish, the school’s first-team cricket coach Bob Collins, one of the teachers, clutched the other in a promotional video to advertise the Caribbean T20 from Devon, explained that their own six-hitting star one closer in. XL almost matched the home side’s run Big Bash at Aldenham School and the boys were still Lee Tyrell, who is a member of the Worcestershire rate, passing 100 with only two wickets down until talking about it. One said: “Besides hitting the ball CCC Academy, was resting – thankfully for XL – and 14-year-old Umer Zeeshan Lohya, standing just 4ft as far as they could, they also had to try and hit the included four young spinners. XL’s vintage spinners 10ins, came on. drone which was filming above. And they failed.” were soon given “big licks”, to use one of Chris Wicketkeeper Greg Ellingham said to Ollie, “He’s making his debut – be kind to him”. Umer’s first delivery was a humdinger. “It was an off-break and CRICKETING it fizzed,” said Ollie. “He looks a good find.” Faisal Ansari, 26, who plays for Ruislip, was his first victim, SCIENCE REACHES lbw. “I hit it!” insisted Faisal. The umpire demurred. Ollie was on 77 when he was off another SCHOOL LEVEL! fizzer. “I got carried away,” he said. Just 40, he plays The secluded village of Aldenham was mentioned in for The Jesters and works as a digital editor at the the Doomsday Book and is one of a batch of hamlets, BBC. His next job was at Glastonbury: a great signing which make up the overall population of 9,942 and Toon Han, pictured second from the for the club. has a number of graded properties. left, could well be the first South Korean scorer in English cricket. He used an Another newer member, 60-year-old lawyer Richard Elstree Studios is nearby and many films and videos iPad and also an app, which enabled Buxton, who was struck by hard-hit shots in the head have been filmed in Aldenham including Confessions him to take down the kind of data that in his previous two appearances for the Woodpeckers of a Window Cleaner. the England team uses, such as the areas CC, survived a succession of massed appeals and his where the runs were scored, and how unique repertoire of cross-bat shots earned him 33 Mike Yearsby, the former cricketmaster who now the scoring chart compared to the other before he was caught by Sam Woolley (no relation) teaches geography, has done an exhaustive analysis of team’s total. Charlie Irish even used it in off Umer in the deep. With 10 runs needed in the final the team’s stats, and they even award caps on debut his team talks! over of the last 20, with three wickets in hand, XL with Umer’s cap, pictured here, being the 963rd.

20 21 The Forty Club 2016 Handbook www.thefortyclub.co.uk and sat down as his mates chided him. comfortably by five wickets but as John Talbot, the master A JAMAICAN BATSMAN Dulwich CC was founded in 1867 and now has seven “You were in such a hurry, have you in charge, said: “It could have been closer but for two of sides and 450 colts of all ages. They play in the Surrey got a date lined up?” said one. our best allrounders.” Six other bowlers sent down some ECLIPSES CHRIS GAYLE Championship and club representative John Smith tempting deliveries including wides, full tosses and three asserts: “It’s one of the best 20 clubs in the county.” Then he explained how beamers which helped XL to declare at 149-8. it happened. “I go to the SOUTHWARK SCHOOLS XI Parents pay £130 a year for their children to become Woodford Wells Cricket PLEASE SORT members. John said: “In my day young men would Academy which Chris Gayle is NOTABLE FORMER PUPILS LENGTH OF The day at Dulwich Cricket Club in one of London’s most play two matches over the weekend but these days sponsoring, and this morning I salubrious and poshest ‘villages’, started calmly on July they don’t. And they don’t play each weekend either, had a net and Minesh, one of my BLUE LINE 7, but within two-and-a-half hours it had turned into putting their family first. So it’s very helpful to have a friends who is pretty quick, hit me in MATTHEW DUNN mayhem. supply of young players coming through.” my ‘box’. I was really angry about it. My ‘box’ didn’t help England Lions and Surrey CCC fast bowler me and I was very sore. When I opened the innings here XL match manager Jon Thornton, who lives nearby, There is a prominent board displayed in the pavilion I vowed I would take it out on the ball and try to hit a six ANTON ZINGAGEVICH had the idea to invite a team of cricketers from inner- of David Hookes, the former Australian Test every ball.” Russian businessman who bought Reading FC before city schools, none of which have cricket grounds – a batsman who hit six sixes in an over for Dulwich previous owner John Madejski joined up with a Thailand very laudable objective – to take on a XL Club XI. John against Bexley CC in 1975 when he was the club’s He gave only one chance, to Nigel Keess at deep long consortium Smith, the personable chairman of Dulwich CC, laid on professional. The bowler was the Forty Club’s Geoff off at 49. “I thought I’d be a goner but I then noticed his the facilities but sadly the organisers of the Southwark Burton. In 2004, Hookes died in tragic circumstances hands weren’t where they needed to be and he knocked TOM FOWLIE Schools XI were unable to provide enough scholars, so outside a nightclub in . He was 48. it over the boundary,” he said. It wasn’t Nigel’s day. London Irish RFC and England U20s winger BEARWOOD COLLEGE BEARWOOD

brought in a handful of first-team players to fill the gap. CRICKET CLUB DULWICH When he batted, he was run-out backing up when the ball ricocheted into the stumps. XL’s innings was propped up One was 25-year-old Lesbourne Seymour Edwards, a tall by David Steele’s pugnacious 45, and the other player to Our umpire Olly Birchett, just back from surgery, left-hander who has opened both batting and bowling former Test batsman Russel Arnold, came on first change, show resistance was Michael Arnold who was brilliantly said the total should have been 154 not 149, and this for Enfield CC’s first he was hit for 19 in his first and last over. caught at deep-extra-cover by Omar Green. was hastily corrected. What would have team. After XL managed done? Would he have shot out XL for a paltry total? to scrape 116 in 29 overs By taking singles at the end of three overs, Lesbourne, born in Manchester, Jamaica, whose family John said: “Well, he’s clocked 90mph and in his last Lesbourne began like his Lesbourne managed to hog the strike and moved to London when he was 11, has a highest score of game he bowled really fast for the first time and one hero and mentor Chris smote 13 sixes and six fours in his hundred 137. “I am aiming for the stars,” he said. “Cricket is my delivery went over the keeper’s head and nearly Gayle, the Jamaican off just 27 balls, clipping three balls off passion and I’m in between jobs so I play as much as I can went for six. Except for that match, he didn’t bowl six-hitter who holds the Gayle’s record achieved at the Pune and I want to be a pro. I was hoping to have a trial with too quickly for us which is a relief otherwise there world T20 record for ground in India a few weeks earlier. He Essex but I injured an ankle. Chris Gayle has coached might have been reaching a century in 30 finished with 107 and the innings me and I’m trying to copy him. My other batting hero some injuries. deliveries. XL’s opening lasted 5.3 overs. The reason why it took as is because he had the best shot selection. My He took many bowler Nick Heater long as 28 minutes was because the fielders bowling hero is Michael Holding and he’s my favourite wickets but my conceded three sixes took so long to find the ball! commentator.” overriding memory in three balls and his was a direct-hit two overs cost 53 runs. Tea was taken at 4.30pm and Lesbourne timed Tom Carmichael, one of our members who played in the run-out from the Zak Mendelsohn, from it just right to finish the match before it was match, comes from Northampton and recommended that boundary against Harrogate, was slightly served. He looked rather bashful as he came he ought to join the county. Northants’ head coach David Pangbourne that less expensive – 47 runs in, realising that his dazed opponents weren’t Ripley says: “I’m looking to give Lesbourne some 2nd XI stunned everyone.” off 15 deliveries. When too happy about matters. “I’d like to keep the games and we can see how he goes.” We wish him well. Michael Arnold, the fixture but only if young schoolboys are being Graham Massey, our 50-year-old brother of chosen,” said Jon. Lesbourne took off his pads match manager, was unable MATT DUNN: to contact Derek and asked BEARWOOD’S FINEST Bill Munday to skipper the BAVALAN PATHMANATHAN side. “I could have played myself,” said Graham. “Actually I decided to retire Three days before the match at Dulwich, Bavalan Pathmanathan, a 24-year-old Sri Lankan, BEARWOOD COLLEGE at the end of the season after died in Kingston Hospital after being struck in the chest by a rearing delivery at a recreation 71 years – I’m now 81 – but ground in Windmill Lane in Long Ditton. Michael Arnold often played with him and said: Here is the remarkable story of the schoolboy on Sunday after playing “It was terrible. It was medium pace, not even fast, and he told his partner ‘I’m alright’ but who went to Bearwood College, not really tennis for two hours, a short time later he collapsed and was taken by ambulance and never recovered.” an outstanding cricket school, and finished up I sprained a representing England – 22-year-old Matt Dunn, wrist.” Bavalan was a student at the Hartley College in Jaffna, Sri Lanka and was batting for the the Surrey and England Lions fast bowler. Manipay Parish Sports Club side in the Division 11 of the British Tamil League. One of his teammates had said: “Something should be done about the pitch because another player On April 22 the college first Xl beat an ageing Forty Club had been injured there.” X – skipper Derek Candy became lost on the way –

22 23 The Forty Club 2016 Handbook www.thefortyclub.co.uk THE REBIRTH OF ALL HAIL! AND RAIN.... Just before he died, Prince Albert, wife of Queen BEARWOOD COLLEGE Victoria, said Suffolk ought to have a quality school for local families who work on the land. The FRAMLINGHAM SCHOOL Queen set up a memorial fund in his name, and the mock-Gothic college opened in 1864. It has had its ups and downs but this proud, independent On May 7, the day the nation voted in another school with 660 pupils of both sexes, is thriving, Conservative government, the Eastern Counties’ particularly in sport, across its 85 acres. match manager Matt Cattley was devoting all his energy trying to overcome the school’s confident Second Xl youngsters. His players, assembled from NOTABLE FORMER PUPILS afar from Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire, were assured that the weather was “sunny with the ASHLEY COWAN slight risk of a few showers”. Essex

Well, the Met office got it wrong. Torrential rain DAVID LARTER HISTORY BOYS flooded the winding roads leading to this historic Northants and England town, which boasts a Grade 1 Norman castle first built in 1148, but a start was made. Under glowering black SIR ALFRED MUNNINGS, KCVO CRANBROOK SCHOOL In 1816, John Walter II, son of the founder of The Times, clouds, XL were 184-7 with three overs remaining artist bought 3,000 acres of woodland from the Crown and when they experienced another drenching. For a Cranbrook School received its charter from Queen between 1865 and 1874 his family completed one of the while, hail tumbled on to the pitch and Hale – Julian, LT GORDON MURIEL FLOWERDEW, VC Elizabeth I in 1574 and is one of the most respected largest Victorian mansions in England. It cost £120,000, son of our former player and executive committee conducted the last British cavalry charge in grammar schools in Britain. Three of our greatest sports 4.4 million bricks were baked in their brickyard on the member Terry – found himself stranded on 54* and military history commentators were educated there. estate, and the surrounding oaks trees were used. the match was abandoned. L-CORPORAL WILLIAM Who? Well, we got their enthusiastic cricketmaster During the First World War Canadian soldiers were Someone suggested it was one of the Conservatives’ HENRY HEWITT, VC Clayton Pohi, a young New Zealander from Auckland, treated in the makeshift hospital set up in the house ploys: traditionally on election days their voters to ask his first-teamers, but none of them had heard of and grounds, and in 1919 it became the home of the brave the weather whereas the lefties often don’t. CAPT AUGUSTUS WILLINGTON them. The trio of household names were Peter West, Royal Merchant Seamen’s Orphanage. It then became The local MP, a SHELTON AGAR, VC who hosted the BBC’s cricket coverage, the football an independent co-educational school. Last year it was Conservative, was FRAMLINGHAM SCHOOL commentator Brian Moore of ITV, and Barry Davies, bought by Graeme Crawford of Reddam House, who elected with a bigger also of the BBC. Most of our Forty Club members knew has 28 schools in South Africa and several in Australia. majority. England fast bowler who was an old boy between about them but in this frantic world of social media, Dr. Stephen Spurr, formerly headmaster of Westminster 1951-7. Another former pupil Tim Alexander has today’s generation barely look back at heroes who School, is managing director. Tim Rose, the played for Essex 11s and he is brisk in pace. inspire others. On the latest XL tour to the Middle East, cricketmaster, a newly capped England player admitted that he’d scored for the never heard of Derek Underwood. Graham is one of the admired doyens of XL and school on an iPad he was the man who first arranged a fixture for as he walked Gary George, who scored 48 in XL’s 189-6 against the Bearwood College many years ago. round the sloping school’s 221-7 in a creditably drawn declaration game, ground giving once played in the same team with Brian Moore. “I Tom Carmichael said: “I know they’ve had an England out advice. Some play for West Wickham and some years ago I played player but we have two. Bill Edmunds plays for of the fielding with him,” he said. “He loved cricket and was quite a England Overs 60s and Paul Massey plays for the was exceptional good batsman.” Peter West’s name is on the school’s England Disability XI.” Bill, one of our openers, was with skipper list of sportsmen and he captained the cricket and painfully struck on the thumb by Harry Staples, a Ben Mountford rugby sides. There was no sign of the name of Barry rather quick right-hander, and he had to go off for holding a Davies but he reported on football for half of his life as treatment. With wickets falling, he had to resume his blinding, one- well as other sports. innings and was dismissed first ball. handed catch at first slip to Asked if the boys had produced a Test player from XL’s top scorer was the college’s sportsmaster, who dismiss Matt Cranbrook the answer came back negative, but in jotted down 45 extras. Staples, with 1-23, and the other for 35. “They’re After a prolonged tea in the resplendent dining hall, the list of Old Cranbrookians was the name of the allrounder Max Utley, who took 3-24, went on to score a bit military in when more and more different cakes, sandwiches and testy Middlesex slow left-arm bowler Philippe Henri 40 and 63 respectively in the college’s 155-5 in 19.2 speed but they’re stones and cream kept arriving, Tim said: “It’s sad we Edmonds (above), who played 51 Tests for England. overs and though there were showers in the pavilion, improving,” he said. can’t play on and it was intriguingly poised. I can give hardly any of our bowlers needed one. Les Loader, aged No one was as fast as directions to a pub which serves a fine beer, and as for The school has another boast – the undulating cricket 81, opened the bowling and only Hawkins, with 4-35, David Larter, the 6ft the boys, they might want to go off to do some study.” ground is one of the biggest in the UK. Most of the showed stout resistance. 7ins Northants and There were roars of laughter. boundaries are 80-90 yards and only one six was struck

24 25 The Forty Club 2016 Handbook www.thefortyclub.co.uk – by Gary George. Clayton explained: “We pull the ropes BOILING IN THE them were caught out for 23, all victims of veteran back a bit because it’s quite easy to score, especially Baba Butt, who scored a century the day before at on the south side where it slopes more. It helps the YORKSHIRE DALES Woodhouse Grove School for XL. Baba bowled teasing bowlers.” That’s refreshing: at most of our first-class outswingers, very successfully. grounds the boundaries are getting shorter and shorter, inflating the achievements of ordinary batsmen. LEEDS GRAMMAR SCHOOL The school dropped five catches and the towering Dixon was missed by the unfortunate Quirk at 9 and 32, and that was decisive. Dixon was left on 49* and Tony July 1 was the UK’s hottest day with temperatures of Sheppard awarded him the man of the match award around 35°C, and XL’s six-wicket defeat by the Leeds “for scoring the most runs and being the tallest!” Grammar School had to be reduced to a 30-over game instead of 40. “The boys have played a lot of cricket recently,” explained Steve Dunne, the cricketmaster KP RE-APPEARS who also operated the score, while umpiring at square leg. IN DEEPEST

After a few claps of thunder, play was suspended for NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 15 minutes and the covers were wheeled on. One of Tony Sheppard’s older players grunted. “Goodness me, there’s only been a few drops of rain,” said one. Tony Sheppard (l) negotiates a restart CLUMBER PARK CC SCHOOL “We could have played on.” Steve said: “These days they’re worried about lightning.” Last spring there were frequent, stark reminders of even faster through the air. First-change Dominic KP, cricket’s most divisive cricketer. As Chris Waite, Old school buildings in the centre of Leeds have been Hardman, a left-armer, lived up to his name and he an East Midlands District MM, assembled his team Ron Hart’s side had several players who were close replaced by a new £18m building five miles north at was almost as fast. for the fixture to take on the Under 17s at Clumber to qualifying for their Freedom passes and soon tired Alwoodley Gates where Geoff Boycott has moved Park CC, someone noticed that a bat, signed by KP having to do so much running on one of the hottest days nearby, close to four golf clubs. The school covers 138 Four wickets fell for 23 but guest player Ben Quirk, and the rest of the Notts playing staff, was on display of the year – the opening day of Wimbledon. With John acres and the first XI ground, immense in size, has no a 20-year-old allrounder from Apel CC who is in the historic pavilion. It was signed before Jason Hawkings having pulled a muscle, the other bowlers shade and everyone had to take precautions, smacking studying law at Loughborough College, put on 65 for Gallian, as skippered of Notts, fell out with KP and laboured against well-coached, hard-hitting batsmen on sun-cream and taking copious drinks of water and the fifth wicket with Dr Tom Edwards – a ringer of threw his gear over the balcony of the home dressing and the bearded Al Smallwood retired on a century orange squash from tiny plastic cups. Brad Haddin, the former Australians’ chief sledger room at Trent Bridge in a rage. These days, in a calmer to allow Isobel Cloke, the England junior women’s – scoring 27. Quirk was one short of a fifty when he atmosphere, Gallian coaches Felsted School in Essex, batsman, to come in at No.6. Disconcertingly, the odd ball flew and one of XL’s swatted the ball straight into the hands of the fielder where Derek Pringle, John Stephenson and Nick unhelmeted batsmen took his eye off the ball and was at short extra-cover and the tail subsided meekly to a Knight are former pupils. “That’s the first time she has batted for us, because she struck on the shoulder. Worse, the first three bowlers total of 120 which was, in the words of Geoff Barker, bowls,” said Clayton. Izzy had 10 minutes of throw-downs had long runs with the extremely able Yorkshire “120 short of what we needed”. The highly regarded Alan Cook, one of Chris’s before she went in – our members never seem to do that! – under 15 keeper standing 15 yards from the stumps. team who has spent many years coaching boys in and scampered to an unbeaten 6 before the innings closed. Harry Dixon, 6ft 6ins and resembling Alastair Cook, Maybe the long trek to the refectory where tea was Leicestershire, told an illuminating story about KP. achieved the most bounce and Josh Dacup bowled served tired the top-order batsmen, because three of He said: “He and I played in a match at Cannock and Cranbrook’s battery of medium-fast bowlers soon made he bowled us inroads and it was clear that XL’s chances of winning out cheaply were slim. Izzy came on as second change and with a ONE OF ENGLAND’S with his smooth, longish run-up with a good action she bowled NOTABLE FORMER PUPILS high flighted around the same pace as the boys. The difference was OLDEST PLACES off-breaks, that the fielders, eager to support her, all kept jumping up BARRY CRYER knocked off with loud appeals. There were two appeals turned down OF LEARNING comedian and writer the runs, in her first over and five more were rejected before the packed his umpire gave Steve Simoni lbw. For a while it was like a SIR GERALD KAUFMAN gear and match between Pakistan v India in Dubai, with a profuse The school was founded in 1552 but there is evidence outspoken Labour MP went off. We number of appeals. Izzy came off with figures of 6-0-36-1. that it started in 1341. In the Nineties, two buildings realised then in Leeds were swapped with land owned by Leeds COLIN MONTGOMERIE that he wasn’t By this time the fifth wicket stand of 67 between Gary University and in 1997 the new school was opened at golfer much of a George and Andrew Knowler, 46, ensured that there Alwoodley. In 2005 it merged with the Leeds Girls’ team man!” was no thought of a defeat and Mickey Winner blocked High School and now there are 1,500 pupils of both GODFREY TALBOT out the final deliveries. Cranbrook’s inventive captain sexes. “The merger caused controversy due to the BBC wartime correspondent and first Royal On a cool, had seven slips for the final over and the bowler, having traffic levels at Alwoodley,” said a report. It is still correspondent intermittently bowled a beamer earlier, bowled a second beamer one going on because there is only one road from the sunny day in and had to be taken off. That left Smallwood to bowl the school and a huge number of coaches and cars have RICKY WILSON the middle lead singer of the Kaiser Chiefs last two deliveries with his . An honourable draw. to queue patiently to get on the A61. LEEDS GRAMMAR SCHOOL of the 3,800-

26 27 The Forty Club 2016 Handbook www.thefortyclub.co.uk acre Clumber Park, one of England’s largest and most AN XL RECORD OF 266 beautiful parks, by coincidence, a 21-year-old batsman from played the dominant innings for XL as a DISTURBS THE PEACE guest. Fred Anderson, a left-hander who keeps wicket, is unlikely to turn out to be a world-class performer, or even represent England but he impressed everyone MCC with his manners. And he had a sense of humour. In terms of runs (603 runs from 103.5 overs), Before he came in at 40-4, we were talking about dominant batting, a record-breaking stand, beautiful betting and hitting sixes, prompted by the news that surroundings and a balmy day, the Eastern Counties six investigations were under way during the previous game against MCC at Jesus College in Cambridge IPL. He said: “In my first innings for the local league couldn’t have been bettered. Jack Hobbs, who club Gedling Colliery I hit my second ball for six.” started his illustrious career in Cambridge and Jokingly we offered him generous odds on repeating played for the Forty Club on numerous occasions, the feat. He was facing a 13-year-old named William would have loved it. Bircumshaw bowling spin and he tried to repeat the feat, driving high over deep mid-off. The nearest The lead of this remarkable show was a 36-year-old fielder turned out to be Luke, the bowler’s 17-year-old former Pakistani first-class cricketer, Khaqan Arsal, who brother, who was slow to react – he got a hand to the is Huntington CC’s professional. He has an odd habit: he ball but it fell to the ground. doesn’t put his pads on until the wicket falls and is next Kiwi No.3, the unshaven Andy Robertson who was man in. XL were 39-3 and Khaqan, a straight-hitting, a junior at Middlesex, put on 266 for the fourth Jesus College was built between 1496 and Fred went on to hit two sixes in his unbeaten 89 in powerful stroke player who resembles Ricky Ponting, wicket in 148 minutes, a club record. Just short of his 1516 and is one of the richest and biggest colleges XL’s 193-8, compiled on a very uncertain pitch and sped to his 50 off just 38 balls with a rocket-like six into hundred, Andy top edged the ball into his chin and in Cambridge. the U17s only managed 138-8. Michael Beard, the the trees. He upped the pace with his second 50, which blood was seeping down his shirt. It needed ice and a club’s chairman and former captain who was in came from just 25 balls. He sped past his 100 in just over wipe to clear it up before he resumed. charge of the team, said: “Take out his 89 and we an hour and with 11 balls remaining from the final 20 NOTABLE FORMER PUPILS would have won!”There was another pair of brothers, overs, he ran a single, panicked a fielder into conceding In the final, exciting minutes, he trailed, the Menfhauzens, Alex, 17, and Sebastian, 13, whose four overthrows and the ensuing 5 took his score to 153 understandably, behind his partner who was much PRINCE EDWARD father is German. Luke and Sebastian, who play for not out in 133 minutes (20 x 4s, 3 x 6s) as XL stormed to quicker between the wickets as Khaqan accelerated Notts U13s, opened the innings and scored 22 and victory by seven wickets. Wow! while MCC’s bowlers tired. Andy finished 115 not DAVE HARE 12 respectively. Henry Grierson, our founder, would out (17 x 4s, 2 x 6s) off 154 balls, in 190 minutes. It the playwright have been delighted that we are still putting over his XL needed that explosive innings because MCC was a magnificent, courageous innings during which message, handing the mantle to the next generation. had piled up 300-5 in 54.4 overs. Khaqan and our he had to shout “No” on numerous occasions to curb ALISTAIR COOKE his colleague’s urge to go off on suicidal runs! the renowned BBC correspondent

EC chairman Robert Smith was a student at Jesus QUENTIN LETTS IS THIS ENGLAND’S MOST College and he arranged this venue. “I scored a the Daily Mail sketch writer and critic PRIZED PAVILION? century on this ground, reaching it by edging a four between the keeper and first slip and it is a NICK HORNBY wonderful place to play cricket. It was only £90 to author hire it. We were thinking of having a grand lunch Built in 1874 Clumber Park CC’s pavilion has no in the 13th century Priory Hall but the caterers SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE electricity and no showers. When the light fades it wouldn’t allow us to cancel if there had been rain. the poet is time to go home, or light candles. There are no Mind you they charged us £3.50 plus VAT for a private dressing rooms, just two small spaces on cuppa and biscuits.” ANDREW MITCHELL either side reserved for the players of each team. the Conservative MP who had trouble getting his People can see in unless the shutters are put up The pavilion was half hidden by a tree and it is very bike out of the gates at Parliament and the original toilets are unchanged. Ditto the attractive, with oak-lined walls, long oak tables, JESUS COLLEGE thatched roof. The ‘walls’ are made of rustic split one of which had a large vase of red roses on it, and logs joined together in a very arty form. Yet this comfortable blue chairs. Unusually there were no best innings I’ve seen from him. But he should have club has more than 100 members and puts out four pictures or information about Jesus Cricket Club. More gone on 84 when a young man dropped him at long- senior and four junior sides. modern, wooden, cramped dressing rooms were built on with the sun in his eyes.” at the rear much later and it is now fitted with CCTV. It should be grade listed by the National Trust On a shelf in the refreshment area there are two antique One of the key factors in XL’s triumph was the who own the gigantic park but they are reluctant wooden collection boxes which they take round the Robert got Khaqan to join as an overseas member vociferous clapping and cheering from our players as to make changes although the club has drawn up ground appealing for nobbins – cash for batsmen who last season and EC won most of their matches, the target grew closer. It almost sounded like being plans for another more modern pavilion behind this make a score or bowlers with wickets. “We raise £1,000 losing only two. Robert said: “He sometimes loses on the Rea Bank in the Ashes Edgbaston Test the one which would cost £200,000. each season, which helps,” said Beard. concentration. He’ll reach 40 or 50 and throw his previous month. XL members generally don’t do that wicket away. He didn’t this time and this was the as a rule. But they ought to!

28 29 The Forty Club 2016 Handbook www.thefortyclub.co.uk SIXTY-TWO YEAR CONTROVERSY AT THE highlights were homemade cakes, scones with cream and OLD SCORES HIS SAFFRONS strawberries, melon, varied sandwiches and biscuits. Both sides were short of bowlers. The Smith brothers MAIDEN FIFTY bowled 38 overs between them and John Hawkings and Steve Setters shared 32 overs, with Steve and CC his big turning spinners the pick with 4-91. A bright HORSLEY & SEND CC sunny day gave way to deepening clouds and the light In the days where CB Fry and Ranji played at The deteriorated, making it difficult for fielders to spot the Most of our playing members are losing prowess as Saffrons in Eastbourne the pitches were the best in ball. Peculiarly, the light seemed to improve for a while they become older but there is one who has reversed the land and in 1937 Harold Gimblett of Somerset hit when one of their batsman struck a bold 79, raising the the trend. His name is Richard Buxton, a solicitor in 310 there against Sussex. Later on, Gordon Greenidge hopes of the Martlets. Thirty-one runs were needed Roehampton who started out as an off-spin bowler rattled up 270. but with the home umpire raising the finger for the last at school and didn’t play much more cricket until his time the innings was foreclosed. mid-fifties. “I was never really good, especially at As the Forty Club discovered on August 17 the pitch, batting,” he said. now moved northwards to allow a football pitch installed to host Eastbourne Town FC, was in fine shape Self-employed, he joined the Forty Club in 2005 and the outfield was in the same pristine condition and he astonished his team mates, and himself, by of the five croquet lawns to the east. Sussex Martlets, top scoring with 52 on a bouncy pitch – the kind of founded in 1905 with the help of Sir Arthur Conan surface the Australians were denied last summer! Doyle, had problems assembling an eleven. Two – at Horsley & Send in Surrey’s stockbroker belt. In players had dropped out and XL lent them a fielder. his first over he clubbed a speedy first team bowler called Vikram Singh past cover for four and followed pavilion and menacing those sitting around. Our Despite the mini-crisis, the Martlets put up stiff up with a heave over square leg for six. Someone Editor, lounging on a wooden seat, suddenly realized resistance in a friendly match which produced 470 said, with a laugh: “not exactly textbook but he a shot was hurtling straight at his chest. Slow to get runs in 99.1 overs and ended in fading light. XL may seems to have a good eye.” up, he sidled a foot or two to the right and a woman have batted a few overs too long for their 250-5 off sitting nearby said: “Good lord, that could have done 55.1 overs: nevertheless their opponents took their Some thought it would be a short-lived innings. Hit a lot of damage.” total to 220-8 in 44 overs before losing by 30 runs in the glove by the quickie, he took it off to inspect with nine men. the hand, which he had bruised badly in a match The batsman who was causing the trouble was soon three days earlier. It revealed a sprinkling of blood. dismissed as top grade catches from Bjorn Mort and The Martlets boast that they maintain the highest Nothing to worry about then. Shortly afterwards he Cliff Hayward turned the tide and the home side was standards of behaviour and have done over the years was whacked on the thigh. He told the close fielders bowled out for 180 with XL winning by 33 runs. with our new President John Barclay and Hubert “I’m wearing two thigh pads.” Doggart, the oldest England Test player, playing for Bjorn had to employ his off breaks because of a sore them in the past and setting good examples. He blocked the straight ones, mainly with an inert, back and his condition wasn’t improved when he straight bat and when the bat missed, the ball hit spun round and snatched his stunning catch one- But on this occasion exasperation overtook the spirit him, without damage. He didn’t offer a chance. With handed as he landed painfully on his left knee. of cricket when three of their batsmen were given out his confidence bolstered, he began hoicking a slow lbw, two questionably, and the last of the three did a bowler over fine leg and soon the scorer John Lewis Adam and Ben Hollioake played for Send CC which, Chris Broad, re-arranging the wicket with his bat before said: “He needs 4 for his 50.” struggling to survive, joined up with Horsley CC. In striding off to the recently built pavilion which is a vast 1998 the new club raised enough money – including improvement of the old one where so many Sussex THE SAFFRONS There were no nerves exhibited and our burly, a National Lottery grant – to pay for another ground stars changed into their whites. Another bowler was unhelmeted number 6 struck his eighth four and next door. In 2000 a splendid wooden pavilion was taken off by our umpire Norman Jones for bowling two jumped up with bat held high. He was out two built. That day Hampshire outplayed Surrey Over beamers. Despite this, an entertaining match ended The Saffrons first staged a cricket match in 1884 balls later and his 52 came off 46 deliveries, almost 60s in a match on the second pitch, played at a more with handshakes. when a South of England team drew with the David Warner pace. “That’s my maiden fifty,” he leisurely pace. Four XL players took part. Australians and between 1896 and 2000 Sussex said proudly as he came in to loud applause. On his A remarkable statistic occurred in XL’s innings. The played 226 first-class matches there. Facebook later, he typed these words: “It’s never too It was a magnificent effort by the club to raise so two Smiths, Jacob and John, managed to bowl seven late for a miracle.” He’s right. When he scored 38 for much money and groundsman Mike Catt said: “It is a maidens in the first 12 overs of the game, almost Eastbourne Town FC shares the multi-sports another club in 2014 he said: “That’s more runs than thriving club now with four sides, two matches going matching the tally of dot balls in the England women’s ground and the touchline is less than 10 metres I’ve scored in my career.” on each weekend and we have more than 200 colts team who were hammered by the Australians at from the cricket boundary. Average crowds are whose parents pay £120 a year for Level 2 coaching.” Canterbury the previous week. Jon Thornton, 80* in around 150. XL declared on 213-6 after 46 overs and an excellent 68 balls and Zak Mendelsohn, 60* in 28 balls, soon opening spell of 8-3-11-1 by Will Moore of Epsom CC The downside is that the local authority is thinking changed the picture. The Duke of Devonshire owns a big chunk of pinned back the H&S team, which contained three of turning nearby land from greenbelt to brown Eastbourne, including the Saffrons. The rent was first team players. But on a dry pitch and bone-hard land and that will meet stern resistance from the Eastbourne CC think they have one of the best cricket peppercorn category but now the two clubs pay outfield the runs flowed with sixes peppering the householders and doubtless from the club. teas along South Coast and they are probably right. The a fairly substantial amount.

30 31 The Forty Club 2016 Handbook www.thefortyclub.co.uk FRED’S REUNION WITH Warwickshire second team there,” said Fred. “My DON’T SILENCE THE FIERY FREDS PUPIL CARL OPENSHAW heroes were Hobbs and Sutcliffe.” He attributed his longevity to cod liver oil. “You’ve got to be oiled,” he said with a chuckle. “I’ve taken it Rod Marsh MBE is famous for straight throughout my life. In those days most people took it. talking and he excelled himself when he It had been almost 60 years since Fred Dillam last met They didn’t take all those tablets they have now.” delivered the 2015 Cowdrey Spirit of Cricket Carl Openshaw, our archivist and one of XL’s leading Lecture at a packed Nursery Pavilion at run scorers. On May 19 they met again, just after Fred’s Fred had a large family and Eleanor, one of his Lord’s on September 1. John Barclay, our 100th birthday in March. granddaughters, played in the Netherlands team new President, said: “he made some very in the ECB T20 Women’s Cup in Denmark in 2013. good points and did it with humour and Fred said to his wife Barbara: “By gum, that’s him!’ Fred’s family originated from Norfolk and his father energy.” Marsh was one of the greatest His delight was obvious, bursting out in laughter like a Jack, a tallow and candle maker, and his wife had Australian wicket-keepers and is now young boy. Carl said: “Fred was captain of the Sunday 13 children. Fred studied metallurgy as a boy and chairman of selectors. side at Nuneaton CC in 1957 and that’s when we first eventually owned a foundry. met and he coached me.” Here are the main points: Fred died on Christmas Day and Barbara said: “His “Yes,” said Fred. “I coached you and I told you to pick good humour stayed with him right to the end, when he your bat up straight and bring it down straight and he died peacefully.” A truly remarkable man! Spirit of cricket did. After five or six times, I said ‘you’ve got it. That’s it.’ ” Fred had a copy of the Midlands Club Cricket Just a few hundred yards from Fred’s house is the neat, “When I was a youngster we had to rely on

Conference handbook of 1958 in which Carl topped the advertisement-laden ground of Corley CC and from the radio to follow Test cricket. There was Rod Marsh, Mark Nicholas, Mahela Jayawardene and Alastair Cook. Photo: Mark Bright Nuneaton 1st Xl batting. it ranks James Ormond rose, briefly, to international no thought of an umpire making a mistake stardom. Born in 1977 the cheery Ormond was a fast- before television and the game happened Carl said: “Fred was a very successful keeper-batsman, medium bowler for Leicestershire and later Surrey without microscopic scrutiny. But there were game. We cannot afford to clone players into being scoring centuries for Coventry & North Warwick, whom who appeared in two Tests for England. The first was always characters in the game. You can’t tell me silent robots who go about their business without a I occasionally played for as well. He played 30 matches in Australia in 2001 when Mark Waugh asked him: Freddie Trueman wouldn’t have had the odd word to smile or a frown. Passion remains paramount and for XL between 1957-68 and scored 437 runs with a “Mate, what are you doing out here? There’s no way a batsman after he had played and missed three on there is nothing more satisfying for the paying public highest score of 81 against Stamford School in 1964. you’re good enough to play for England.” Ormond the trot. The banter was and should remain part of than to see a player with passion. A great example In that year he also had five victims against Warwick replied: “Maybe not, but at least I’m the best player in the game. of overzealous interference by administrators came School.” my family”, a reference to Waugh’s brother Steve, who during one of the quarter-finals in the last World was then Australian captain. What remains vitally important is the players are Cup. Australia was playing Pakistan at the Adelaide Everyone called him Fred although he was christened educated at an early age and above all they must Oval in front of a bumper crowd. We’d bowled Alfred and he and Barbara lived in half of the Old His final Test was at Mohali before he was dropped by respect the game, the umpires, their opposition and out Pakistan for a mediocre 217 and there was no Rectory in Corley, built in the 1820s. Opposite where Duncan Fletcher for being overweight. “I liked a pint,” their own team mates. I was fortunate enough to be atmosphere as we were cruising to victory. Enter he was sitting was a mantelpiece on which stood said Jimmy. involved in three National Academies in Australia, left-arm fast bowler Wahab Riaz! All of a sudden a painting of Headingley. On the left side is Fred India and England. This message of respect was very Pakistan got off the floor and were counter punching Trueman and on the other, Jack Hobbs. “I played for Corley is small village of 274 inhabitants and is famous much part of my non-negotiables for these young because this young man was desperate to win. He for its church, St. Mary’s, which goes back to the 12th tyros. I understand how players can get hot under bowled with terrific pace, bounced out the Australian century. Fred was its only centenarian resident. Besides the collar but I will never understand how personal captain and then made life extremely uncomfortable having a letter from Her Majesty the Queen, he had one abuse can make the situation any better. This should for the experienced Shane Watson and Glenn from Iain Duncan Smith, Secretary of State for Work and not and cannot be tolerated in our game. Maxwell. The crowd came to life. It may have been Pensions among his 100 congratulatory letters and cards. because Riaz got into the face of Watson and even I plead guilty to losing it once – when Derek Randall blew him the odd kiss. As a both he and Shane kept saying ‘good morning Rodney’ and I kept Watson were fined. They should have both been THE FORTY CLUB’S ignoring him but in the end he won the battle because given a bonus. FIVE CENTENARIANS I broke my silence by pointing out it was a Test match “not a xxxxxxx garden party.” On-field volatility I was involved in two incidents during my career seems to have got worse since the advent of television for which I thought I received unfair criticism. The CYRIL PERKINS 2011 coverage. When the players can see that the umpire first was during the Centenary Test at the MCG in may have made an error then some of their respect and 1977. Derek Randall was given out caught behind KEN MEDLOCK 2014 trust may disappear. They are more likely to stand and off Greg Chappell and I called him back. He was either dispute a decision or make it quite apparent to well over a hundred and had we not dismissed him JOHN MANNERS 2014 all and sundry that they disagree with the umpire. My England would probably have won this historic simple advice is the players make far more mistakes match. The ball didn’t carry to me and therefore it DICK WILDISH 2014 than umpires ever do. So, get on with it! wasn’t out. I was brought up not to cheat and I made the correct decision. The other incident was also at FRED DILLAM 2015 The thing which really worries me is that the the MCG in the early 80s in a one-day match against administrators will take all the characters out of the New Zealand when the infamous underarm delivery

32 33 The Forty Club 2016 Handbook www.thefortyclub.co.uk the edges because I will never condone a player However, I do believe there should be DRS but being beaten yet the ball still travelling 70-80ms for 4 I am afraid I have little faith in the ball tracking off 6 off a fat edge. That’s just wrong. systems. I have witnessed too many predictions on what path the ball will take which just don’t ring I read that former great South African batsman Barry too true to me. There are too many errors. So let Richard has suggested to even the balance between bat the umpire’s call on all lbws stand unless it was an and ball, the fielding side should be allowed to tamper absolute howler. The batsman knows if he has hit with the ball. This would allow reverse swing and give the ball and will ask for a review if given out. The the bowlers more of a chance on flat pitches. I recall technology reliably shows the edge and the decision seeing players rubbing the ball on the pitch when a will be overturned. There won’t be too many second new ball had been taken years ago and I would be howlers on height or direction because we will be happy for it to be reintroduced on an experimental basis. playing under the back foot no ball law and the umpire will have had more time to give an accurate assessment. Another bonus to all this is that the Short form cricket Indian Board may well agree to this and Test cricket would then be played under the same playing I am all for experimentation in the short forms of the conditions worldwide. game. I’d love to see ODI series played on different surfaces. What about having the first two matches in a series played on greenish pitches where the faster Test cricket bowlers could well dominate? The batsmen would have to really buckle down to survive. The next two It’s not too often the ICC get any praise but I think games could be played on turners which would they should be commended for their actions in giving simulate days four and five of a Test and the final seven of the 10 playing countries $1.25m each for the match could be played on a belter of a pitch. next eight years to ensure they don’t lose money by having to play Tests. India, England and Australia don’t receive this hand-out. It is a fact that these Running between the wickets countries lose money staging Tests and the ICC see this contribution as the only way Test cricket will When I was a youngster we were taught to watch actually survive. the ball leave the bowler’s hand and then, and only then, should we leave the safety of our crease and actually back up. With the laws as they are a bowler Attracting youngsters is penalized if he oversteps the front line. Some part of his foot must be behind the line. However, the No longer can it be taken for granted that kids will batsman at the non striker’s end can back up as far pick up a bat and ball. We know that in England the as he likes it seems, well before the ball has left the competition from football is immense. So let’s attack Wahab Riaz and Shane Watson bowler’s hand, and there is no penalty. That’s all the kids market. Let them in free. Promote the hell very well but imagine a packed Lord’s for the next out of the Test matches. Make it fun for the kids and happened. I don’t really recall what I did but the is seriously hurt if not killed. What worries me is the World Cup and England have one run to get with get the players involved somehow. Sit down together television footage showed me shaking my head and deflection from the bowler’s hand. The poor umpire one ball remaining. Joe Root is on strike with 149 not and find a template which will work. This is the best saying something like “don’t do it!” At that stage it is just avoiding the ball and all of a sudden it changes out and Mitchell Starc is about to release the ball. Joe game in the world. Don’t just take the money, make it was within the laws but it certainly wasn’t within the direction. Just a few days after the tragic death of is 3 metres out of his crease. As the law stands he has work for you. Get off your backside cricket! Spirit of Cricket. The law has since been changed. , former Israel captain Hillel Oscar every right to do this but realistically no one wants died umpiring at the bowler’s end. Five years before a this to happen in our game. The only way to stop the T20 is not everyone’s cup of tea but the introduction 72-year-old umpire died after being hit on the head by non-striker cheating – and that’s exactly what he is of the Big Bash League has brought in thousands of The no ball a ball thrown by a fieldsman in a game in Swansea. doing – is to penalize him by taking either runs from new fans. Kids are now playing some form of T20 in the total or calling dead ball if there is any illegal schools. Ten years ago very few schools played any I can’t see why we ever went to the front foot law backing-up. That ball then doesn’t have to be bowled organized cricket. and I can reveal there are a few umpires out there The size of the cricket bat again. It is both sad and ridiculous to watch players beginning to wish it would revert back to the back being paid $1m plus a year who wander out of their foot law. You put yourself in their in their position Perhaps we should take the lead from golf. The Ping crease without even a casual glance at the bowler. Over rates when a batsman with a massive weapon runs at the clubs are still used by us duffers but the USPGA has bowler and smashes a straight drive at chest height. deemed them to be illegal in elite level competition. Teams have to bowl 90 overs a day and they rarely I for one would like to be standing back as far as Maybe we should limit the size of a cricket bat for DRS bowl them in the allotted six hours. So what possible and by reverting to the back foot law the international and first-class cricket but still allow happens? They give them an extra half hour and still umpire has a chance to stand at least 2 metres further those who play every weekend can use whatever It is refreshing to watch a Test when there are they don’t bowl them. The solution is to suspend the back. It is only a matter of time before a top umpire they like. I would put a restriction on the width of two fine umpires in charge and there is no DRS. captain for a game. It would only happen once.

34 35 The Forty Club 2016 Handbook www.thefortyclub.co.uk XL CLUB – WILL YOU HELP? Have you thought of helping The Forty Club by leaving a legacy to the Club in your Will ? What better way is there than to assist young aspiring cricketers to play the game properly? Your legacy would be so welcome and assist so many.

The Forty Club wants to continue to help develop, support and Peter Owens, the Tournament Director, presents sustain cricket in UK especially amongst UK state schools, and the Man of the Match trophy to Stuart Spalding overseas in countries where resources are limited but enthusiasm is huge. We have limited resources so please assist if you can. Almost as bad were the directions from our hotel – start and our Australian Stuart Spalding contributed Holiday Inn, close to the M4 – to the ground and back, more than half of the runs, 97. a five-mile trip each way. A confusing conglomerate of Any Bequests should be addressed to the Treasurer of the Forty Club, signs, half in Welsh, baffled many of the party and some Stuart scored 196 runs at an average of 65.33 and took c/o The New House, High Street, Porton, found themselves heading into Monmouthshire 10 miles four wickets for 37. Lean and wiry, he lives in Buderim, Salisbury SP4 0LH. down a dual motorway before turning back . It added a Queensland on Australia’s Sunshine Beach where the first frustrating 20-mile detour. white inhabitants arrived in 1820 and he has been on more cricket tours around the world than most of our members. Unlike the neutered pitch used at the first Test at the Swalec Stadium in Cardiff where England surprisingly QUADRANGULAR XL’s Cricket Co-ordinator, for recommending it to took a 1-0 lead, the Newport pitches were helpful to both the Executive Committee. More rain usually falls in bat and ball. One of the many volunteers who helped TOURNAMENT 2015 – this part of Britain and unfortunately the Final was their preparation said, “If you have to doctor a pitch to drowned on the last day with the holders, the Forty help the home side that’s cheating. It’s against the spirit WASHED OUT ON Club, sharing the trophy with Holland’s Still Going of cricket.” He might be right! Strong. Not a single ball was bowled. A FORMER SWAMP The unique electronic scoreboards, joined like Siamese AT NEWPORT twins, serve both grounds. Two warm-up games on REMARKABLE FEATS AT Sunday, 19 July, went on without interruption but next NEWPORT CC’S OLD GROUND, day’s 370-3 in 45 overs – it might be an XL record – was abandoned because Spain’s first innings hadn’t started Twenty-six years ago a large area north of Newport, RODNEY PARADE due to persistent light rain. Stuart Faulkner, with his South Wales, close to the Severn Estuary, was used for 1939 Wally Hammond scored 302 (only three sixes) shorter version of Moeen’s beard, scored 71 and Jon football and cricket but often matches were rained off. Thornton, beardless but unshaven, made a sizzling 137 It was known as a swamp and was called Spytty. The 1950 Trevor Bailey took a hat-trick before being run out. The second wicket stand was 162. Above is Edward Michael Grace, the great grandson locals thought it was an old Welsh word connected of Dr Edward Mills Grace, younger brother of WG, with water, not spit. 1956 Tom Graveney’s 200 out of Gloucestershire’s 298 Later the sun appeared and a controversy started to known as The Coroner. In EM’s will he requested was described by Glamorgan’s Wilf Wooller as “the worst build up with Ron Hart having convinced some of the that any subsequent males in his family should have Within two years the vision, enthusiasm and I’ve ever seen”. others that the game should have restarted. “People the initials of EM. Mike Grace is a retired chartered hard work of Newport Cricket Club’s players and have travelled a long way from four countries and we surveyor and he has been in charge of Newport CC’s officers helped turn the swamp into an exemplary 1962 Middlesex opener Bob Gale scored 200 are letting them down,” he said. Contrary verdicts came ground for 35 years and was a good cricketer in his cricket club with two adjoining grounds, properly from a number of groundstaff. One said it would take young days. drained and maintained, capable of staging 1989 Shane Warne’s analysis v Newport was 16-2-51-0 two hours to dry so the umpires decided to call the game important cricket matches. and when Newport’s Mike Knight, who hit the only six, off. A point was awarded to each side and the same When The Coroner was younger he was looked on brought up the subject some years later Shane said, “I applied to the second game when Spain’s openers had as a better all rounder than WG. He once scored 192 XL’s recently created Quadrangular Tournament was don’t remember that!” totted up a rapid 39 without loss following the Dansk not out against Kent and took all ten wickets with his held there last July and credit goes to Peter Owens, XL’s 164-5. The Danes had only seven fit players for the slow lob bowling.

36 37 The Forty Club 2016 Handbook www.thefortyclub.co.uk 108 MEDICAL CHAMBERS from the Wales District XL, came on with his off-breaks 3RD QUADRANGULAR and when Mais was on 99 he went for the glory shot, an is delighted to support the XL Club TOURNAMENT attempted six over mid-wicket which he failed to connect with the ball. A loud appeal for lbw was turned down. 16 to 21 OCTOBER 2016. Next ball Mais repeated the same shot with the same For the players Hosted by Cricket España at La Manga, Murcia Spain. response. Another lbw appeal. This time it was upheld. He came striding in with a big smile on his face.

Fly out Saturday 15 October SGS’s middle order succeeded in creeping past the target The London Sports Injury Clinic – Specialist Depart La Manga 22 or 23 October to 161-3 to win the T20 trophy for the first time. sports doctor and physio to keep you out in Sunday 16 and Tuesday 18: T20 tournament matches. the middle MEDICAL Welcome Reception at 6:30pm on 16 October A Dutch player who swam every CHAMBERS Monday 17, Wednesday 19 and Friday 21 October 45 over tournament matches. day before breakfast in the pool in The Gilmore Groin and Hernia Clinic – 108 HARLEY STREET Tournament Dinner at 7:30pm on Friday 21 October. the hotel gym in a vain effort to be The original clinic for the treatment of groin LONDON WIG 7ET fit for the Final said, “Where are the Thursday 20 October pain and also herniae of all types Britishers?” Another Dutchman THE HOME OF Free day – Ladies Day; tourism; golf; ‘spare’ cricket day “You don’t have to be an elite athlete to be treated like one” if needed. who was exercising said, “they’re too busy drinking in the bar!” THE LONDON XL Team Manager – Ron Hart BREAST CLINIC T: 01435 863541 E: [email protected] For the supporters

Most of their party were caught up with the Dover To look after the “off the field” parts of your life THE LONDON He made a good point when he said, “Newport’s cricket overlay of lorries, cars and potential cross-Channel SKIN CLINIC lovers have done a fantastic job here because they are a invaders and Duco Ohm and Lideke arrived at Dover at dying breed. In the future who is going to do the voluntary 10am on Sunday and had to wait but eventually arrived The London Breast Clinic – investigation and work to maintain standards of cricket squares? Young home at 1pm on Monday. treatment of breast problems. Discounted THE GILMORE GROIN people don’t want to do it. It’s the same in Australia.” & HERNIA CLINIC On Day 2 Phil Stannard, Newport’s long-serving secretary, breast screening for XL family members Breaking news: Mike Wicks, our now retired slow discovered the power was off. He went to investigate and bowler, has just announced his retirement as voluntary the mains were switched off. He switched them on. “It THE LONDON groundsman at Tonbridge CC after 25 years. must have been a poltergeist,” he said. RECTAL CLINIC The London Skin Clinic – assessment and The sun emerged on the Tuesday and it was a Slog Day, The eating clanger of the week came when one of our two T20 matches having replaced one 45-over game. members, thinking he was about to sip Windsor soup treatment for suspicious moles and lesions THE LONDON SGS’s 159-6 managed to edge out Spain’s 149-6. after helping himself in the buffet, heard a loud shout as well as general dermatological conditions SPORTS INJURY CLINIC from behind saying, “Watch out, it’s gravy!” As we all know, fielding prowess is absolutely essential in this type of cricket and XL’s fielders let their side THE LONDON down. Too many of their players were unfit or were A party of our players went to The London Rectal Clinic – expert opinion THYROID & ENT CLINIC too slow to cut out ones and twos and a couple of dinner at the Celtic Manor Hotel key catches proved to be fatal. John Hartley, our tall, overlooking the Holiday Inn and and treatment of colo-rectal conditions from thumping left-hander with the floppy white hat, was the Severn Estuary and it turned haemorrhoids through to inflammatory 108 X-RAY back in action after a hip replacement in August and he out to be a memorable occasion. AND IMAGING larruped a 72 before being slowed by having been struck The 5-star hotel built on a bowel disease in the box. When he departed the tailenders collapsed to steep hill is one of Britain’s most 156-6. Jon Thornton scored a sound 54. iconic buildings where President Barack Obama presided over a Nato conference in The London Thyroid and ENT Clinic – SGS’s opener Marc Mais (Dutch for “mouse’) showed September in 2014. Sixty world leaders attended Hartley qualities, swinging across the line to all parts and and all the roads were blocked with hundreds assessment and treatment of all thyroid our men were soon quaking. Mais should have gone of armed security people swarming all over the and general ENT conditions Telephone early on when he drove his second ball to Cliff Hayward area. A helicopter flew above, a missile primed 020 7563 1234 at long-off but Cliff spilled it. On 49 he slog-swept fighter aircraft and armoured cars were below on towards to the square-leg boundary to David Humphries the lawns and some of the vehicles were still there Email and that went safely to ground as well. Still continuing his when Barry Aitken and Ron Hart met Newport CC We hope that you are able to travel to see us if the need arises, but if [email protected] slogging to leg, Mais was soon in the 90s. Chris Hudson, officers there a week later. London is too far we may be able to recommend an expert local to you. Web For this and any other queries please email [email protected] www.108harleystreet.co.uk 38 The Forty Club 2015 Handbook Winning skipper Jerry Hines adn chairman Tim Woodcock

SURREY AND Asked if anyone had ever hit a six over Swindon Town’s football club stand on the south side he said “I’ve seen it WEST SUSSEX BREAK hit a few times but it’s a pretty high building.” the mid-wicket boundary but Bjorn signalled that his THEIR DUCK The second boundary came after 18 overs. Martin foot had gone over the line: a fine sporting gesture. SWINDON’S ELEGANT Wilkshire, a stocky prison warder, and Andrew Herbert, Wilkshire piled on the runs and was eventually bowled VICTORIAN PAVILION slowly changed things and passed the hundred mark. for a masterful 113 off 102 balls in the 43rd over. Wales Skipper Jerry Hinds, formerly of Epsom College and were reasonably happy that the total of 235-6 (45 overs) In the week in which Her Majesty the Queen romped Avorians, switched to his slower bowlers and they would produce a win. Seven bowlers were used and the past her great, great grandmother Queen Victoria in the were easier to hit. Herbert, 54, was caught in the deep best were Mordt with his 9-3-23-2 and Moore’s 9-3-22-2. Swindon CC was founded 176 years ago and its Queens’ Longevity Stakes and Wayne Rooney bypassed Sir and Jon Corden appeared to be caught by Bjorn on Richard Mansfield, with his varied off-spin, had figures pavilion was finished in 1893. It looks like a racing Bobby Charlton’s 49 goals, Surrey and West Sussex made of 9-1-49-2. grandstand but in fact around that time watching XL history by winning the Inter District tournament at penny farthing racing was popular and the locals Swindon CC’s Victorian looking ground for the first time. SWINDON CC’S During the high tea, taken at 3pm, one or two blue thronged to watch it. patches appeared in the sky and the temperature shot But there wasn’t much to celebrate in the early part OLD BOYS up. The Henley first team pair of Bjorn and Dave The pavilion, mainly made of iron, is a listed of day. Despite the Met forecasting plenty of sunshine Allaway took charge from the start and put on 123 building and needs to be painted to restore its glory. they were sadly wrong. Two elderly supporters arrived before Dave was lbw for 48. With these Oval Test-size wearing shorts and, pointing to the low, sulky looking Kevin Emery started out as an off-break bowler but boundaries it required a lot of running. Nigel Angus of clouds above, said, “I seem to be wearing the wrong his six feet three inches persuaded him to take up Horley and Send was sharply caught by the bowler, gear!” The majority of the players of the Combined . He signed for Hampshire and in 1982 Simon Holliday for 11 and that ended the wicket-taking. the two men with shorts had departed some time before. Counties all wore their all fashioned long-sleeved he took 83 wickets alongside ’s 134 Simon took both wickets for 56 runs. The Welsh fielders So the underdogs won surprisingly easily by eight sweaters as they took the field. at 15.73. Many cricket lovers think Marshall, who were complimented on their energetic fielding. Several wickets. Bjorn was born in Zimbabwe and played a lot died at the age of 43, was the greatest fast bowler of slid in with brilliant retrieves and one staggered up from of cricket there and South Africa before coming to settle Ten of the side came from Richard Bennett’s Surrey all time. Within a year or two after Emery’s magic the ground and groaned holding his knee. in England. Asked, “How many hundreds is that?” He and Steve King was the sole player from West Sussex. year he was forced to retire through injury. replied modestly, “Loads” with a laugh. The prospect of an early finish appeared when Wales Steve Naylor, who works for the ECB, helped Bjorn to were 29-3 after 14 overs against probing medium- Jon Lewis was also brought up in Swindon and he bring the curtain down after 33.2 overs with his hard Tim Woodcock, our Chairman, presented Jerry with the pace bowling from Will Moore and Bjorn Mordt, bowled at the same pace as Emery and had a long hitting. In the 32nd over Bjorn was 99 and Steve was Herbert Hunter Trophy and congratulated both sides both experienced players from Epsom and Henley career with Gloucestershire, Surrey and Sussex 44 and his second six took him to a classy 50. The score for a sporting, entertaining game. He said: “We’ve lost a respectively. Will played for Swindon’s side for three where he now coaches. He played one Test and was level and Steve sportingly blocked the last two generation of players who could have played for the Club seasons when he was younger and he knew the took 849 first-class wickets at 26.26. deliveries, leaving Bjorn off 81 balls to finish it off. By and I would like to ask all of you to recruit a new member conditions intimately – “a good batting surface” he said. then the sun was out in a cloudless sky. Unfortunately of the 35-45 age bracket to keep up our standards.”

40 41 The Forty Club 2016 Handbook www.thefortyclub.co.uk FORTY CLUB TOUR TO by fielding star Steve Dellow. First we had the better of our only victory of the tour, beating a Mercedes Benz XI a draw against Visions CC on one of the ICC GCA ovals, by 12 runs in a 30-over match. XL nudged and nurdled OMAN AND DUBAI 2015 where, because we had allegedly not booked the ground 154-8, John Hartley’s 40 not out on one hip being the for long enough for us to bat our allotted overs, we were outstanding contribution. Our Pakistani opponents stranded on 145-3 (Kevin Bissett 35 and Ash Mohammed smashed or missed straight balls regularly, subsiding to A small squad of 12 XL cricketers supplemented by 50, both run out) after 15 overs (target 244). Martin 100-9, only for their No.11 to almost snatch victory from umpires Barry Aitken and Claude Kensett arrived in Southwell with 4-20 was our most effective bowler. us in a blaze of fours and sixes, before he swung across Muscat, Oman, for a short Middle East tour. Derek one Rob Nelson straight ball too many. Underwood travelled with the party, though not as On Saturday November 28 we again had a ‘winning coach or consultant! To their credit, these senior players draw’ against our friends of the expat club Darjeeling Perennial XL tourist Jon Thornton’s verdict in the bar generally acquitted themselves well despite having to CC at the Dubai stadium – a pink-ball declaration afterwards: another good XL tour, so thanks are due play at the Al Amrat sports grounds on hard-baked and game starting at 11.15 am with 20 overs from 4pm. Jon once again to Hasan Jafri and Rob Nelson for their hard stony sand where, albeit with a good carpet wicket, Thornton’s and Steve King’s half-centuries carried XL work putting it together. Derek Underwood hands over the trophy the behaviour of the ball when rolling or bouncing was to 227-8, but we were denied victory by No.11 ‘Badger’ anything but predictable. Matthewson’s last stand with sports coach Simon Cook, Darjeeling finishing on 154-9. Habtoor Leighton Group’s team, featuring Zeishan’s leggies, googlies and top-spinners, was too young Paul Bradley and Rob Nelson bowled tightly for XL, and strong for us, despite two wickets each for Martin taking three wickets each, Paul being especially flattered Southwell and Nigel Buckingham-Jones. The following by Matthewson’s description of him [admittedly after day, in a dust storm, we lost the first of two T20 matches a few beers!] as a “fast bowler”. We then adjourned heavily to the Pakistan School Muscat, but almost won to Kickers Bar in Sports City where Badger’s self- the second one when the boys realised they should give confidence swelled to promoting himself to open the some of their weaker players more of a game. We would batting in Darjeeling’s next match. For once Robert have won but for some lazy ground fielding that more Smith’s attempts to emulate Ron Hart’s post-match jokes than cancelled out Jon Thornton’s two excellent catches did not fall on deaf ears. in the deep. Despite the presence of the watching Derek Underwood Whereas our batsmen struggled on the Omani artificial throughout the match, Wombats CC were too strong for strip, on which slow balls bounced high but quicker ones us in a night/floodlit game at the Emirates 7s ground but skidded through, we were more at home on the grass back at Dubai Stadium the following evening, inspired wickets of Dubai, the party having been supplemented by Kevin Bissett’s faultless wicket-keeping, we achieved

SGS’s flight was delayed due to a failing battery SGS-FORTY CLUB TOUR charger and landed four hours late. The English group OF LANZAROTE 2015 had gone into town and we were unable to get in touch with them by text messaging. It was the following day before contact was made.

Theo Straten writes: With a temperature of 28 degrees skipper John Hartley won the toss and Jon Thornton, 43, and David Humphreys, Earlier last year the touring committee of SGS tried to 58, made a great start on the artifical pitch, with the Dutch organise a cricket tour to Lanzarote. When only seven chipping in for a total of 191-9 (35 overs). The opposition players wanted to go the committee decided to cancel the made it quite clear they were not going to chase our total tour, much to the disappointment of the organisation in by textbook shots and we saw some impressive sixes. They both Holland and Lanzarote. In July I talked to Rob Nelson won in the 34th over at 194-4. from the Forty Club who suggested getting six players from England and six from Holland, and turn it into a Jon Thornton’s 114* was the mainstay of the Combined Xl’s combined tour. total, passing Lanzarote’s 251 with 15 balls remaining to square the series 1-1. It was another beautiful day which On October 1, six XL and six SGS cricketers set off saw a wonderful game of cricket. We thanked our hosts accompanied by SGS’s umpire Joep Hesseling and David Smith and Jack Talbot in particular and hopefully Robert Smith on the front foot three wives Anny, Gerda and Truus. Unfortunately we can do it all again in the not-too-distant future. 42 43 The Forty Club 2016 Handbook www.thefortyclub.co.uk DISTRICT REPORTS in both matches against West Midlands and Eastern ball of the innings to win, and managing to edge the ball Counties. Each were played in the right spirit and were past a tight field for four to win the game by three wickets. replayed ball by ball after the match in the bar– surely Due to their overall performance, Kings School Worcester one of the main reasons for having this tournament. Sam were adjudged the best in the UK for 2015, and the Henry EAST MIDLANDS (Peter Mason) Clulow was magnificent in managing our side despite Grierson Trophy was presented to their school captain numerous availability issues. at the Lord’s dinner in November. Our second ID match After another enjoyable season, against EM ended in a win for WM by seven wickets. Two we were victorious in three of the Next year we will have a new captain as Sam has to stand standout performances were from Eral Anderson with 92* 13 matches played. In these games down because of some major changes in his business and and Andy Robertson with 58 and 3-22. 83 players represented the East I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his Midlands. We relied on 50 guests to effort and involvement, it is appreciated by all concerned. Regrettably, our semi-final ID match against Wales was complete our teams with the happy His replacement will be announced in due course. The washed out on two occasions and Wales called correctly result being that we have recruited new format for the tournament will take the form of a in the toss up to reach the final against a strong Surrey & eight new members, while some of straight knockout and possibly a Plate competition for the West Sussex side. There were four games cancelled, two the others I’m sure will join next year. first-round losers. due to rain and two because the schools were unable to field a side. Recruitment is still going well with four Full In April and May we have some magnificent fixtures Our appeal on behalf of Project Front Foot for cricket Members and five Associate Members signed up in 2015. against many of the top cricketing schools in the country. clothing and equipment resulted in eight full-size cricket As always, my thanks go to all MMs for their assistance Members who start their XL season later in the year bags being filled and sent to India for use in deprived and my reliable scorer John Tunbridge and my umpires, do not know what they are missing: superb facilities, areas by Vic Mills and his team of coaches. Many John Bradley and John Bates. outstanding grounds and perhaps your last chance to thanks to all who donated both theirs and their club’s play against an international or county cricketer of the surplus clothing and kit. Next year any item of clean Roger Wickson, retiring after 10 years future. I can imagine many, in a few years’ time, telling clothing, particularly in smaller sizes, will be welcome. SCOTLAND (Colin Neill) all and sundry about how they whacked so-and-so for Unsurprisingly XXL long-sleeve cable knit sweaters have run needed off the last ball of the innings to win the six, held a stunning catch, ran him out with a direct hit only a limited use! game. This act of selflessness by XL showed the boys that In a season that saw September or uprooted his off peg! sometimes it isn’t always the result that counts but how bring us the finest weather, we you play the game is far more important. played 23 games (13 were cancelled) Cancellations this year were high and only two due to the WEST MIDLANDS (Roger Wickson) of which 10 were won, five drawn weather. The others were where Schools/Colts could not Our first encounter in the ID Trophy against EC ended and seven lost. muster a side either because of examinations or the ability Our season started with a with a win for WM by 111 runs with Eral Anderson to raise an appropriate team. Fingers crossed for next competitive game against Warwick starring with 108 out of the total of 214-9. Steve Dellow As a district we look forward with season. By far the best result was our victory at Oakham School which we lost by 64 once again showed his class with the ball by taking 5-16 anticipation and excitement. Four School where we had our strongest side on show for many runs. There were three standout off 5.5 overs and the defence of our title was underway teams approached us to play for the a year, admirably managed by Michael Blatherwick. Once performances: one from Eral once again. King Edwards VI School, who were awarded first time this year: The University of again the game itself was only part of the day, as the banter Anderson, who carried his bat for the Henry Grierson Trophy in 2014, proved once again St Andrews Ladies, Brechin Buccaneers, East Kilbride and in the bar afterwards with former England players Frank 53*, and Chris Simmonds, who took to be an exceptional cricketing school in winning by Rossie Priory, and all have intimated that they would like Hayes and John Crawley made it so much more than just a a remarkable 6-28 off seven overs. seven wickets, even though there had been some good a regular fixture. cricket match. The star for Warwick was Charlie batting performances from three new Associate Members. Peter Mason rings the bell Blake who scored 84. Unfortunately, Another Henry Grierson Trophy winner was our next Morrison’s Academy, Crieff have asked for a fixture next Our top player my first Associate Member signing for 2015, who opponent at Bromsgrove School and in a very tight game, year and there is a swell of good will towards the Forty this year was happened to be my son returning to his old school from XL lost by 40 runs. Club across the length and breadth of Scotland. new member Australia, hurt his hand going for a difficult catch in the John Trueman gully which prevented him from batting! Our second I mentioned earlier that playing the game in the right One of our opposition captains wrote to us after their who was game at Shrewsbury School resulted in a rare win, with spirit is paramount and this manifested itself once again fixture to say, “It was fantastic just to play against the our highest a batting masterclass from Andy Robertson with 104* during our match with Tettenhall College. Stuart Reeve Forty Club and we have already gained so much from runscorer, our and Dinusha Fernando 70*. Andy Robertson and Steve and Eral Anderson opened and against a very young and that. We look forward to next season eagerly.” only centurion Dellow then took seven wickets in 12.1 overs to secure inexperienced school side soon reached 85 and 80 runs with a score the win. Our third game at Bloxham School epitomised respectively before giving their wickets away to encourage On the playing front, a record six centuries were scored, of 132 against how cricket should be played. On a day of sunshine and the youngsters not to give up on a sweltering hot day. 103 players were used, 41 playing for the first time, and Eastern Counties torrential rain in equal measures, XL batted first and On a very small ground XL reached 294-3 off 39 overs many young and eager recruits have been made. It was and also our advanced to 121 off 28 overs with Julian Morris scoring 77 and declared at lunch to give the school plenty of time to also a delight to have four of the Scottish Wildcats, the second-highest of the runs. However, a long period of rain waterlogged try and win the game. Despite some sterling efforts, and Scotland International Ladies team, play and want to wicket-taker. the square and the umpires deemed it unfit to continue. allowing an extra player to bat, Tettenhall College reached play again. Whilst most were enjoying their tea, Julian Morris and a 234-11. Their Master in Charge, James Bullock, commended In the Inter- few others set about clearing the water from the square XL for making a game of it for such a young team. Our Our team of the year was the University of St Andrews District and with a generous declaration, allowed Bloxham to last school game against Kings School Worcester was by Ladies, a unanimous decision that reflected the competition we play a 20-over match in preparation for a T20 tournament far the best of the season. A great all-round performance enthusiasm, commitment and love for the sport that suffered defeats later that week. Bloxham managed to scramble the one by both teams ended with Kings needing two off the last they embodied.

44 45 The Forty Club 2016 Handbook www.thefortyclub.co.uk and Allan with 26 out of 153-7. Barnard Castle made SOUTH (Ian Henderson) it to 68-8 as Heseltine, Jacobine (both Associates) and Barker took two wickets each. It was a glorious Our season was a very summer’s day and we enjoyed glorious hospitality. disappointing one as we were washed out in no fewer than After the next two matches were cancelled, beaten by five of our scheduled 12 friendly rain, we went north again to Richmond – another draw. fixtures. Three of the first four were XL scored 219-6 – Barker and Allan making 135 between sunk without trace and towards the them and Associate Member Hayes making 66 before the end of the season two other games school replied with 139-6 – Henderson and Mitchell both went the same way. So we missed getting two wickets but unable to break through in time. out on several prestige fixtures including Winchester College. At Pocklington XL scored 177-7 and only Ling, 27, and Illingworth, 33, steadied a leaking ship. The school relied The rigmarole of having to ring round to unravel the on their captain Foster with 69* but when he was out arrangements made with players, scorers and umpires to Ling, 2-24, Barker wiped out the rest with 5-27 and is very depressing after having finally put together a University of St Andrews Ladies. the school were all out for 149. A win! At Hymers our A miss or a leave? side. Despite having signed four new adult playing generous declaration of 218-6 in 45 with Abdus and Allan members during the winter we were only able to field There was a fantastic match to celebrate 200 years of both 60-plus, enabled the school to hit 219-1 in 36 overs teams in every match with the help of one or more cricket in Brechin. This was one of several matches that with Norman 111* and Warkup 91. EASTERN COUNTIES (Robert Smith) guests. We fielded virtually ‘members only’ in one of went down to the last over. The older members of the the two ID competition games against Kent and Surrey District also changed colours and represented Scotland in Our games against Woodhouse Grove and Leeds The high point of our season was but were soundly beaten in both. what is now an annual match with the England 60s XI. Grammar were on consecutive days and they were totally an amazing win against the MCC at different, but both defeats for XL. In an all-day game XL Jesus College Cambridge on August I have stepped down from my role as chairman after Sandy Baird made his 100th appearance and District got 247-5 in 40 overs, thanks to 104 from debutant Babar 12, which is reported earlier in the three years because I just won’t be able to devote Chairman Colin Neill reached the 200 mark in our match Butt, then declared and left Woodhouse too much time to Handbook. MCC’s strong batting enough time to what became a near full-time post in with the touring Australian side the Crusaders. get 249-3 (Chilvers 88, Pilling 63) in 45 overs, but a lovely side posted 300-5 and at tea XL the summer months. I now need more time to care for day was had nonetheless. The next day at Leeds on the were tottering on 39-3 and facing my partner who continues to suffer from the effects of It is reassuring to find the Scottish schools so keen to hottest day of the year the game was reduced to 30 overs ignominy. Enter Khaqan Arsal who breast cancer, to begin writing my second book (a very play the club and insist on, in many instances, an all-day due to heat with XL getting only 120-7 (Quirke 48). Even joined WM opener Andy Robertson. time-consuming process!) and also to begin six months match. Our school season was badly disrupted by the then we had to come off for lightning! Despite Butt taking An astonishing unbroken stand of training for April’s London Marathon. I’ve been trying weather but we were able to complete nine matches with 3-30 and Barker 1-16 the school scored 121-4. 266 then ensued off only 196 balls for the fourth wicket to identify a successor but many of my colleagues two won, four drawn and three lost. Four school matches with Khaqan smashing 153* off only 91 balls and Andy have said a firm ‘No thanks’ so I’ll continue the search were lost to the weather. The District has to thank all who After that the season fizzled out. We couldn’t raise a Robertson joining in the fun with an accomplished 115*. among my many friends in club cricket. I think we supported us this year and only once did we take the field team in the ID against Scotland, against Selby it was too It was breathtaking batting. must have the fewest number of regular players among with less than a full side. wet and finally against Doncaster we were unable to the 12 districts – fewer than a dozen or so. Like so raise a team. We also had good wins against Woodbridge (John Stuck many others we’ve been shredded numerically by the There were many great finishes, and it was perhaps most 62* and Rob Nelson 3-38), against Loughton (Stuck 79, growth of the Over 50s, 60s and 70s competitive cricket. fitting that the last wicket of 2015 fell to a stumping from So it was something of a curate’s egg of a season but we Martin Southwell 5-55) and against Italian tourists Roma the oldest player to represent the District, Alex Steele, off take the positives out of it: we are beginning to make Capannelle CC when Martin again starred with 33* and What to do? Recruiting school-age players only works the bowling of the youngest, Gregor Chambers. The age inroads to the north and east, we are playing new fixtures 7-29. We had the better of draws against Wymondham when the schools close down for the summer. But difference was 58 years! Mention should be made of Iain against schools, we are attracting new Associate members; College, Wisbech Grammar, Kimbolton (Harry Vaheesan the talented youngsters want to play for their club Redmond who represented the District 16 times during we scored one century, five half-centuries and took one 77) and Royal Hospital School (Paul Hurworth 83, sides as much as possible and we can only call on the season, David Davies who scored the most runs and five-fer – so there is much to be happy about. Pat Patel 4-59) but did not reach the heights of 2014 in them very occasionally. One of them, Harry Sorrell, Kevin Ferrie who took the most wickets. conquering school sides. We narrowly lost an exciting provided our most memorable performance of the game against Chigwell despite skipper Steve Lugg’s season with a hurricane 71 off just 34 balls in our 5-24. Another thrilling game was at Aldenham where we match at Clayesmore School but it was the only game NORTH EAST (Anthony D Sheppard) almost overcame a target of 237 thanks to Ollie Doward’s he played in! I really have no real answers to the lack 77, falling just six runs short. of playing members. It was a frustrating year with a limited range of games and In the ID competition we were well beaten in the end I’d like to give hearty thanks to both of my loyal outcomes. P 6, W 1, D 2, L 3, RA by WM, though for a time the match was in the balance, match managers Derek Candy and Graham Massey 2, C 2. As ever raising a team is a and beat EM in a rearranged game by five wickets. As for their great support over the past three years. Next constant challenge but new players usual we performed better in the bar than on the field, season marks my 70th birthday and will be my 60th and Associates have contributed but our only bad defeats were at the hands of Forest summer of men’s cricket (yep, I played my first game in many areas. In the first school and Parmiter’s Schools. Thanks to all match managers, aged 10!). I intend to play in a few games but think it match in late April we drew at scorers and umpires and everyone please recruit new will then be the right time to hang up the cricket gear Paul Biely, associate member, against Merchiston at Collinton Barnard Castle, Barker with 31 talent for 2016. and rediscover my golf clubs.

46 47 The Forty Club 2016 Handbook www.thefortyclub.co.uk A glorious scene at Lancing College WALES (Peter Owens) Dane for the week, whilst Nathan Marsh established himself as a Spaniard. Like some other Districts the weather disrupted the season. The end results Match managers, a big thank you as we all appreciate the were won 4, lost 2, drew 1, cancelled hard work you do in getting sides out. The other unsung 10. Some games were cancelled by heroes are our umpires, scorers and tea ladies who the opposition due to their inability diligently carry out their duties. Without their support we to raise a side, but the weather was would not have such an enjoyable time. the biggest factor. Diolch yn fawr. The availability of players throughout the season was again very good, for which many thanks. The main batting highlight of the season was 126 not out from new KENT / EAST SUSSEX (Cliff Hayward) member Simon Holliday and 113 from Martin Wilkshire in the ID Final. There was also an unbeaten Firstly I would like to thank Ron for the second wicket at Christ College Brecon between Hart for all his hard work over the Jonathan Twigg and Nick Morgan of 122, giving us a years running this district. It will 9-wicket victory. This was after an excellent performance be a hard act to follow. Our playing in the field to bowl out what this year turned out to be the record was as follows: played 26, College first XI. The other notable batting performance won 7, drawn 4, lost 11, cancelled 4. was 301 against Mumbles Colts, who managed to hold out for a draw on 279- 9. We had some notable performances this year. Tim Smith took 9-40 In the ID competition we progressed to the final. We against Duke of York, David Steele had a very competitive match against the West in the had figures of 6-2-6-5 against the South, John Hawkins regional stages, followed by a toss-of-a-coin victory 4-62 against St Bedes, Stuart Faulkner 100* and 90* against the West Midlands in the semi-final. In the against Duke of York and the Kent Over 50s, Liam My thanks also go to all my MMs, scorers and umpires out. A fine game of cricket on a lovely day – English final we met up again with Surrey and West Sussex. Tegg 100* against Sutton Valence and Robert Warne’s who have supported me and they have done a good summer at its best. Whilst putting up a good score, including that century 85 against St Bede’s. I would like to thank all those job in getting sides out. Let’s hope we can do it all from Martin, it was matched by another century by the players who played in the district matches for their again this year. Lancing reached 219-9 (38) thanks to a fine 90 by opposition who went on to beat us. I would like to thank support and encouragement. Hopefully we can go Fazakerley. Sadly only Richard Mansfield, 56, all the squad for their performance and attitude on and further this year. Thanks to John Widgery for umpiring SURREY / WEST SUSSEX (Richard Bennett) showed much élan and we ended at 117-7 (38). Match off the field and our captain Chris Hudson, who again this season and also to Andrew Jones for scoring drawn. Reed’s made 291–9 (48) with A Klimcke showed great leadership. during the season. What a difference a year makes! managing 4-50 off 12 overs, a fine performance in We played six matches against the circumstances. Sadly XL we were all out for 127 We had four new recruits – Simon Holliday, Jon Twigg, I think this might be a first for the Forty Club where schools, five against clubs and four (27). David Spackman managed to be run out without Ian Capon and Greg Fisher. To those new members we had three Dads (Full members) playing in the same in the ID competition – which we facing a ball! We batted first at Worth School with Jon thank you and I trust that you will have many side as their daughters: Glynn and Lottie Gunning, won for the first time – ever! Of Thornton scoring 50 in 208-8 and the school finished enjoyable years with the Club. This has greatly assisted Barry and Zoe Hainsworth and Cliff and Lottie the school matches we won one, at 172-8 overs at the close. Their young opener Wills our match managers and via the IT system, which Phil Hayward, against Brighton College Girls. It was a lost two and drew two. So there is scored a fine 79. Stallard so ably controls, we seem to have run smoothly great day even though the result went against us but room for further improvement! In during the season. As usual Keith James and District it was played in the right spirit and that is what the the traditional season opener at St Against the clubs we were undefeated with three wins captain Chris Hudson have continued to give me great Forty Club is all about. Jon Thornton, with a lot of hard John’s, Leatherhead, a strong XL and two draws. In the 40-over game at Cuckfield the support off the field. work, set up a new fixture against a Southwark State side did well to contain the school to 218–6 in 42 overs. home side compiled 189-6 and Nigel Angus and Paul School XI, a wonderful idea which was kindly hosted Regrettably we were all out for 161 in 38 overs with only Lack both retired on 40 as XL replied with 192–5. Last year I reported that we were replacing one Phil by Dulwich CC. It is going to be attempted again in Bjorn Mordt making 53. with another – Phil Stallard became our Secretary and 2016 and I hope all of John’s hard work will bear fruit In a low-scoring game at Dorking, Bjorn Mordt top- I am sure that at some part of the year he did wonder and become a regular. The next outing was a low-scoring thriller at Seaford scored with 43 as XL were all out for 146. He and what he was letting himself in for. He is involved with College. The school were all out for 169 (44 overs). Will Candy both took three wickets as Dorking were out Newport CC, became our Secretary, goes to most of the We often struggled to get players available due to Moore, 70, and Bjorn Mordt, 48, made a good start but for 134. At Horsley & Send, thanks to fifties from Jon Forty Club matches to score and to top it up this year we either work or other cricketing commitments and I were both out stumped and we were all out for 166 (36). Thornton and Richard Buxton, we reached 213-6 and had the Quadrangular Tournament in Newport, which believe we now need to start recruiting more players Our victory came at Ardingly College where we declared Horsley & Send were dismissed for 180. A youthful Phil oversaw. I am pleased to say that he came through of the 35-40-plus age-group to play in the coming years on 284-4 (47) thanks to a 126* by Bjorn Mordt and 72 Three Bridges side scored 278-5 (42) and in 41 overs it all with flying colours. The Tournament was a great and also maintain those members who already play from debutant Dave Allaway. A sporting declaration XL we managed 169-7. The final club game was success and as a District we set the standard. It was and do a fantastic job in promoting this great game gave the school 54 overs to get the runs and a fine 91 by against the Sussex Martlets – Jon Thornton scoring a pleasing to see some of our members participating in within schools. Thanks for your continued support the opener Ben Harris looked to be steering the school fine 80* and Zac Mendelsson impressing with 60* in the Tournament and some of us – due to lack of players and enjoyment of the game. Any suggestions on how to victory until Mordt intervened with three catches and a total of 250–5. We were unable to complete the win – represented other countries. Myself, I became a great we do that would be greatly appreciated. two wickets off three overs to leave the school 242 all and The Martlets finished on 220–8.

48 49 The Forty Club 2016 Handbook www.thefortyclub.co.uk Action from St John’s, Leatherhead There were good moments of course, particularly against club overseas players guest for us and those who saw reach it by 16 runs. As a result of this excellent day’s Aldenham School when we tried to chase down 236 and Andy Solomon’s knock at Millfield will not forget it. cricket we awarded Ormskirk School as our District fell just five runs short after a terrific effort. We came nomination for the XL trophy. At Bolton School we closer still against Chigwell School, bowling them out were set 211 to win and won by eight wickets. for 178 with Steve Lugg picking up a superb 5-24 off seven overs. Unfortunately XL were dismissed for 177, In the ID tantalisingly close. There were also missed opportunities Tournament we versus John Lyon School: we had them 67-6 but allowed were heavily their tail to wag and we ended up with not one but two hampered by Krunics (young and old) hanging on grimly for a draw the conditions In the ID we had our best run ever. Firstly we played against decent bowling. and despite the South and thanks to a fine 100 from Dave Allaway the host club reached 271. South’s innings was wrecked by opening Against Berkshire Under 17s we knocked over the top Heywood’s bowlers Will Moore with 3-8 and Steve Naylor with 4-28, order in no time and indeed we took all the straightforward best efforts we leaving South 117 (32). In the next round a strong CP side chances but dropped all the sharp ones and the tailenders were unable to were bowled out for 158 (38). We reached the target in 21 made hay as the sun shone. We ended up a long way short get the match overs thanks to a hard-hitting 82* from Dave Allaway. In and it didn’t help when one of their seamers was clearly under way and a semi-final NW scored 219-5 with C Turner scoring 105* chucking it but no action was being taken despite getting Scotland, who and in 41.3 overs Steve Naylor 104* and Bjorn Mordt 54 a knowing look from one of the umpires. For me this is had travelled knocked off the runs. not a first as I’ve seen a few youngsters with questionable down in the actions. It’s a difficult subject to broach but the coaches expectation In the final at Swindon a brutal 50* from Steve Naylor and umpires need to step in and be cruel to be kind as the of two days’ saw us to victory with 10 overs to spare against the Wales action won’t cure itself! A masterclass at Millfield cricket, had to total of 236-7. The victory was a fine reward for our ID endure a bowl- team manager Roly Walton, who has done so much to So a quick summary of 2015 would be, ‘Can do better, Our nomination for the Schools Trophy was Queens out which we recruit new players and put together a side capable of must try harder’. Many thanks to all the players and of Taunton. Under the very capable guidance of former won narrowly. playing excellent cricket. There is a full report earlier in course the match managers for all their efforts, and here’s Somerset opener Arul Suppiah we were given a In the semi-final the Handbook. to a great 2016 season. masterclass of how to pace a run chase and the we travelled sportsmanship and hospitality were of the highest to Banbury to Richard Evans with the Denstone School skipper My thanks go to the players who have been readily order. For 2016 our priority will be to keep up the play Sussex and available and who have been such good company. WEST (Winston Duguid) standards and recruit younger members, even if despite scoring 230-plus with our captain Chris Turner Everybody knows that cricket is less fun without umpires they only play a couple of games. Senior cricket in notching a ton, Sussex were able to pass this total fairly and scorers and we are most grateful to those who made We enjoyed a good season with some Somerset is on the rise in numbers and quality and it comfortably due in no small margin to the efforts of themselves available – your efforts are much appreciated. good quality cricket and some very was impressive how many of the over 50s and over 60s their two Minor Counties players, one scoring a ton and tight games, all achieved in the right made themselves available when asked, meaning three the other a classy unbeaten half-century. Off the cricket field, we have played golf (and been rained spirit and adhering to XL’s mantra games of cricket a week for some. off) at Waldingham and I am grateful to Denham Earl of ‘taking cricket to the schools’. Our We managed to recruit some half-a-dozen or so for organising it. We have continued to run our ‘Chance ratio of wins was much better than Our thanks to our match managers and to our scorers new members, most of whom were in their forties to Shine’ inter-schools competition at St John’s and I am 2014 with nine wins, five losses, four and umpires, without whom our enjoyment would and we will to step up our efforts to pursue the grateful to Adrian Gale for organising every aspect of this drawn and four cancelled. We were not be possible; and a special thanks to our regional recruitment process which is the bread and butter of so smoothly, once again. Alan Newman has now set up also privileged to use for the first treasurer Colin Voutt for his sound finance and support.. our organisation. We are pleased to report that due to our Play-Cricket.com page so that all our availabilities, time two new pavilions at Wells Cathedral (cost circa the excellent efforts of Richard Evans and Steve Kelly, match reports and statistics will be available there – a real £500k) and Prior Park College, who have built a new NOR we hosted a very enjoyable couple of days’ golf at step in the right direction! Finally, thanks to all the district pavilion and sports hall for some £6million. NORTH WEST (John Sharples) Pleasington Golf Club. On the first day the XL Golfing committees for their continuing hard work throughout Society fielded a team to play the host Club, and the the season. We look forward to 2016 with enthusiasm. We saw some notable personal achievements. Simon We enjoyed a relatively successful following day we staged the NW Golf event with Gerring’s captain’s knock at King’s Taunton, Ben season in which we managed to teams from across the district, including the schools, Ackland’s masterful century on debut at Queens College win five of the scheduled fixtures. and which was followed by a very good dinner in the NORTH THAMES (Ilija Krunic) and Evie Griffith’s extraordinary match-winning However, we suffered at the hands evening. It proved to be very popular and we aim to power at Prior Park College and then again at Hinton of the weather as two games were make this an annual event. Another cricket season zooms by! Charterhouse, were delights. For the bowlers the abandoned due to the rain, one Are summers getting shorter and evergreen John Lindley, now starring for Somerset over of them after only 12 balls were Finally we would like to congratulate our esteemed winters getting longer or is that just 70s, demonstrated that if you keep yourself fit then there bowled at Neston, and the other at member Tony Fare on being nominated and chosen as my old bones creaking? Let’s start is still no substitute for experience. Giggleswick School where XL was the new XL Fixtures Secretary. We have no doubts that with a low point: 90 all out against At the other end of the age spectrum some youngsters well placed when the rains came. he will do an excellent job and is equal to the task of Parmiter’s School. It could have made their debuts as Associate members and proved an We managed victories at Ormskirk and Bolton Schools. filling the appointment vacated by the retiring John been even worse if it wasn’t for Mr enormous asset in the field as well as with some lively At Ormskirk we had an excellent game when we set Widgery. Well done John and thanks for your many Extras top-scoring! pace bowling. We were also privileged to have some the school a target of 230 and they narrowly failed to years of service.

50 51 The Forty Club 2016 Handbook www.thefortyclub.co.uk , CBE deliveries from Jack Flavell and vomited at the wicket before generation Australian of Huguenot descent from a village cancer he joked, “That’s not so bad because I must have (1930-2015) eventually falling on to his stumps. At the close of play, named Benaud. Before and after his summers working in smoked two million cigarettes.” Richie brought him along to be interviewed. England he had a villa in Beaulieu-sur-Mer in the French THE GREAT Riviera before returning to Coogee in East . On the cricket field his fearlessness could have cost him his After lunch on the final day England were 150-1 needing life on a number of occasions. He often batted without a COMMUNICATOR only 106 to win with Ted Dexter electrifying the crowd with In October 2013 he crashed his vintage 1965 Sunbeam cap and helmets hadn’t been invented. “You’ve got to keep his 76 in 84 minutes. Wracked by pain, Richie switched Alpine car into a wall causing a cracked sternum and your eyes on the ball and move away from the line of the to bowling round the wicket and had Dexter caught by shoulder injuries. His hopes of renewing his cricket bouncers,” he said. “These players today don’t do that and wicketkeeper Wally Grout. He bowled Peter May round his commentaries were dashed and he later died in his sleep they get hit in the helmet and still could be injured or even legs for a duck, had Brian Close caught off a slog to square- on 10 April, 2015, aged 84. Being in the sun round the year killed.” The closest he came to being struck in the head and leg and then bowled the stubborn Raman Subba Row for eventually hastened his demise from cancer of the skin. seriously injured came in 1976 when he was recalled to the 49. In 25 deliveries he had taken 5-13 to finish England off England side because the selectors wanted experience and with 6-70 in 32 painful overs. England lost by 54 runs. It was The then Prime Minister Tony Abbott offered Daphne a courage to take on the fearsome trio of , Mikey one of the most dramatic finales of the century. Incidentally state funeral but she opted for a private one attended by Holding and Wayne Daniel. Close was 45. four other XL Hon Members took part in that match – Subba a small gathering. It took place five days later and Ian Row, Close, John Murray and Bobby Simpson. Later in the Chappell, Shane Warne and Michael Clarke spoke at a Many books of cricketers have the stereotyped title My Story year Richie was awarded the OBE. commemoration service later in the day. The service was but Brian’s book was aptly entitled I Don’t Bruise Easily conducted by a lay preacher, Brian Booth, the former and in his autobiography, ghost-written by the late, acerbic He never wore a helmet and when he was 18 he was hit by Australian batsman and close friend. broadcaster Don Mosey, it said, “I was about to leave our a from a bowler named Jack Daniel under the right Brian Scovell hotel for a match at Portsmouth when I was called back to the In the last year three of the Forty Club’s 19 Honorary eye, which left a crater in his forehead. It took a lot of X-rays telephone. It was Brian Scovell of the Daily Mail ringing to ask Members and former Test players of eminence died and to show that his skull had been fractured. my reaction after being recalled. I said, “Great… after being Richie Benaud was the first. He had already joined the dropped nine years ago I’m now on my seventh comeback!” Club, paying a life membership subscription of £150, in His courage was displayed in the 1952/53 season against DENNIS BRIAN CLOSE, CBE He scored 60 and 46 in the second Test at Lord’s at No.4 and 1960. Though he never played for it he personified the best the South Africans when he was struck in the mouth at his (1931-2015) at Old Trafford in the third Test skipper Tony Greig told him qualities of our Club and when he died on 10 April a mighty favourite fielding position, gully, which knocked out most of he had to open. He said, “I haven’t done it regularly since voice, carefully modulated without clichés and accompanied his front teeth. For the rest of his life he wore a denture. Not CRICKET’S MAN OF OAK 1957. You’ve got a chap in the side who opens regularly for with studied pauses, was stilled forever. long after he married Marcia Lavender and at the church he Kent.’ ‘Ah,’ said the captain, ‘We think Bob Woolmer is going spoke his vows through bandages. They had two sons, Greg to be on the international scene for a long time. We don’t want A former friend of mine, Harold de Andrado (1927-2004), and Jeffrey, and divorced in 1967. him killed off.’ I said ‘Oh, so I’m expendable!’” the Jim Swanton of Sri Lanka, once wrote of him: “Next to Sir he has been one of the greatest cricketing His kindness to young cricketers and cricket writers was In those final 80 minutes before the close of play on the personalities, as player, researcher, writer, critic, organiser, legendary. English captains should have copied his example Saturday, with England needing 552 to win, Brian was struck adviser and student of the game.” I would go further. Richie but except for Tony Greig, none of them have been allowed several times leaving huge bruises and dodged around 25 was heard by billions over a long period. Bradman wasn’t. to talk naturally, which helps to ensure the opposition life-threatening bouncers. Finally umpire Bill Alley warned winning the PR battle. Richie trained as a young journalist in Holding for bowling an excessive number of bouncers and I first met Richie in 1961 when the Sports Editor of the Daily Sydney and after the tour of England in 1956 he undertook the barrage eased. Brian was 1 not out. On the Monday, he Sketch, Solly Chandler, told me to go to Tilbury Docks to a BBC training course for radio and TV and wrote a column was bowled for 20, and England lost by 425 runs. greet the Australian Test squad when their vessel docked. for the News of the World. His second wife Daphne Surfleet, Having only seen half a dozen first-class cricket matches who for some years was secretary to Jim Swanton, also Christopher Martin-Jenkins said of him, “At times his it was a daunting task to interview the captain of the went on the same course. She came from Glossop and their courage was almost blind – the type which won VCs in Australian team which had just beaten ’s West marriage was one of the happiest in cricket. wartime. A tough, stubborn, likeable character, he will be Indian side 2-1 in a momentous series which had lifted the remembered as a great captain and as an all-round cricketer standard of entertainment to a new level. Richie was a regular gambler. After his stint at the mike he who did not achieve what he might have done. He was a would retire to the back of the studio studying form before gifted left-hand bat, versatile right-arm medium-pace or off- He introduced himself to me and realising that I was the putting on his bets. A Yorkshireman once approached him at spin bowler and a quite fearless close fielder.” youngest and shyest of the English cricket writers he said, Headingley during an interval and asked for his autograph Brian Close was another of our Honorary Life Members and “I’ll give you any help you need.” And he kept that promise. and he said, “Sorry” and walked on. Three minutes later he sometimes spoke at North East gatherings at Headingley, That was fair comment but in his defence, Brian said “For Throughout the summer he would give me tips and often he returned and went up to the man, apologised and said, arranged by Tony Sheppard. He always came up with strong 28 years I was saddled with the title of ‘England’s youngest invited me into the dressing room. You won’t see that “You know, putting your bet on is vital.” When I retired, my opinions and on the last occasion he deplored the technique Test player’ and that has been an albatross across my neck happening now. son Gavin asked him if he could give a short tribute to me. of England’s batsmen while trying to hook. “Unless they with the implication that I never lived up to the promise Richie ad-libbed a three-minute piece over the telephone change, they’ll lose the Ashes,” he said. And he was right. of my selection for England.” Unfortunately he didn’t as a In the fourth Test that year the sides were level 1-1 and he without hesitation. It was word perfect… with the right They did lose the Ashes Down Under. player but as an attacking captain, he was right up to the told me, “the tendons of my bowling arm have gone but meaningful pauses. very best in the history of the game. I’m determined to keep going.” Most people thought he His straight talking could have made him a star performer wasn’t fit to play. But I knew he would. Richie gambled For all his friendliness and bonhomie, he was a private on TV but in these PC days he would have upset too St Chad’s Church, Headingley, was almost full for his on batting first on a green pitch – perhaps one of the few person. He rarely went out with the boys, preferring dinners many people, except within Yorkshire where frankness is memorial service with Yorkshire opener Bryan Stott, Ian mistakes he’d made – and his team was bowled out for 190. with friends and relatives accompanied by a modest amount appreciated. He nearly always had a pot of tea at the ready Botham and Colin Graves speaking eloquently about this Norman O’Neill was hit painfully on several occasions by of good wine. His father Louis was a leg-spinner and a third- and a ciggie and when he was diagnosed as having lung remarkable man.

52 53 The Forty Club 2016 Handbook www.thefortyclub.co.uk There was an extraordinary feature of his life which most During the 1990s, when Esher won the Surrey Championship considerable stock of XLGS logo shirts, ties and sweaters! Nottinghamshire’s first championship for fifty two years. of the obituary writers missed – his marriage. While on on two occasions, he was a quiet presence behind the scenes. His popularity was such that the Society held not one but The other captains complained bitterly about what they a cricket tour in Bermuda he met an attractive BOAC air However, when the Club was struggling a little in the early two retirement events, which enabled a large number of thought was cheating but the then Test and Çounty Cricket stewardess called Vivenne and invited her out to dinner. 2000s, he stood up to be counted and took on even more members to say “thank you” to Max for all of his hard work Board took no action. Today they would if an excess of “I’m engaged,” she said but accepted his invitation work. Not least, he was instrumental in managing the and dedication to the Society. In 2014 Max was elected as amount of grass is left. Afterwards he said to her “Look, I’m sorry. I know you are planning and financing of a new cricket pavilion in 2005. an Honorary Fellow of The Forty Club and accorded the engaged but I am going to marry you.” “Don’t be so stupid,” In 2013, in recognition of all of his work at Esher, he was honour of becoming the first Honorary Life President of The said Vivenne. Back in the UK he kept ringing her and sent awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by Surrey. Forty Club Golfing Society. her an Andy Williams record, Can’t Get Used to Losing You. Eventually Viv broke off her engagement and the marriage The Esher Cricket Club Golf Society started an annual Wherever he may be now, Max will be quietly chuckling to took place a year later. “Best thing I ever did,’ he said. tour to Seaford Golf Club in 1966. Max first joined the himself as the Forty Club website has him “batting” ahead of tour in 1971, from where he began a remarkable run of 40 one Tom Graveney OBE – the second time he has been higher consecutive tours and, of course, as the most affectionately in the order than a Test Match captain! Max Seager was a named “Fuhrer” of all time, organised the whole weekend man in a million. He didn’t want limelight, titles or thanks, MAX SEAGER from 1983 to 1997. His first win of the Crouch Trophy came but he willingly undertook huge levels of work in order that (1937-2015) at his 26th attempt, a feat he repeated two years later. others could enjoy their sport, whether it was cricket or golf. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him. A LIFE IN SPORT St. George’s Hill Golf Club He joined in 1972 and as his cricket playing days were coming to an end he became a regular stalwart of the SAGS (the Saturday Afternoon Golf Society roll-up). A MAN OF THANET Unsurprisingly, he took over the organisation of the SAGS Christmas stableford and it was only natural that Max be invited to join the SGH Committee where he willingly Tommy Bing was born and brought up in Thanet and served his three-year term. He was elected Captain of the played much of his cricket for Broadstairs CC, captaining Rice and New Zealand’s Sir Richard Hadlee – another Club in 1997, enjoying a most successful year. them for a period, before moving on to Minster CC of our Honorary Members – were the county’s overseas towards the end of his playing days. He joined XL in 1976 players and they played a huge part in winning the title. Throughout his life, Max always loved to participate. In May and died on 18 May aged 83, a few days before the 4.2 Hadlee took 105 wickets at 14.89 and Rice captured 65 at 2015, even though already seriously unwell, he played his Richter strength earthquake in that part of Kent. 19.20, sharing 170 wickets out of 346. Rice scored 1,462 last game of golf at St George’s Hill in the annual Captains runs at and average of 56.23 and Hadlee’s total was 745 v The Rest match still carrying his own clubs. He could only He had a great cricket brain and would often station at 32.39 – one third of the total runs. Ron Allsopp, a most manage nine holes that day, but he did stay on for lunch! himself somewhere on the field knowing where he would engaging man, should have had a medal as well! take a catch. He was just as good in the slips, pulling off The Forty Club Golfing Society some fine reaction catches. He was a fine footballer and Rice’s first-class figures – 26,331 runs at 40.95 and 930 Like many of his friends at Esher and SGH, Max was made one appearance in Tottenham’s first team in 1957. wickets at 22.49 – were similar to ’s (21,936 persuaded to join the Forty Club Golfing Society (XLGS) runs at 36.01 and 1,417 wickets at 19.53) – and the pair were Max Seager took a keen interest in most sports but in 1977. During the 1990s Max gradually took on and I first met him when we were at school playing table- rightly considered to be the finest allrounders South Africa particularly in cricket, golf and “the Sport of Kings”. In both combined the roles of Secretary, Treasurer and Fixtures tennis in opposing teams and also played for and against has produced. cricket and golf he was a more than proficient participant, as Secretary – now he really was the “Fuhrer” of the XLGS! He in cricket matches. He was a well-respected, talented well as a very able administrator. was responsible for looking after some 400+ members and sportsman, a gentleman and for me, a great teammate Perhaps he should have copied Tony Greig, whose parents Max’s sporting life really began in the late Forties/early organising over 40 golf matches and meetings a year. He also and mentor for many years. were British, and played for England because his mother Fifties when he was a pupil at Winchester College. He was managed to fit in being Captain of the Society in 1994-95. John Barnes was English. He died from a long lingering brain tumour an allrounder at cricket and good enough to open the batting on 28 July at the young age of 66. David Hamilton, our Life for the College 1st XI, batting ahead of a young Nawab of In particular, Max looked after the XLGS tours which Vice President, proposed him for membership of the Club. Pataudi, a future captain of India. He went up to Cambridge had not always been easy – for example the troubles in CLIVE EDWARD BUTLER RICE where he continued playing cricket for the Crusaders (the Northern Ireland when the IRA were bombing there, the (1949-2015) University 2nd XI), before beginning a long and successful original match manager for Scotland going AWOL, the lack THOMAS WILLIAM career in the City. From then on his sporting life was mainly of a Test Match in Yorkshire and fixture clashes in South GRAVENEY OBE involved with three well-known cricket and golf clubs, each Wales. He invariably maintained excellent links with clubs When Clive Rice, another of our Honorary Members, of which merits its own summary. and other societies as well; so that the XLGS still play at died on 23 July, most of the talk before the Edgbaston (1927-2015) great courses including Royal County Down, Sandwich, Ashes Test was about doctored pitches. Thirty-four years Esher Cricket Club Deal, Royal Porthcawl, The Berkshire, West Hill, Royal earlier, Rice was at the centre of one of English cricket’s Max joined it in 1966. And for almost 50 years he was Belfast, Hankley Common, Liphook, Worplesdon, Woking, biggest controversies about preparing result pitches. The The fourth Honorary Member of the Forty Club who essential to the fabric of the club, scoring over 3,000 runs and West Sussex and Rye, to name but a few. Nottinghamshire captain told Ron Allsopp, the Trent died in the past year was probably the most gentlemanly took over 500 wickets. Within a couple of seasons of joining Bridge groundsman “to leave the grass on” and Ron duly of the breed of great batsmen that emerged from the he became the Club’s treasurer, a post he held for 40 years After over 15 years in the driving seat, Max was gently carried out the instruction. Fifties and Sixties. I first met him in 1962 when he was until stepping aside in 2008. He was also the secretary from persuaded to relinquish these time-consuming duties one by recalled to the England side after three years and he 1996 to 2011. In essence, Max did the vast majority of the one, and he officially “fully retired” from office in 2014. His In 1981 Rice won the toss and put in opposing sides in scored 97 in Pakistan’s inaugural tour at Edgbaston unglamorous admin that any successful sports club requires. wife, Pauline, was more than happy to see the back of Max’s 9 home games and won all but two of them and won in 1962. In those days cricket journalists were allowed

54 55 The Forty Club 2016 Handbook www.thefortyclub.co.uk to stay with the the age of 90. Although Tom joined XL in 1968, he never Professor Rodney Fitch CBE became a life member safely. He joined XL in 1976 and played in 47 matches England team and played for the Club. of XL in 2004 and was one of Britain’s top designers for the Club. for that Test they who ran his own cricket team called the Rodney stayed in Droitwich Royals in Aldbourne, . He was once fined Michael Mills, a former Cambridge University and he was very £50 for taking part in an anti-war demonstration in captain, was the last a surviving captain to toss up helpful to a young HARRY BRIND MBE Ruislip. He was 76. with the Don Bradman’s “Invincibles” in 1948. He journalist. He gave GROUNDSMAN went on to take 7-69 against Yorkshire and played me his telephone Peter Delisle joined XL in 1981 and scored three on four occasions with Warwickshire. He died at 93 number and said, EXTRAORDINAIRE centuries for Oxford University against counties. having been involved with Oundle School in eight “Ring me any time.” He scored 3,283 first-class runs, average 22.33. He decades. Around that time died at 79. he was in trouble, Eric George Caw joined XL in 1979 as a Life Member, falling out with the Surrey’s popular groundsman between 1975-1994 died Major Howard Cunningham, MC, won a Military aged 78. He played for Corstorphine CC and was Gloucestershire last autumn at the age of 85. He always had a smile and Cross at the age of 18 when he was injured and Past President and Captain. He also captained the committee who he transformed the huge number of pitches at the Oval rescued a wounded colleague under fire from Edinburgh Public Parks XI, Kirkcaloy CC and former appointed an amateur Tom Pugh, an old Etonian who – in his heyday there were 90 – from slow turners to the Chinese soldiers and both men returned to base President of Edinburgh Midweek League. owned a florist, as Tom’s successor as skipper. I also fastest and bounciest pitches in England. Alec Stewart knew Tom, a likeable young man who averaged 15.76 said, “Harry produced some of the best pitches I ever in his first year while the other Tom, educated at Bristol played on, with terrific pace and bounce. He was one Grammar school, had to wait for a year before qualifying of the most forward-thinking groundsmen in the world MEMBERS PASSING to play and star for Worcestershire. and he relaid the whole square in the late 1970s.”

“We were serfs in those days,” said Tom the Elder. In Born in Hammersmith, he played for Chelsea’s Youth We deeply regret to record the death of the following members during the past year. 1969 after he was again left out of the England team sides before joining Essex as their groundsman. He won The date after each name denotes year of election he put his name down to play at a benefit match at the National Groundsman of the Year twice and went on Luton on a Sunday and found himself selected again to become one of the first Pitch Inspectors for the ECB. ABBOTT, M. 1982 GRICE, A.M. (Singapore) 2000 by England and scored 75 at Lord’s. He told me, “I He joined the Forty Club in 1992. ALLEN, D.R. 1988 HANSON, K.E., F.R.I.C.S. 1974 was going to get £1,000 from it, 10 times more than my ANGELL, F.L. 1963 HINDLEY, W.B. 1974 England fee and at 42, I decided to go to Luton as a day BACON, D.M. 1962 HODGES, K.W. 1986 off. As a result, I was suspended for three Tests and that BASHFORD, R.E.J. 1994 HOLDEN, G.M. 1979 finished my England career.” PHILIP ARTHUR CLARK (1929-2015) BELCHER, J.A. 1981 ISHERWOOD, P.J. 1999 Two words best described his batting – classy and BENAUD, R., O.B.E (Australia) 1960 JONES, J.F. 1974 elegant. The only shots he played with a cross bat were BING,T. 1976 LEE, A.T. 1987 the cut and the hook and he played the hook off the front BRIND, H.T., M.B.E. 1992 LONG, W.P. 1987 foot better than most Test stars. He deplored the idea of Phil joined XL in 1989 and BROWN, D.J. 1979 LONGMAN, A. 1975 helmets, he castigated the chuckers and dismissed the umpired hundreds of our CAMPBELL, B.D. 1991 MARQUES, R.C.V.L. 1965 sledgers. For someone who scored 4,882 pukka runs for matches, many abroad CARTWRIGHT, A.B. 2001 McEWAN, Dr., A,C, 1975 an average of 44.38 in 79 Tests, it was remarkable that he while on our tours. His wife had six years in exile when he was looked on as the best Hazel often led the singing CLARK, P.A. 1989 McMURRAY, D.B. 1978 looking batsman in the land. In 2004 when his battles at our touring dinners. He CLOSE, D.B., C.B.E. 1974 MILLS, J.M. 1961 with Lord’s had been distant memories our former had an exciting, varied life COKER, G.A. 1973 MOORE, J.L.H. 1960 President Charles Fry, then President of the MCC, embracing trains, National COOPER, R.K. 1977 MOXON, D.G. 1992 nominated him as his successor, the first professional Service in Malaysia, football CUNNINGHAM, J.C.H., M.C. 1976 NICOLSON, J.M. 1976 cricketer to hold the post. It was one of Tom’s proudest as a rugged defender, cricket DELISLE, G.P.S. 1981 PEGRAM, W.J. 1987 moments and he proved to be one of the most popular as enthusiastic player and DOYLE, A.G. 1964 PRICE, C.T.W., T.D. 1967 Presidents in the MCC’s history. He was a man who administrator. As an OAP he cared about the game and wanted it to be done right. parascended on one of Ron DUCKETT. R. 1975 RICE, C.E.B., (South Africa) 1988 Earlier in November Ken Burney, the secretary of the Hart’s tours to South Africa. EDWARDS, C.M. 1974 RITCHIE, J.D. 1966 Cheltenham Cricket Society, told me Tom was fading fast FAULKNER, F.P. 1958 ROBSON, M.J.K. 1980 in the care home where he stayed after his wife Jackie Phil was universally popular and those who knew him FITCH, R.A. Prof., C.B.E., PPCSD. 2004 SEAGER, A.E. 1977 died from Alzheimer’s. I said, “I have a picture of Tom recognised a legendary man of construction and cricket. GARDENER, B.E.F. 2001 SINGLEHURST, J. 1967 calmly celebrating the final wicket at the Oval in 1968 He was a FRICS quantity surveyor for John Laing GIRLING, M.A. 1962 SPARREY, M.R. 1984 when Derek Underwood bowled the Aussies out on Construction for more than 40 years and worked on sawdust. That would cheer him up.” Ken said “Okay, the Barbican Centre, Ealing Shopping Centre and other GOUGH, P.A. 1973 WHITTLE, J.C., Dr. 1980 I’ll bring you along to see him.” On the 5th Ken rang projects. He was an HiOld Finchleian, an active member GRAVENEY, T.W., O.B.E. 1968 WHITWORTH, P.A. 1968 to say that Tom had died, aged 88. Tom’s elder brother of Datchworth CC, a Hertfordshire CCC umpire and GREEN, R.W. 1984 WILLIAMS, R.E.C. 1976 Ken, a former Gloucestershire allrounder who succeeded former chairman of Hertfordshire Cricket League. His son GREENLEAF, T.J.Q. 2006 WOODCOCK, N.A.,Lt.Cdr., M.B.E. 1967 Pugh as captain, died nine days earlier In Tyler, Texas at Paul said, “We have fond memories of a great gentleman.”

56 57 The Forty Club 2016 Handbook www.thefortyclub.co.uk

SECRETARY’S REPORT courses in the area. Our thanks are due to Geoff for all of the many years he managed this tour. As mentioned above, we also started a new fixture against the NW XL cricketers, and I have to begin this report with the sad news that Max Seager, the following day two XLGS teams took part in the North our Honorary Life President and an Honorary Fellow of the West’s annual Golf Day – our thanks to Stephen Kelly and Forty Club, passed away in early December. Max was a great Richard Evans for their invaluable help in organising this contributor to the Golfing Society and he will be sadly missed. tour. Our biennial match against The Windcheaters from A fuller tribute to Max appears in the Obituaries section. Royal County Down resulted in our first win over this very During the year we also lost Duncan Ritchie, one of our past strong team in quite a while and this was followed by a very Captains (1979/80) and a Life Member. enjoyable barbecue – our thanks to Ali Defriez and Konrad Meldal-Johnsen for organising this event. Encouraged On the golfing front, the Society’s year has been very and supported by Michael Estorick, we also held our first successful in several ways: we stabilised our income stream; Christmas Meeting in December 2014 at Royal Wimbledon we attracted 15 new members; we completed 37 out of the GC, which was much enjoyed by all attending. This will be 39 matches in our excellent fixture list, which is the envy of repeated at Liphook GC in December 2015. all golf societies; we enjoyed successful tours to Scotland, Lancashire and the Kent coast; we inaugurated a new annual Our Spring and Autumn Meetings at The Berkshire were match against the Forty Club North West cricketers again well attended and our thanks go to Peter Crowcroft for all of his efforts in organising and running the two Meetings Membership this year and, we hope, for some years to come. Peter took We started the year with 372 Member and have lost 19, which over this role from Jonathan Hickling, who did a great job in follows the pattern of decreasing overall numbers, albeit with a breathing new life into these Meetings over the last few years slower decrease this year. We have not seen any benefit from the in order to ensure that we continue to have the numbers we reduction in Forty Club joining age as our profile remains that require to have the use of both of The Berkshires courses on of a society where cricketers who have ceased playing enjoy these days. The 2016 Spring Meeting will see the inaugural the continued camaraderie and exercise through golf. We have Tony Longman Trophy(s) – ‘The Longman Quarts’ – being started a process of trying to extend the golf section to more played for; they will be presented to the pair with the best northern areas. To achieve this some Golf Society Members combined score on the Red & Blue courses. went on “missionary duty” to join in with the NW Cricketers golf day and play a friendly match against the cricketers. 2016 will see us playing nearly all the same fixtures as 2015, with a few date changes; so please make a note of these and, as Accounts always, please contact the Match Managers if you wish to play Our accounts have been bolstered by an agreed annual rebate in any particular match – don’t wait to be asked! from the main club based on the full subscription-paying membership. Our accounts have also benefited from a bequest XLGS 60th Anniversary Celebrations left by the estate of the late Tony Longman. We will be buying The Committee has held several meetings in order to plan a a suitable trophy to commemorate Tony and his kindness. celebration of the 60th anniversary of our founding in 1956/57. Lastly we are levying a match dinner fund amount to go There will be a golf event, followed by lunch, at St George’s towards the expenses of our 60th annual dinner to be held in Hill Golf Club on Wednesday 14 December, 2016. We trust that December 2016. as many members of the Club as possible will support this event. Please contact Vince Chandler for more details. Fixtures Our fixture list remains very strong and the weather was kind My thanks go to Stuart Bowden and David Lancaster for all to us this year. Sadly, we were unable to repeat last year’s their sterling work on Fixtures, Accounts and Membership ‘Grand Slam’, as we could not defend our Quadrangular title over the past year, and to Peter Crowcroft for all of his help as down at Royal Porthcawl – but we did manage to beat all the well. There are no changes to your Committee for 2016 and I other cricketing societies we played against. Doug Adams thank them for their support during the year. took over from Geoff Richards in managing the tour to North East Scotland to play at Royal Dornoch and other well-known My appreciation also goes to all the industrious Match Managers who are the lifeblood of the Club. We have recruited 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 a number of new MMs who are both enthusiastic and keen to encourage new members to join. Won 10 14 14 15 15 Halved 6 2 6 5 5 The Golfing Society, as recipients of both The Tony Longman Lost 22 20 15 14 15 bequest and the Forty Club annual subscription rebate, has stabilised – all we need now is a steady stream of new C/NR 3 3 3 1 2 members to build on this solid foundation.

Total 41 39 38 35 37 Tony Colbeck, Hon. Secretary.

58 The Forty Club 2016 Handbook Tranquility at Rossie Priory Ground in Perthshire