Inspiring cricketers to enjoy a lifelong love of

2020 YEARBOOK TROUBLING TIMES

t would be irresponsible of us not to say something about the present circumstances in which we all find ourselves. In the cricket world, we have only a minority part to play: there are far more serious I issues in the wider world.

With sporting events being dropped like flies it was only a matter of time before cricket joined the list of those suspended by the spread of the Coronavirus. When sports all across the world suspend their playing schedules, you know that sport is not the prime consideration. This pandemic has been spreading at an alarming rate. It’s a very contagious virus. It’s a clear case of being safe, not sorry.

The cancelling of major cricket matches is a rare occurrence and casts the sport back to the dark days of the two world wars. Test matches were suspended in early 1914 and didn’t resume until late 1920 because of the First World War. The gap in competition was slightly longer during the Second World War, stretching from August 1939 until March 1946. In the early stages of this pandemic, plans were being made to cancel everything for two weeks and then see if resumption would be possible. Now, as you know, all social cricket is suspended until further notice.

In addition all schools were told to close with effect from the weekend of 20 March.

Our first priority is the health and safety of our members and our colleagues. Perhaps this situation will clear itself up before the end of the season: perhaps it will last into next year. We simply have to go with the flow – and let’s stay positive and optimistic about reclaiming the same fixtures, and perhaps some new ones, in the next available season.

The schools will surely return as strong as ever. On the other hand, given the potential for significant loss of income this season, there is concern that the of clubs around next season may not be as great as it is today. A further challenge will be the efforts to maintain the interest and enthusiasm of cricketing youngsters who may not pick up a bat and ball outdoors till April next year. A net in the back garden – for those who have one – must be a great advantage!

The golfers are not having it any easier as all the golf courses have been closed.

This is not just about sport. There are lots of people out there with problems far more significant and dangerous. We may have cancelled some cricket, some meetings, some golf and some social events. We may have to reconsider the Quadrangular Tournament in Spain in October, and even the Annual Dinner and AGM in November, if this pestilence continues. However these issues fade into insignificance compared with the challenges that others face.

Hopefully we can all stay positive and look on the bright side of the outcome of this period. May we never take for granted a handshake with a stranger: full shelves at the shops; a crowded theatre; the taste of communion; a school run each morning; the stadium roaring; life itself. May we find that we have become more like the people we wanted to be, we were called to be, or we hoped to be. May we stay that way – better for each other because of the worst.

Isolation doesn’t mean you have to feel isolated. Being alone doesn’t mean you have to feel lonely. Keep in touch with your friends and family.

Stick to your social distancing. Stay well. Stay healthy. Wash your hands.

Barry Aitken Honorary General Secretary April 2020

https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com 3 REPORTS

PRESIDENT’S NOTES CHAIRMAN’S NOTES

or the most part, Forty Club members and cricketers are generous-spirited and well disposed s we place 2019 in the archive section, we can reflect on much achieved. 2019 gave us so much, from towards those with whom we play – both teammates and opponents. And yet I wonder the Club’s first tour to the Gambia and the 50th anniversary of the Triangular, now Quadrangular, F how many of us will arrive at a lovely school ground and consider as a first priority how A Tournament at Neston in Cheshire, and of course the achievements of in the World Cup and much pleasure and happiness we can instil in the opposition. What might we do to enhance in another remarkable Ashes series. the potential of those just starting out whilst, at the same time, deriving satisfaction and fulfilment ourselves through the highest level of excellence we can attain. Your Executive Committee and District Chairmen have evolved, with a number of new faces developing the communications field and modernising our platform with the playcricket.com website, alongside Facebook This may seem a strange notion to some. After all, we are instinctively competitive and like to do some and with Twitter. There is undoubted positivity in creating an awareness of our Club on a broader base and the winning along the way; yet ours is a most generous club and, amidst the rough and tumble of a day’s move in this direction is enabling dividends to be realised. cricket, we like to see our opponents, the young particularly, do well just as we love to see our own children succeed. Passing something on to a future generation is a precious gift. An attitude of mind, Our ambition is to create balanced cricketing XIs wherever possible and that these XIs always play with our intent upon giving something to each day rather than merely taking from it, is a positive and generous spirit in cricket uppermost – Inspiring Cricketers to Enjoy a Lifelong Love of Cricket. one and, above all, gives the Forty Club, a great club, with its wonderful list of fixtures on some of the best grounds in the country, a sense of purpose that can be matched by few others in the world. On a broader look at the club game, we can all observe a troubling decline in the numbers of participants and the folding of a number of established clubs. We, as members of the Forty Club, are in a position of co- Thank you all for the special contributions you make, which in turn have an influence upon so many responsibility in helping the game maintain its presence, with our mantra to be involved in schools cricket. This people in schools and elsewhere. responsibility requires us at all times to put out quality teams and to play our cricket in the best spirit.

Good luck, may shine, and have a happy and rewarding summer. The game from top to bottom needs to regenerate, ensuring that club cricket in general is played by the rising generation. While some senior players are possibly needed to lead the group, others need to step aside to allow John Barclay youth to come through. Seniors cricket has fine age group competitions – but it is investment in the future game that counts. The Forty Club should demonstrate that lead in investment.

I wish you as safe a passage through the coming months as possible; our game has the ability and drive to regenerate when this is all done and will allow us to all come together agaIn, hopefully later in 2020.

Phil Fawkner-Corbett

4 The Forty Club 2020 Yearbook https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com 5 GENERAL

REPORTS SECRETARY’S TREASURER’S NOTES NOTES

ow ironic it was that just as England clinched that riting this report serves a few purposes. Initially, I been recorded as income in the wrong financial exciting victory in on the fifth day can introduce myself as your new Treasurer and year. This has now been adjusted and we are back H of the second Test, the ECB and South African W then I can take a few lines to briefly explain the on track with collections. We decided 15 years ago Cricket formally endorsed the proposal for four- disappointing 2019 accounts. to abolish the opportunity for life membership for day Tests. However, better news reached us more recently UK members. Whilst life membership payments were as the MCC Committee voted in favour of the five-day Test. Some of you will know my history with the Forty being collected, there was no real pain in assessing Club. I took my father’s position on the Dinner the receipts as 100% current year income, but once It is the era of radical ideas to change the first-class game, Committee 20 years ago and after six years serving stopped there has been no way of adequately either to make it more interesting to the vast majority of under the Chairmanship of Dr Fred Imms, I was asked servicing the annual costs that are expended for a people who never watch it, at grounds or on TV, or to its role, its purpose and its ambitions in cricket. Do we need to be Chairman of the Dinner Committee. This role gave group that now contributes no annual income other improve the standards of skill of those who play it. Sadly to take the opportunity to undertake some fundamental me a position on the Executive Committee, on which I than perhaps the occasional match fee. it seems to some of us that this plethora of ideas is being research to develop what is the right response to [some of] have served since 2006. As well as Dinner matters, I have driven by the market-maker and the money-man, and not today’s school needs for matches against adults? been able to support the Executive with reviews on the Subscriptions collected year on year have stayed by the cricketer. Constitution and on some digital matters that continue to approximately the same for a while now and perhaps We can still challenge in the shorter forms of the game as be reviewed as we move into a new decade. that was adequate? Match fees are proportional to the The cricket picture is changing almost daily. Many schools long as we continue to attract younger playing members. vagaries of the British weather and we all remember are opting for shorter games, maybe 30 or 35 overs. And we can certainly challenge in the longer form of Before looking forward, let’s look back on the dismal some inclement summers in the recent past. We can Younger players yearn for the shorter game, reduce their the game. All the options and opportunities are open to results thrown up by last year’s trading and try and find do little about the weather, but we can continue to availability and commit to less cricket. 19 years of age us as long as we take them and work positively to field some explanations that will assist in analysing why this recruit members in the hope that we play more cricket, seems to be the watershed mark when they decide to competitive and testing teams. has happened. As individual revenue and expenditure starting in 2020, because the weather is more friendly leave the game. Fewer folk are prepared to volunteer to headings are considered it will become apparent that to our treasured game. I am also urging the Executive run, coach, organise and help out at clubs. There is a gulf To cope with the developing challenges we need to further analysis by the Executive Committee is required to Committee to act on the former, and specifically with forming between those clubs with money which can buy strengthen our armoury of players. Strength in depth and address where things went wrong. those members who have yet to sign and pay their their way and their players, and those which cannot. age-group gives us options and enables us to respond to annual subscriptions by direct debit. This initiative will all forms of the school and club game. We, the adults, love The Club has moved forward significantly in the be tackled this year. Having said that, four of the players in the England Test the game, a game which we have played all of our life and, accounting of members’ funds by establishing a base team in South Africa are around 22 years of age; another in the words of the motto of the Forty Club, we want to with a fully functioning Cloud accounting system. Reducing expenditure is just as important as raising was 24. Despite so many changes to cricket occurring in inspire others to enjoy and love it too. Yes it is a challenge This will ensure greater efficiencies and a more timely income and a mixture of both is our aim. Every four schools across the country, it is fantastic to watch these that many of those whom we wish to influence, and many reporting mechanism for the Executive Committee. With years we host the Quadrangular Tournament and young men being so successful at the highest level of the of the institutions to which they belong, like to do it a bit all changes of system there are impacts to the book- 2019 was one of our years to host. We estimate that game. They are living proof that there is talent out there – differently: quicker, more ‘actively’, less often, and always keeping routines that have prompted investigation and around £3,000 will be required to host the 2023 and it must have been developed somewhere! with a result. continuing re-appraisal. Some expenditure has been Tournament so will be budgeting to reserve funds for recorded in the wrong period because of the timing of this from now on. Can this pool of developing talent be sustained? It will But where we have the skills, the enthusiasm, the energies the bills received and a similar timing issue has affected perhaps be up to those schools which are determined and the sense of purpose, we can take any of them on. some income. For all expenses we need greater control and, in to continue to concentrate on the values and benefits of some areas, we need certainty that we are getting cricket as a sport, and the longer game. The situation will The game is changing around it, so the Forty Club Our income is derived from just two streams. Match fees value for money. The single most expensive item we also benefit hugely from good performances by these must evolve too. We offer members a fantastic range of from games played and subscriptions from members. have after paying the MCC for our annual, now self- England youngsters – as long as we are able to watch opportunities, all across UK, and it is patently clear at the We must remember that we are a cricket club and we funding dinner, is the production and distribution of them on television – and see the smiles, the enthusiasm, moment that cricketers in and and need to make cricket a very attractive proposition so that the yearbook. the energy, the skills and the transparent love of the game. the North East agree with us. Cricketers in the South, and District Chairmen and Match Managers can continue to across Eastern England, are beginning to agree with us. tempt non-members to join us. We play less cricket now This has not been thoroughly reviewed for some time, The Private Frazers of this world may be saying that “we’re Enthusiasm is infectious. Enthusiasm backed up by great than 10 years ago, the costs associated with undertaking but the redesign of the 2020 version, changing its all doomed” and cricket is going down the pan, but as I opportunity, good organisation and competent match fixtures have risen, and we need to adjust our finances size and weight, is being instigated in order to save write this piece England have just clinched victory in the management is doubly infectious. accordingly. Our schools’ fixtures remain the highlights costs whilst maintaining a degree of elegance in a third Test, so I am not of that view! on our fixture list and are often played on near-county document that represents the Club in national and Shrug off any image or thoughts about old man’s cricket. standard grounds. This alone should be a tempter for international circles. In this digital age the yearbook Clubs like the Forty Club were formed to “encourage Attract and recruit new and younger cricketers. Go out people to join the Forty Club. will be subject to annual review and eventually will players in secondary school 1st XIs to play with and against there and compete. Be XL-nt! become a website download. From 1997 to date there experienced players”. Given the changing cricket landscape We have dealt with match fee income on a largely are digital copies on the website, if you do not have a it might be time for this ‘”club of senior cricketers” to review Barry Aitken cash basis, meaning that late payments have often copy of your own.

6 The Forty Club 2020 Yearbook https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com 7

Summarised Income and Expenditure for year ending 30th ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION Please submit completed forms FOR OFFICE USE ONLY September 2019 (PLAYING OR NON PLAYING) to the Membership Secretary, MEMBERSHIP No: been operating on an out-dated system Mrs Paddy Gaywood, INCOME since direct debits were introduced by the FULL £30 ASSOCIATE £10 Hartley Cottage, Hartley Green, 2019 2018 Forty Club some 20 years ago. Whilst we PLEASE USE BLOCK CAPITALS THROUGHOUT Hartley, , DA3 7BL Date Elected: / / Subscriptions 32,293 33,327 can easily modernise charging systems, Match Fees 10,588 4,862 our intention now is to merge the direct Dinner receipts 19,324 13,885 debit management into a new membership TITLE/Decorations: HOME TEL: Other -4 42 database. With direct debits as they stand, 62,201 52,116 we find ourselves a victim of a less efficient NAME: MOBILE: banking system that struggles with paper but EXPENDITURE seems to thrive on electronic data. We need Handbook and postage 13,445 12,292 to adapt and modernise. ADDRESS: I wish to be a - PLAYING/ NON-PLAYING/ Officers expenses 3,075 3,051 /ASSOCIATE MEMBER Other officer’s costs 8,425 6,897 As always, the Treasury function of the Club Meetings 9,399 4,023 is indebted to the hard-working officials who Insurance 692 852 carry out the Club’s day-to-day business. In Cricket balls and merchandise 9,431 7,024 the summer these are the Match Managers, POST CODE: Bank charges 591 507 who run cricket with help from the District Dinner costs 20,717 14,397 Chairmen. More particularly the Club has EMAIL: SIGNATURE: Cricket expenses 4,156 2,209 a hard working Executive Committee, all Other 2,608 3,972 of whom contribute in some way towards 72,539 55,224 the incomes and expenditures that compile Surplus/(deficit) for the year -10,338 -3,108 the accounts. In particular, I would like to Bank / Building Society Address: acknowledge the significant contributions To the Manager: Bank/Building Society: INSTRUCTION TO YOUR Summarised Balance sheet as at 30th September 2019 made by my fellow officers, Barry Aitken, BANK OR BUILDING SOCIETY Paddy Gaywood, Tony Fare and the CURRENT ASSETS Chairman, Philip Fawkner-Corbett. Without Address: TO PAY BY DIRECT DEBIT 2019 2018 their support, efficiency and good humour Originators Identification Number: Debtors and Advance Payments 5,249 2,637 during our meetings, the Club would not be Bank 18,439 25,406 as well-placed to even start to contemplate 23,688 28,043 some of the changes that are imminent. 6 3 0 1 6 5 CURRENT LIABILITIES Advance receipts -6,628 Other efficiencies (some costs, some time) Instructions to your Bank / Building Society. Accruals -1,992 have been achieved through moving to -8,620 0 online scorecards and statistics. Kevin Please pay The Forty Club Direct Debits Post Code: Net current assets 15,068 28,043 Owens has admirably accomplished this from the account detailed in this instruction without any fuss and I congratulate him for Name of Member: subject to the safeguards assured by the Representing: General fund/accounts his work. I must also thank Stephen Kelly, Direct Debit Guarantee. I understand 2019 2018 who held the Treasurer’s job for the past Balance brought forward 28,043 28,064 two years. He was as instrumental as I in this instruction may remain with The Forty Surplus/(Deficit) for the year -10,338 -3,108 compiling last year’s figures and we thank Name(s) of Account holder(s): Club and if so, details will be passed Advances and receipts movements -2,637 3,087 him for his time and efforts. electronically to my Bank / Building Society 15,068 28,043 Finally, back to our 12 regional salesmen, our Account Number: District Chairmen, and our Match Managers. A little more attention, by some, to the financial elements of running the Club will greatly Other high-cost items like our meeting expenses are under assist when the book-keeping is done. You Bank Sort Code: Signature(s) review, from both a cost and necessity point of view. A are congratulated for continuing to produce national club with Executive Committee members and District a steady stream of new members that Date: Chairmen located across the whole of the mainland will enables teams to be fielded and our fixture list find travel expenses to meetings are high tariff costs. Some honoured. I hope that more members of the meetings are necessary, some may not be so – we will review Club will make themselves available for cricket This Guarantee should be detached and retained by the payer all of them. in 2020, making team selection a much more difficult proposition than it often has been in Direct Debit Guarantee In changing any of our systems we may be faced with a previous seasons. The Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay Direct Debits few one-off costs, but these are necessary if we are to do If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit The Forty Club will notify you (normally away with legacy systems. Hopefully, we will have made Our 75th playing season beckons and with it 10 working days) in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request The Forty Club to collect some strides here by the time I make my report to the perhaps a financially revitalised version of the a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request AGM in November. One crucial area where we can make Forty Club that plays more cricket? If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit, by The Forty Club or your bank or building society, you are entitled improvements is with the management and operation of to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society. our direct debit charging system for subscriptions. We have Ian Witchell If you receive a refund to which you are not entitled, you must pay it back when the Forty Club asks you to. You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify The Forty Club.

8 The Forty Club 2020 Yearbook NEWSROUND CRICKET ISON THE WAY BACK New Zealanders? would England have beenasgenerous asthe A thought emerged: ifthe result was reversed sporting, unlucky losers. to the winner andheartfelt sympathy for the recriminations after the final,onlycongratulations to putemphasis onenjoyment. There were no country, underBrendon McCullum’s captaincy, to their opponents.New Zealandwas the first with the umpires andeveryone showed respect sportsmanlike manner–nosledging,arguing the fieldbothOn setsofplayers behaved inavery thoroughly it.’” deserved no definingmomentthat you couldsay ‘yes, we finger onwhere the gamewon andlost. There was World ODICup crazy“madness, andIcan’t stick my English cricket, EoinMorgan Dublin-born calledhis described asoneofthe mostrelaxed captains in last ball andall22were heroes. Despite being the endwhenEnglandsnatched offthe victory There were 22exhausted players onthe fieldat engendered from the 12th men’s World Cup. English cricket revolution, buildingonthe goodwill lover willhopethat this willbethe start ofan 10 14 days inEnglishsport.Everyfervent cricket 1789, was oneofthe more memorable which started the French Revolution in July, the 230th anniversary ofBastilleDay, NEWSROUND 2020 XL South Africa inthe winter. father ofEnglandbatsman andlives in until the final round and the Moles triumphed. Ianis Both EastMolesey andReigate were Priory unbeaten inthevictory Surrey Championshiplastsummer. – was back inEnglandcoaching EastMolesey CC to one ofouropponentsSt.John’s School inLeatherhead ofFortyOne Club’s friends–for someyears hecoached COMEBACK IAN TROTT’SSUCCESSFUL it inthe bushes. picked itupandwalked offto to the put boundary Derek Candysaidheremoved hisgloves, carefully making itsway across the pitch. Match manager batsman to was surprised seeasmall,green lizard hiswayOn to his138 Eral Anderson,XL’s opening WELLINGTON COLLEGE LIZARD STOPS PLAY AT The Forty Club2020 Yearbook long career. number ofwickets asaslow left-armer, 5,023, inhis We suspectthat Stokes won’t reach Michael’s the oneonRadio3,didnotendwith adismissal.” scattered the proud’ unlike –butatleasthisservice, – hath shewed strength‘he hehath with hisarm: of Stokes inthe words ofthe liturgy’s Kidd summeditupby saying: “There issomething background for the Stokes record.” being broadcast anditwas this that provided the repeat of Wednesday’s choral evensong onR3was the astonishing news.Atthe sametimethe usual until later, whenIwas driving home,andIheard and stillneed70 to win.”Ididn’t think aboutit colleague whispered: lostninewickets‘They’ve andaswesinging inBirmingham recessed my choral evensong. Asithappenedthat day Iwas (six) ina Test duringaRadio3broadcast of Headingley contained the mostsixesever struck Michael said: “’ secondinningsat unusual statistic for Kidd’s “Tailender” column. Perkins from WM dstrict,achorister, provided an XLmembers,Michaelone ofourlongestserving Letwin bowled outofBorisJohnson’s Brexit vote, and statistician, andon19 October whenOliver Patrick Kidd, THE LAST WORD ONSTOKES https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com The Times The columnist isacricket-lover Magnificat

Hardstaff senior: “Fancy gettingoutto aChinaman.” with aleft-hand leg-break. Robins saidto umpire Joe “Puss” Achong dismissed England’s the Old Trafford Test in1933 when Trinidadian Ellis The word Chinamangoesback to anincidentin orstumped,atthe ageof78. a great height. Tony isstilltaking , mainly whose deliveries are much slower, dropping from Another exponentisXL’s Tony Baker, McDonald Chinaman isnotpolitically correct.” along way.turns Inoticerecently that callingitthe Most batsmen are to surprised seemy stock ball should have practised more whenIwas younger. bowl the ,” hesays. “I oughtto useitbutI ball isthe straight onewith the sameaction. “I don’t He bowls Chinamen andhissurprise bigturning a memberofthe Forty Club. played 50 matches each year. Lastyear hebecame He started comingback to Englandin2016 and seasons andwon the players’ Player ofthe Year. at Chessington, took 50 wickets inhisfirsttwo Between 1992 and1994 hewas overseas player figures of20.4-6-65-10 againstNew Malden. Sutton andtook arecord of116 wickets with best with the Blues,andayear Delhi later heplayed for Mumbai. Ashfirstplayed inEngland1989, touring he was 47after beingaseniordirector ofDHLin 51-year-old Ashwani Arora, whoretired when round intwo continents? Well, here isone– How many ofourplaying membersplay allyear ASH’S ENVIABLE CRICKETING LIFE 11 TEAM 100!

The trouble with being in “lockdown” is that one finds silly things to amuse oneself. One of the more useless but still amusing pieces of information gleaned from the database that Paddy is nursing NEWSROUND is that the Forty Club can field an entire team of centenarians! A round of applause for all of them!

We have: T Grimley (104, CP) PT Kilgannon (101, CP) ALA Oliver (104, CP) RP Green (105, NT) GK Medlock (106, NW) JW Searby (105, NT) OPF Sutton (thought to be 104, SO) EHC Yates (105, SO) AL Maxwell (100, SX) JH Beresford (100, WM) WR Cheetham (103, YN) They also have our overseas player – R Gathorne (100, from South Africa)!

I guess that Beresford and Maxwell would probably open the as they are the two youngsters, with Kilgannon coming on as first change! Tony Bennett on one knee

TOP DOLLAR EXTRAORDINARY FORTY CLUB turned out for the Forty Club in its formative years. ACHIEVEMENTS He only appeared on six occasions but, by then in Dollar Academy’s performance in their match against his late fifties, he was never dismissed for fewer the Forty Club (Scotland District) was adjudged best Carl Openshaw has been Archivist to the Forty than 75 and he averaged a remarkable 203. Having overall. The other schools and teams being considered Club for the past 20 years, and says he has often rarely bowled in first-class cricket, he also took 6 were QEGS Blackburn, Bishop Vesey’s Grammar been asked to decide whether outstanding wickets for 79 in 36 overs. The first professional School, Ermysted’s Grammar School, Worksop College, performance in one of our matches represents a cricketer to receive a knighthood, he was President Castle School Taunton, Lord Wandsworth College, St record for the Club. of the Forty Club from 1950 to 1955. John’s School Leatherhead, Dover College and the Mumbles CC Colts XI from Wales. He replies: “It is easy to check as over the years 2 Ivor Parker, 1994 a variety of statistics have been compiled, which In just seven days in the summer of 1994, Ivor Parker The Forty Club Trophy, originally The Henry Grierson list the leading run-scorers and -takers (a former Cambridgeshire left-arm fast-medium Trophy, is awarded to the school that is adjudged not right back to the Club’s very first match in 1937. bowler and left-hand batsman) had successive only to be good at cricket but just as importantly, well Since then the Forty Club has played more than of 116* v Kimbolton School, 136* v Gresham’s turned out, has the highest standards of behaviour on 7,500 matches and what has become increasingly School and 100* v Old Bedfordians. Always an and off the field, is well led by their and plays evident is that, as every true cricket lover knows, aggressive player, he dominated the scoring in all to the highest standards of sportsmanship. statistics are only part of the story. Records can be three matches and the quality of the opposition can set and broken, but to appreciate their significance be judged from the fact that only against Gresham’s The Academy XI, captained by Toby Douglas, and with SCOTLAND’S NEWEST RECORD other factors have to be taken into account, was his contribution sufficient to save the Club from Scotland U19 international Jamie Cairns in the team, including the quality of the opposition and the defeat. He made just one other for the Club, ticked all of these boxes. It was a great game to play BREAKER circumstances of the match. I decided therefore to scoring 101 out of 132 whilst he was at the wicket in according to the players of the Forty Club, the boys This round-up would not be complete without put records to one side and look back through our against Perse School, again in a losing cause. gave 100% on the field and were great ambassadors for the details of the Scotland district match against long history and try to assemble a list of individual the school off it. Doune CC. first, Scotland had posted a achievements which are outstanding in any 3 Dr CB Clarke, 1967 competitive 159-7 and Doune were making steady context, but especially so for players of advancing “Bertie” Clarke played three Test matches for the West They won the match by five wickets with seven balls progress at 35-1 when the captain threw the ball to years. Others might have made different choices, Indies in 1939 before settling in England and playing to spare. Dollar Academy is the third Scottish school Kevin Ferrie. Kevin was playing in his 100th match but I believe that the ten I have selected can club cricket here after WWII. He was a high-class leg- to win the award after Glasgow Academy (2004) for the District and he celebrated in style. After two certainly be classed as extraordinary.” break and googly bowler and a useful batsman, who and Gordonstoun (2006). The Trophy was presented Ferrie overs, Doune were 38-7 and Kevin had taken in 1967 enjoyed a golden few weeks for the Forty Club at the Forty Club Annual Dinner at Lord’s on 15 a hat trick and four wickets in five balls giving him 1 Sir Jack Hobbs, 1938 to 1941 in which he took 32 wickets in just six matches at a November by MCC President . an analysis of 5-4. He is Scotland’s newest record Although these selections are in no particular order, cost of eight runs each. In five of these games he took Congratulations to Dollar Academy and all those that breaker and thanks to his fantastic performance, I can perhaps be forgiven for starting with Jack five or more wickets (including 8-22) and for good represented it in the game. Doune were bowled out for 67. Hobbs, who was one of many Test players who measure there were two hat-tricks!

12 The Forty Club 2020 Yearbook https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com 13 4 KG Metcalfe, 1960 would be seen as a great success. By his own high Kenneth Metcalfe played 105 matches for the Forty standards though, it was a relative failure as in his On Monday, James helped us meet the costs of running Club, spread over every season from 1955 to 1985. next 12 innings for the Club he made a remarkable As a consistent opening batsman, averaging 26, his six centuries, including scores of 172, 164 and 152. a cricket coaching clinic for youngsters. career was fairly uneventful, with one remarkable These were spread over several seasons since, as exception. Shortly after arriving for the game a teacher, he was rarely available in the school NEWSROUND against Stamford School in 1960 he found himself, term. His form continued when he became more as the match report states, “keeping wicket in an regularly available and his final total of 19 centuries emergency”. Two hours later he had completed (highest score 189) places him comfortably at the six stumpings (all off Rex Bullock, who took 7-14) head of the Club’s list of century makers. On Tuesday he helped us buy cricket training kit for and a catch to set a Club record which has never disadvantaged youngsters overseas. been beaten. Not surprisingly he was asked to keep 9 Francis Appleyard, 1961 the following year, when he took a catch and two No player has yet taken all ten wickets in an innings more stumpings but there is no record of him ever for the Forty Club but Francis Appleyard came keeping wicket again. close in 1961 when, at the age of 56, he took 9-24 against Victoria College, Jersey. Perhaps wisely, he 5 AB Jackson, 1977 did not rely too much on his fielders as no fewer On Wednesday James helped us to make a contribution Brian Jackson’s figures of 13-9-4-3 against than seven of his victims were clean bowled and Stonyhurst College would be remarkable in any one LBW. Two years later he took 24 wickets in five to a Lords Taverners project. level of cricket, but for the Forty Club they are quite matches at a cost of just 196 runs. Described as “a exceptional. They were not, however, achieved in fast-medium bowler of impeccable line and length“, isolation as his overall record for the four matches he was so successful in club cricket that Essex he played that year was 9 wickets for 75 runs in 60 invited him to make his first-class debut at the age overs. Having earlier had a successful county career of 42! He became President of the Forty Club in for Derbyshire, he played 60 matches in the North 1971, but sadly died in his year of office. On Thursday it was four years since James passed away. West District and in total took 102 wickets for the Club at an average of 16.4 and a miserly economy 10 DCS Compton ct rate of fractionally more than two runs per over. Ingleby-Mackenzie b Dexter 66 6 Jon Fellows-Smith This item (from All-rounders tend to be judged on whether they 1966) is included not would be guaranteed a place in their team both because the score in as a batsman and as a bowler. Only a handful of itself is remarkable, batsmen who played regularly for XL have averaged but because members over 50 and very few bowlers averaged under 20. today might be Fellows-Smith (generally known as “Pom Pom”), amazed to learn that who played four Tests for South Africa in 1960, did 50 or more years ago both in a Forty Club career which continued until entries such as this on 1997 when he was 65. He ended with a batting a Forty Club scorecard average (1,384 runs at 51.61) which was three times were not untypical. higher than his (107 wickets at Between 1938 and 17.19)! 1975 more than 90 Test players played 7 David Money, 1948 -2001 for the Club, many of When David Money was 30 and a master at them quite regularly. Bedford School in 1948, the Forty Club side arrived For example, nine for their match against the school “one short“ members of the side and he was invited to make up the numbers. He which regained the made 48 and was called upon again the following Ashes at year again, and again, until he qualified as a in 1953 – Hutton, 40-year-old. He continued playing as a more than Edrich, May, Compton, competent wicket-keeper/batsman (he scored Bailey, Evans, Laker, Make your wishes live on by writing us into your Will. 70 and took three catches and three stumpings Trueman and Bedser against Felsted School in 1967) until 2001 and – later played for holds a record, unlikely to be challenged, of XL, so members James’ gift to The Forty Club in his Will is a simple yet appearing for the Forty Club in 49 consecutive playing today should powerful way to keep his wishes alive. You can do the same. seasons (and 52 in total). recognise that they are following in the Once you’ve taken care of your loved ones, please consider including 8 Andy Meads, 1986-2016 footsteps of some a gift to The Forty Club. No Matter how big or small, you can be sure When Andy Meads made his debut in 1986 he very distinguished it will make a difference to the aims and ambitions of The Forty Club. scored 88, which for most Forty Club players predecessors. To request further information please call Barry Aitken on 01980 610836

14 The Forty Club 2020 Yearbook with the Nondescripts Lanka, inSri andincluding centuries. He hasplayed for 14 clubs, starting appearances, 20,922 average runs, 52.40, and 64 averageIT20s, 1,382runs, 31.40; 260 first-class ODIs, 14,234 average runs, 41.98, 25centuries;56 average 57.40, highestscore 319, 38 centuries;404 all formats, 134 Test appearances, 12,400 runs, a total of28,016 ininternational cricket runs in His cricketing statistics are almost unequalled– commitments anddeclined. the Lanka Sri HighCommissionerbuthehadother the President Lanka ofSri offered himthe job as Lanka. inSri exposed corruption When heretired, of the finestCowdrey Lectures atLord’s, whenhe to bePresident ofMCC andin2011 delivered one He hasnow becomethe firstnon-Britishperson house inthe Long Room atLord’s onNovember 15. than Sangakkara –naturally heattracted afull And nooneinthe gametoday ismore respected played amatch againstitslocalclub. on27 Octoberborn 1977 inMatale, where XLonce nomenclature ofKumarChokshanada Sangakkara, more –butnoneofthem canmatch the all-round , , Lord Bramall andmany KUMAR SHINESAGAIN AT LORD’S 16 M , John Barclay, Trevor Bailey, Edinburgh, , , – Jack Hobbs, ,the Duke of any greats have spoken atourdinners fostering ahealthy cricket set-up atthe school; and to Dollar Academy for their continuedsupportin competitive, friendlyandexcitingmatch; secondly year-in and year-out that always proves to bea Forty Clubfor providing uswith afantastic fixture “I have afew particular thanks to give: firstly to the team, andultimately to ourschoolboy cricketing careers. fixtures against the Forty Club, to agoodseason for the provided quiteontop the to cherry aseriesofgreat presented this award. Itreally isanhonourandhas gratitude, onbehalfofmyself andschool, for being “I would like to start by expressing my immense the schools’ cricket award andthis is Toby’s speech: theDouglas, captain ofDollar School, for winning He then presented the Forty Club Trophy to Toby greeted by astanding ovation. after proposing the toast to the Forty Clubhewas and how itshouldbepreserved. Ashesatdown out.” He spoke passionately infavour of Hundred competition: “We have to seehow itpans Q&A hesaidofthe introduction ofthe controversial encourage youngsters to take upthe gameandina In his15-minute speech hestressed the needto two inPakistan. franchises, oneinJamaica,, and Warwickshire, Durham, andSurrey, three IPL The Forty Club2020 Yearbook chairman PhillipStallard.chairman the Herbert Hunter Trophy to Wales District bowler for the Over Dorset 60s side.He presented and atLord’s. Andrew stillplays asamedium-pace at University, the MinorCounty Dorset side about hilarioushappeningsfrom school matches, anecdotes were unleashedinquick succession,all Everyone was laughingandclapping asAndrew’s John Barclay joked: “You’ve taken ayear to gethere!” year after hegotthe date wrong in2018. President The Rev Andrew DigbyWingfield was ontime this from ourPatron PrincePhilip. for abriefperiodofsilence.He alsoread amessage Aitken thenBarry read atribute to Jamieandcalled fixture upNorth asaspectator.” I look forward to attending the Forty Club’s next immensely for this award. Thank you for listening. All that isleftfor meto say is,onceagain,thank you standing infront ofyou today ifitwere notfor him. countless youngsters. to Suffice say Iwould notbe As aresult ofthis heinstilledalove ofthe sportin anyone onto hispitch, regardless oftheir ability. extremely kindandgenerous manwhowelcomed are aware, passed away recently. Jamiewas an of cricket atDollar and,asIamsure many ofyou not to mentionJamieFrost. Jamiewas the Head It would beimpossible atatimelike this for me we have seeninrecent seasons. has beeninstrumental inany andallsuccessthat thirdly to Peter Ross, who, through hiscoaching, https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com Honorary Life Member Kumar Sangakkara, for the Club. We look forward to himbeingagreat ambassador such illustriouscompany.” Members ofthe Clubandamhumbled to bejoining distinguished cricketers whoare Honorary Life honour andamdelighted to accept.Inote the Member, hesaid: grateful“I amvery to you for this beinginvitedOn to becomeanHonorary Life Masters inLaw. his cricketing commitmentsbutlater completed his Colombo, butwas unable to finishhisdegree dueto He enrolled inthe Law Faculty ofthe University of Sangakkara was educated at Trinity College, Kandy. spend timewith acricketing legend. to members,guestsandschoolboys whowishedto presented the awards andwas incredibly generous President ofMCC, hegave anexcellentspeech, performance atthe club dinnerwhen,asthe current association with the Forty Clubbeganwith afantastic Life Membersjustbefore the 2019 AnnualDinner. His Kumar Sangakkara joinedthe ranks ofourHonorary

17

DINNER TOURS

Jim Keys comprehensively bowled

temporary sub fielder. Seeing a well-struck aerial HOLLAND, SEPTEMBER 2019 shot heading his way, Pat deftly dropped his DUBAI, NOVEMBER 2019 in the path of the ball before moving several yards squarer, where he pretended to anticipate the ball GOING DUTCH would spin. When the ball struck his discarded cap IT’S THE TAKING we acquired five extra runs on top of the single he Eastern Counties squad tour from 9 already run – needless to say the only six of our PART… to 13 September did not start well, says innings. Having set Jaap’s XI 196 thanks to another An enthusiastic but ageing group of 13 players T Robert Smith, with the match against half-century from Jim Keys, Paul Bradley led our and three umpires enjoyed yet another tour to Two Counties Over 50s abandoned due attack with 4-27, well supported by Rob Nelson and Dubai in November. to persistent drizzle. Other early disappointments Sooty Wheeler (2-24). We caught almost as many were opening batsman Kevin Grant having to pull Pinch hitters Pat Patel and Sudi Trivedi opened for catches as we dropped leaving the last two Dutch ur first match was at the Emirates 7s out of the tour due to illness and Lance Taylor’s XL but did more pinching than hitting. This left Jim wickets to hold out for a draw for 22 overs in the ground, where dropped catches afflicted plans for a romantic crossing to Holland in a luxury Keys with an accomplished 62 and Paul Wakefield last hour in a gripping finish. The Dutch finished on O us as usual and we lost narrowly. Then cabin dashed by the non-appearance of his lady (31) to get us back in the contest despite needing 104 for 9 with Jan Willem Heshusius and Donald amazingly our second match at Sharjah friend. Things could only get better. almost six an over off from the last 30 overs. Jon Noorhof stoically blocking. stadium had to be postponed because of a deluge, Hartley struck several lusty blows leaving us with so it seems climate change has reached even Dubai. After dinner on the Stena Line overnight ferry 14 required off the last over and then four to tie Our final match was against a strong Quick In the rearranged match against the MS Dhoni from Harwich we arrived at our hotel – 6.5 metres or six to win off the last ball. Alas, Jon did not Nijmegen XI, skippered by our old friend Theo van Academy we bowled well, with Daniel Eldering below sea level – in time for breakfast. In beautiful connect, leaving us on 185 for 9, four runs short. Straten. Depleted by the absence of Paul Bradley and taking his first wickets (three of them) outside sunshine we narrowly lost our first match against Rob Nelson, our bowlers were smashed airily for Europe, restricting our opponents to 175 off 40 a strong SGS side at Capelle a/d Ijssel, probably the After a boat trip to Delft on our free day we took 263 for 2 off 35 overs, a target we had no hope of overs. After a good start we were mesmerised by lowest cricket ground in the world (also 6m below on Jaap Vogelaar’s friends of Kampong XI in overhauling through the long grass of the outfield, unpickable leg-spin, and top-spinners from sea level). Utrecht. Here we employed underhand tactics so we had to settle for a heavy defeat. Our best both ends, so ended up 12 runs short of victory from the Dominic Cummings playbook to gain the batsmen were Paul Wakefield (35) and Lance Taylor despite a breezy knock of 31 from Rehan Malik. Man of the Match Marc Muis, Raimond van den upper hand. Paul Wakefield (59) and Bob Collins (38*), Lance protecting keeper Kevin Bissett from the Berg and Eric de Jong started the SGS innings (43) opened the innings so soporifically that by strike for the last 15 overs by assiduously counting The next day we were royally entertained as usual aggressively, but Rob Nelson bowled Marc for the time Bob timed a shot off his legs the Dutch to five before taking a single off the last ball of each by Freddy Sidhwa at his beautiful private cricket 73 and we recovered well in the field, restricting square-leg fielder, Doednath, had almost fallen over. No one begrudged Lance a good, undefeated ground. We struggled to 135 off 35 overs against SGS to 189 in their 40 overs thanks to accurate asleep, allowing the ball to run unnoticed past his knock as he had driven one of our minibuses a panoply of ex-UAE international bowlers invited bowling by Paul Bradley (2-39) ably supported by foot for four. That gave us momentum. We then throughout the tour. As usual our performances in by Freddy to put the old colonialists to shame Jon Hartley, Rob Nelson and Sooty Wheeler. cunningly offered the opposition Pat Patel as a the third innings, in the bar, were always our best. once again. Champagne moment was skipper

18 The Forty Club 2020 Yearbook https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com 19 TOURS

Skipper Simon Rawson bowling All the gang together at the culmination of the coaching day

Simon Rawson’s self-delusion that he needed by Geoff Barker. An amazing match with 741 runs THE GAMBIA, SPRING 2019 an “abdominal protector” to perform in the ended in victory by just nine of them. bedroom as well as on the cricket field. Having held the game up for about 10 minutes retrieving Our next match was against Abu Dhabi Gents on AFRICAN it from the changing room, needless to say the stadium nursery ground where we chased Simon was out next ball. Freddy’s skilled team 204 disappointingly against good bowling and ADVENTURE had no trouble knocking off the runs despite by a much younger side of expats. Then a great catch in the deep by perennial club we returned to Sharjah stadium for our last match. L member Andy Shanks has been hypochondriac Rob Nelson. Darjeeling had struggled to raise a team but ended travelling to the Gambia for many up restricting us to 124 off 35 overs despite an X years, and spends lots of time out there The return journey in our bus was eventful for enterprising 41 from Kevin Bissett. Andy Gregory, coaching cricket. He has also spent huge a rousing pep-talk by next day’s captain Jon Paul Bradley and Rob Nelson tied Darjeeling down amounts of his own money providing and shipping Thornton and slightly less edifying words from well for a while but they eventually got home cricket equipment to them, writes Barry Aitken. defeated skipper Simon Rawson, whose vocabulary with about three overs to spare, whereupon we when inebriated was limited. Simon was put to renewed acquaintances old and new in the Irish So when he asked if the Forty Club would be bed at the hotel oblivious to his surroundings but Village to complete another successful tour – interested in a tour to the Gambia, we said yes and by midnight had amazingly come back to life, successful in the sense of Winston Churchill who planning began for an early 2019 spring tour. The showered and donned new clothes for a night out defined success as “the ability to go from one schedule was eventually agreed, the hotel booked on the town. He had no memory of most of the failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm”. and the flights confirmed and then, two days before evening or the bus trip home. departure, the President of Gambia Cricket Association emailed to cancel the tour “because he did not have The following day we enjoyed our only victory the funds”. I responded quickly to state that we would of the tour, against a Kings School Academy XI, be coming, regardless of his protestations, and looked consisting of more adults than boys. Nigel Gadsby forward to meeting him at the hotel! starred with 170, ably supported by half-centuries from Geoffrey Barker and Sajid Zaib. We scored Gambia cricket survives mainly through the 375 for 5 in our 50 overs and initially it seemed we herculean efforts of Mbye Lowe, the national would win comfortably. Then one of the school coach, and in spite of the interventions of the coaches got to work with a spate of sixes over the Association’s President. When the meeting took short boundaries, leaving the school on 366 for place on the first evening, it was soon clear that 9 with two overs to spare. Then, a masterstroke! there were going to be challenges! The first hit us Skipper Jon brought Rehan Malik on to bowl for the following morning when transport to the first the first time in the match; he started with two dot match, arranged by the Association’s President, Children climbing over the fence to catch a glimpse of the balls and then snared the coach caught at mid-off Nigel Gadsby batting failed to materialise! Some time later, with frayed Forty Club playing

20 The Forty Club 2020 Yearbook https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com 21 TOURS MATCH NOTABLE FORMER PUPILS REPORTS John Snow – Sussex, Warwickshire and England 2019 cricketer Dennis Silk – Cambridge and Somerset cricketer, and SEASON headmaster Jack Bailey – Oxford and Essex cricketer and former MCC secretary Rev Cecil Boden – Leicestershire cricketer Jack Gentry – Essex and Surrey cricketer

CHRIST’S HOSPITAL, HORSHAM, WEST SUSSEX

A SCHOOL LIKE NO OTHER A remarkable picture of Ross Taylor, our youngest and best player on the Gambian tour, taken by Barry Aitken umpiring at cover point. he headline above is displayed at entrances He managed to avoid being hit! to the unique, 1,200-acre school and it T is doubly true. Not just because the 900 pupils of both sexes wear the dark tempers and the use of three open pick-up trucks, through promising to rank beginner! When we Tudor uniform, known as cassock – first used when we travelled the 20km to the ground where the played the girls, all the boys came to watch, and it was founded in 1552 – but also because one of opposition was patiently waiting. From then on, when we played the boys, all the girls came along: their pupils, John Snow [right], turned out to be an surrounded by the local cricketers and with Mbye great support! What we couldn’t fault was the extraordinary and controversial England fast bowler in charge, things improved rapidly. enthusiasm and the excitement. The only match who also wrote poetry. Son of a Scots vicar, he spent we won was against the girls XI but the coaching seven years there between 1952 and 1959. Effectively Gambia has one cricket ground and day was considered a huge success, with a it lies in the heart of the state capital Banjul. hundred kids spread out across the field. The school cricket coach is the much-travelled Imagine if you will a well-worn carpet track with Trevor Jesty [above], who played 490 first-class spring-back stumps, a rough and sandy outfield, Ross Taylor stood out with the bat for XL, scoring matches, scoring 21,916 runs and taking 585 wickets a permanent pool of water by the hose outlet just 39, 24, 52 and 93; Rob Nelson took 4-38 in the for Hampshire, where he made his debut in 1966. His coaches are working on their fitness, technique, diet behind square on the offside, and ever-present opening match and Mark Wheeler 4-37 against the career finished in 1991 after sojourns with Surrey, and all sorts of things.” vultures flying in and out for a drink. Oh, and the under 19s; and Robert Smith scored a half century Canterbury, Griqualand West and Border. He went on occasional small herd of goats wandering the in the final match, prompting suggestions of an to be a first-class umpire between 1993 and 2013. The XL match took place on 5 June and Paul ground keeping the grass down! And then, to immediate retirement from the game! Lack, the XL match manager, assembled several complete the picture – at least on one day – a Jesty’s first experience of facing Snow’s bowling was experienced new players and agreed on a 65 overs vast parade of small children rehearsing for their Away from the field there was a four-hour river rather daunting. He said: “Snowy always bowled at match, 35 overs for XL and 30 for the school. XL’s National Day! trip up the Gambia river to a slave settlement, a the sea end at Hove and reckoned when the tide batsmen were soon tested by the young bowlers and day trip to Senegal, bird-watching was popular, was in it helped his swing. I’d been in a few minutes when Nigel Angus walked before being given caught The track was lively when the opposition quickies Lance Taylor took a liking to the local golf when one of his deliveries flew up and I gloved it to behind Trevor said: “You don’t see that happening bowled, wicket-keeping was a challenge, and course and life at the hotel revolved around gully, out for a duck.” very much these days. Good to see it.” A tall, fielding skills were tested to the limit as balls sunbathing, sea-bathing and more sunbathing. 16-year-old leg spinner Gus Freeman, who is at the would impetuously fly over a fielder’s head or turn Was he as fast as today’s bowlers – like Sussex Academy, stood out with his control and had sharply on a tuft of grass. As tours go this was different! Very pleasant, at and ? “Nothing like as fast. In our day the best figures of 3-41 in XL’s 194. times exasperating, mostly very enjoyable, forever coaches didn’t coach. I remember when I made my We played five matches and were involved in one hot, always entertaining and fun at the cricket, and debut Roy Marshall was captain and I wanted some Ben Kinnear, the 1st Xl skipper, was doing an exam children’s coaching day and one “elite players” surrounded by bubbly, fun, laughing and curious advice from him but he said: ‘See how it goes then’. but joined his team after tea and came in at the coaching session. Most of the matches were 30 local cricketers. The two evenings when we were Derek Shackleton was in his prime as a medium-fast second wicket to score an unbeaten 26. XL veteran or 35 over affairs against “invitation XIs”, and the guests of the British High Commissioner and the bowler and I would have liked to learn from him too. keeper Mark Wheeler changed roles halfway through schedule included one T20 against the girls XI, Indian Consul respectively were much enjoyed He took me to the nets, pointed to a box of balls and the innings, which lasted 29.2 overs and proceeded and one match against the under 19 team. All and, were it to be proposed that we return, the said: ‘Take them out and bowl at the wicket.’ After I’d to tempt the two batsmen with his lob bowling. He great fun, with local skills ranging from excellent, suggestion would I think be well supported. bowled them, he said: ‘Keep doing that,’ and walked was rewarded with a wicket. Only two wickets fell off. Today’s bowlers are faster because medics and but batsmen had to work hard for their runs.

22 The Forty Club 2020 Yearbook https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com 23 SCHOOL MATCHES

DOLLAR ACADEMY, SCOTLAND ERYMYSTED’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL, NORTH YORKSHIRE

DOLLAR IN THE POUND SEATS who had taken four wickets earlier in the day, join ED CROFT STARS AT HISTORIC Tea was excellent with a fine array of sandwiches Ansott to take them to the brink of victory. Smith’s BOLTON ABBEY and cakes, and it was with a heavy heart/stomach n a low-scoring game, the Dollar boys fine all-round effort ended near the end when he that the players tore themselves away from the batted, bowled and fielded with talent and was bowled for a patient 20, but Ansott top-scored in he inaugural fixture between the Forty repast. Ermysted’s Louis Horsfield looked good at I commitment, demonstrating discipline, finishing off the job, just missing out on what would Club and Ermysted’s Grammar School, the top of the order, hitting a nice 42, and Sam energy and resolve at different stages in have been a well-deserved half century as he steered T Skipton was played on a gloriously sunny Pilling also produced some decent shots for his the match. A well-drilled bowling attack had the his team to a thoroughly deserved five-wicket win with day at the picturesque setting of Bolton 38. The school was going along nicely at 117-2 but Forty Club under pressure from the outset, with Tim seven balls remaining. Abbey CC. It produced a cracker of a game with the introduction of Heke put the brakes on and the Preston-Jones the only member of the visiting side some excellent cricket from both sides and will now school slumped to 130-6. to threaten at any stage to take the initiative before The boys were well turned out and played in the true become a regular part of the fixture list. he was beaten by Scotland under 19 cap Jamie spirit of cricket. They never gave up whether in the Looking in some trouble, the school batsmen Cairns, wicket-keeper Wright completing the job field, bowling or batting. The captain showed great Ermysted’s was founded way back in 1492 when remained calm despite the required run rate climbing with a neat stumping. experience by setting good fields that frustrated Christopher Columbus was sailing his ships across over 9 per over. Ed Croft was still at the crease and many of the XL attempts to push along the score. We the Atlantic to “discover” America and the school has he was looking increasingly assured as boundaries From that point the relentless accuracy of the attack, were also impressed by the lack of panic when they been one of the best state schools in the country started to come. With seven needed for victory off enthusiastically encouraged by their teammates batted. The counter-attack and running between the ever since. the final over he smote a superb six over long on throughout a long vigil in the field, left the XL with wickets was very impressive. second ball before finishing the match by creaming no option but to ‘engage obdurate’ mode. With The XL set about the task of compiling a a four off the next ball to give Ermysted’s victory by a couple of rain interruptions reducing available challenging score on a pitch that was on the slow four wickets. He finished on 79* from just 57 balls time, the only chance of presenting a challenge NOTABLE FORMER PUPILS side. A steady start from openers Steve Dalby and and the seventh wicket stand was worth 94, of which was to occupy the crease and test the youngsters’ Sir James Dewar – inventor of the vacuum flask new member David Hedges laid the platform in the No.8 Oscar contributed just nine! composure by forcing them to earn their chance to Lord Heyworth of Oxton – Chairman of Unilever and ICI face of some tight Ermysted’s bowling and at drinks chase a low total in as little time as possible. The John Barclay – Scotland rugby international the score was 60-1. club ultimately ground their way to a round 100 Rory Lawson – former Scotland rugby international before being bowled out in the 59th over, leaving Susan Jackson – rifle shooter, three times Commonwealth Hedges eventually fell for a fine 68 but the middle NOTABLE FORMER PUPILS Dollar with 30 overs to chase those down on a fairly Games medalist order ensured the good start wasn’t wasted as they Simon Beaufoy – scriptwriter of films such asSlumdog lifeless pitch and an outfield that had started slow Graeme Morrison – former Scotland rugby international accelerated quickly in the last 15 overs. Boundaries Millionaire and The Full Monty and had become more so due to the showers. Jennifer McIntosh – rifle shooter, five times Commonwealth started to flow, although the sound of bat on ball Chris Mason – BBC political correspondent Games medalist and two-time Olympian was drowned out briefly as a helicopter flew just Mick Scothern – Worcestershire cricketer The mettle of the home side was duly tested when Shirley McIntosh – rifle shooter, four times Commonwealth past the ground at the far end, dropping diners off George Thornton – Yorkshire cricketer star man Cairns and fellow opener Lapray were both Games medalist at the nearby famous Devonshire Arms, owned by Rick Holden – Oldham Athletic and Manchester City removed without scoring, while two of the middle Seonaid McIntosh – rifle shooter, double Commonwealth the Duke and Duchess. Kevin Owens hit 48* off 40 footballer order, Hutton and Douglas, followed them back soon Games medalist balls, Dayne Heke weighed in with 25 off 15 balls Andy Hodgson – Bradford Bulls player after. At four down, many school teams would have Sara Mendes da Costa – voice of the speaking clock and Gary Owens finished things off with 35 off 24 panicked, but an impressive saw Smith, Tom Kitchin – Michelin-starred chef balls to take NE to 220-6 off their 40 overs.

24 The Forty Club 2020 Yearbook https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com 25 CHISLEHURST GRAMMAR NOTTINGHAM HIGH SCHOOL, SCHOOL, KENT NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

DOCTOR TO THE RESCUE TWO MATCHES IN TWO DAYS

SCHOOL MATCHES r Ben Wiles sent his teammates’ pulses he cricket ground is three miles north of racing on his XL debut at Chislehurst’s vast the school, next to Nottingham Prison. D ground. After a quiet start he charged the T Paul Shepherd’s East Midlands side won school’s young bowlers, T20 style, scoring a comfortable victory by 62 runs with an unbeaten 78 off 58 balls in an hour. Wade Cupido making 51, Ruve Louw 35 and Paul Shepherd 32, in a total of 181 from 38.1 overs. Seven He works in the cardiology department of Winchester other batsmen failed to reach double figures. Five Hospital dealing with heart problems, including XL bowlers shared the wickets, bowling out their pacemakers. A goodly number of our members have opponents for 119 in 27.3 overs. Wicket-keeper Louw them and they cost up to £20,000 apiece! snared three victims – two stumpings and one catch.

Ben grew up in Chislehurst and was an old boy who The following day, Paul celebrated his 50th birthday by captained the first team in 2001-02. He now lives leading the EM side in a new XL fixture at Tickhill CC, his in Southampton and put his name down for four XL club side in Doncaster. Batting for EM was David White, fixtures last season. “I play for the hospital, much of it a 28-year-old South African who played 85 first-class T20 because of the time factor,” he said. games for East Province and South Africa A and an XL Rehan Malik opens the bowling for the XL Eastern District friend who played for Ashtead last season in the Surrey Ben and Neil Canham, 61, enabled XL to reach 202-6 Championship. One of his sixes bounced on the road FOREST SCHOOL, SNARESBROOK, LONDON in 40 overs. Chiselhurst’s tall, impressive opener Max and flew over a two-storey flat on the other side. His Leeves stroked 42 off 25 balls before retiring, with his innings was cut short on 30 and in quick succession final stroke a reverse sweep for four. “I am captaining Kevin Owens went for a well composed 87 and RE-RUN ON ANOTHER ENGLAND Lancaster, another quality batsmen, finished with 48* Sidcup under 17s this evening,” he explained. Oliver Shepherd was undone by a beauty from James Bodie, SKIPPER in his side’s eight-wicket victory. Tony McDonald- Smith, who bowled both seam and spin, represents accompanied by lots of laughter. Barker, aged 76, recorded his 397th club wicket (1-20 Kent under 17s. asser Hussain excelled as an all-rounder at in 4 overs) with Malik, standing on the longest mid- Lunch was a stellar affair and included the Forest School between 1983 and 1985. On wicket boundary, taking a fine catch. The school were well up with the clock when Neil reminiscences of ex-Yorkshire bowler Mike Cowan. It’s N the honours board in the pavilion his seven Canham produced a burst of 5-12 with his accurate not often you hear somebody claim to have snuggled hundreds are recorded with a top score of off-breaks. Ash Arora from Mumbai, who spends each up naked next to “Fiery” but that’s 141 and, surprisingly, eight mentions of taking six or NOTABLE FORMER PUPILS summer in England, completed the rout with his exactly what he claimed! After lunch Adi Sreedharn, more wickets with his leg-spin. His best analysis of Edward Atkinson – Royal Navy surgeon who survived Scott’s left arm Chinamen and googlies, taking 2-34. Harry chasing XL’s 269, came storming out and blasted his 7-27 was against Brentwood School. fateful Antarctic expedition Turner stood firm to reach 66 before the innings way to a 39-ball 72. He then miscued and later, at 212- Geoffrey Wellum – Battle of Britain fighter pilot ended at 149 off 25.3 overs. Neil finished with 6-24. 7 with six overs to go, the game was finely balanced. Neil Adams, the director of sport, pointed out the Lt Geary – WWI Victoria Cross winner But the clock ticked past 6pm with the clubhouse name of PWA Mulder on the board – a 21-year-old James Foster – England and Essex wicket-keeper/batsman The school coach Richard Wallbridge said: “When I awash with juniors eager to practise. Time was called: South African who plays for Kent and has one cap for Quinton Fortune – Manchester United and South African took over, the school didn’t encourage cricket. We a fitting way to end a fine day’s play. South Africa. “We’ve had several young South Africans international footballer didn’t have the means to prepare good pitches, the playing for the school in recent years,” he said. – former captain of England (1999-2003) outfield was uncut and the 1st XI would be struggling To see the pavilion so full of juniors ready to replace Mark Petchey – tennis player and former coach to to get into double figures. But head Nigel Walker the seniors who had spent the day on the field was a James Foster is the current coach, having recently arrived in 2009, started to encourage sport and we heart-warming sight. While the game struggles in some retired from Essex. He also scouts for wicket- are now challenging the best sides in the area with areas, that’s clearly not the case in Tickhill and long may keepers for the ECB and was coach of the successful young cricketers qualifying for Kent under 17s. It’s it continue. Barbados Tridents CPL team in 2019. hard work but it’s now a great school to work for.”

XL’s batsmen were disconcerted by a number of NOTABLE FORMER PUPILS deliveries from the school’s quick bowlers and their NOTABLE FORMER PUPILS David Henry Lawrence – author of Lady Chatterley’s Lover regular umpire warned one bowler who hit Martin Quentin Blake – illustrator Ed Balls – former Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Pether, once on the helmet and once on the chest. Matthew Brimson – cricketer Kenneth Clarke QC – Conservative MP Nobody managed to play a long innings in XL’s 145 Grahame Clinton – cricketer Ed Davey – Liberal MP in 27.3 overs. Michael Donaldson, MBE – Air Vice Marshal Geoff Hoon – former Leader of the House of Commons Will Hutton – journalist Albert Ball – the first VC of the Royal Flying Corps in WWI Forest’s opener, the tall opener Harry Sewell, had two Tim Page – war photographer (who was expelled for refusing Leslie Crowther – comedian and quiz host hundreds and was well on his way to a half century to be caned in 1961) Reg Simpson – former XL member and England and Notts when his partner called for a run. Harry shouted “No” Ollie Robinson – Kent batsman and wicket-keeper CCC batsman but he was the one who was , for 33. Ajay

26 The Forty Club 2020 Yearbook https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com 27 SCHOOL MATCHES

PRIOR PARK COLLEGE, SOMERSET

CALUM DOES AN

few days after England’s ODI skipper Eoin Morgan struck a record 17, sixes the West’s A guest Calum Burnstone tried to do the same, striking five maximums and 13 fours in an unbeaten 112 to bring about a six-wicket victory against a strong school side which boasted an unbeaten 100 from skipper Will South.

Calum is a 21-year-old wicket-keeper/batsman born in Bath and has played for the Western League side Marshfield since he was ten. In 2017 he played two matches for Gloucestershire’s 2nd XI and is currently undertaking a degree in Sports Conditioning, Rehabilitation and Massage at Cardiff Metropolitan University. ST EDMUNDS SCHOOL, KENT After a weather-delayed start, and an excellent, healthy lunch the college batsmen were patient early HEALTH AND SAFETY INTERVENES PICTURED ABOVE: Bob Green, chairman of Kent Schools on. But Henry Gibbens hit 12 fours in his 77 before Association and XL member, Joe Gordon, our editor and John Widgery. Calum caught and bowled him. he weather prospects were poor at St Edmunds, which Kent CCC use for training Tom Lamb returned for his second spell, and took T purposes, so cricket manager Charles Bodie Rain was imminent but the boys sportingly stayed on two wickets at once. In an admirable sporting action, rang Cliff the night before to switch the the pitch when it started while Rob moved into the the innings continued for another 2.4 overs to game to the Polo Farm sports club just outside of nineties. After several good bits of fielding, he ran a enable Will South to reach his century, setting the Canterbury, not because of a heavy shower but for quick single to complete a hard-hitting 100* before Forty Club a target of 215 to win. With the clouds health and safety reasons. Charles explained: “The umpire John Widgery called a halt on 171-7 in 34 overs. still looking ominous, XL scored quickly in the early school’s cricket ground is rather small and the feeling stages. However, they soon lost both openers to was that someone might get hurt from the ball.” There was no resumption and Charles brought along Archie Parson in consecutive balls. Calum soon took some beers for the boys and the XL players. Cliff over and went on to hit the winning runs with two The school’s bowlers were impressive and the said: “We’ll be back next year because that is the kind balls to spare. fielding of a high standard, carried out by smiling of cricket we relish.” youngsters, who seemed to enjoy being there. Charles has regular talks with the players about NOTABLE FORMER PUPILS standards and it was obvious the boys had heeded NOTABLE FORMER PUPILS Damian Cronin – Scotland rugby international his words. Soon XL were 56-6 and only Rob Warne, Orlando Bloom – actor Christopher Logue CBE – poet continuing his form from against Sutton Valence Lawrence Durrell – novelist Sir Ken Macdonald QC – director of Public Prosecutions and when he scored a century, thrived. Arthur Hart, the – Surrey and England cricketer head of the Crown Prosecution Service 17-year-old grandson of XL’s revered Ron, bowled Darren Henley – Arts Council CEO Hugh Scully – broadcaster Rob on 10 only for the umpire to call no ball.

28 The Forty Club 2020 Yearbook https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com 29 WELLINGTON COLLEGE, WILSON’S SCHOOL, SCHOOL MATCHES BERKSHIRE LONDON

MORE ABOUT THE CURRAN BOYS RUNS AND WIDES AT WALLINGTON

visit to the palatial 400-acre college, our days before a Surrey/W Sussex side which was founded in the name of Arthur were about to take on Wilson’s, Match A Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, proved F Manager Steve King found himself with to be really worthwhile because one of the only half a team. Paul Lack, one of our teachers, Peter Oliphant-Calum was the housemaster outstanding recruiters, miraculously brought when Tom, Ben and attended from along five new players, two of whom have 2012-14. Asked how many England Test players had become XL members. A marvellous match of 521 graduated from the school, he said “Two current runs in 78.5 overs at almost seven an over ensued, ones. The previous one was back in the 1880s!” with Wilson’s winning by three wickets with six balls remaining. He said: “Their father Kevin died while jogging in Dr John Price, the Head and two former pupils 2012 and their godfather helped to With ten an over required and six wickets down, Premier League referee David Coote and Lance Taylor arrange scholarships through , who Wilson’s were ready to accept an inevitable defeat said of Sam: ‘When he was eight, I thought he with XL’s younger, faster bowlers ready to be would be good enough to play for England.’ None brought back. By this time their cricket master WORKSOP COLLEGE, NOTTINGHAMSHRE of them were really academic but they are like their Chris Bullen, the former Surrey all-rounder, was father, very competitive. Ben is now doing well at holding his ipad recording the score while urging Northamptonshire.” on Pradav Madan and Raul Garnage to go for HONOURED, for 7. Wickets tumbled on a good pitch and only Coote, quick runs. A DECADE LATE with a patient 25, held the innings together until he was The main cricket grounds have top-class pitches brilliantly caught at square leg – XL all out 125. and not surprisingly, Derek Candy decided to take Suddenly the tempo changed. Opener Madan passed ix weeks before Joe Root was a key part of a advantage of the ideal conditions. Opener Eral a hundred before being caught by Trevor Langworth first World Cup triumph, we bestowed on him All four of Worksop’s batsmen were high-calibre and the Anderson, playing only his second game for XL, for 135 and Garnage revved up to an unbeaten 55 off S and his 2009 colleagues a club honour ten bowling wasn’t quite as demanding and the boys passed scored a hard-hitting 136 out of 230-4 in 46 overs. only 28 deliveries. Those two scored 190 runs out of years late. Peter Mason, former chairman of the target with 13 overs to spare. Derek had to rely on his slower bowlers but the the winning total of 261-7 off 35 overs. East Midlands, and his colleagues had voted for Worksop college’s opener George Taberlake rattled up an College as their regional winners that year but someone unbeaten 154 in 235-4 in 25.2 overs. Thirty-two of the 46 extras were wides and XL forgot the trophy. NOTABLE FORMER PUPILS themselves gave away 29 wides out of 47 extras. Joe Root – Yorkshire and England cricketer A lot of time was spent finding balls around the tree- Langworth held a sensational catch at slip and So, after the College beat XL by eight wickets in April, Phil Sharpe – Yorkshire and England cricketer lined ground. Peter said: “George is a very talented another newcomer, Mike Goodall, who hadn’t Peter handed their skipper an XL plaque and apologised. – Notts and England cricketer young man and plays in the 1st XI not only in cricket played since 2004, toiled through seven overs. “I Joe spent three years at the school as a weekly boarder Richard Bacon – broadcaster but in hockey and rugby too.” don’t think I’ll be walking far tomorrow,” he said. on a scholarship, along with his younger brother Billy, Katie Walter – Antarctic explorer Paul Lack belied his years by taking 1-21 in 8 overs. now with Glamorgan. Peter read the key facts about the Jack Buckner – former middle-distance runner After the game and the speeches, both sides then 2009 encounter – Joe Root Steve Fox bowled Ivor Jones – sculptor repaired to uncork a bottle or two. For XL opener Rob Hall retired on 81 and South James Boock 63 in Worksop’s 237-6 in 40 overs and Chad Varah – founder of the Samaritans African guest Jano Moller also retired, on 77. The with his off-breaks he recorded 5-0-21-4 in XL’s 209, Helen Dobbs – Britain’s first female fighter jet pilot tall, 21-year-old Jano said: “I scored my career leaving the College victors by 35 runs. “The fixture was NOTABLE FORMER PUPILS best of 170 for Epsom on Saturday and I’ve slightly dropped after that,” said Peter, “but we’re very happy Sir Claude Auchinleck – Field Marshal strained a muscle.” Eight others only contributed to have it restored. Today’s wasn’t too one-sided and Sir Geoffrey Baker – Field Marshal 23 runs, and there were three ducks in a row. some excellent bowling and several top-class catches Rory Bremner – impressionist were the difference.” Sebastian Faulks – author Robin Oakley – political correspondent NOTABLE FORMER PUPILS Paul Shepherd had brought along a strongish side and Sir Christopher Lee – actor Sir Michael Caine – actor two South Africans from Cape Town – Ruve Louw and George Orwell – author Stephen Jenkins – actor Wade Cupido – opened batting and bowling with mixed James Hunt – motor racing driver Harry Golombek OBE – chess grandmaster success. They put on 30 for the first wicket when Cupido, Peter Snow – Channel 4 presenter Captain Harold Auten – WW1 VC, DSC veteran 18, was dismissed and Louw, 15, followed at 48. In came James Haskell – rugby Sir Alan Cobham, KBE, AFC – pioneer aviator who flew from David Coote with his rapid running between the wickets, Max and Thom Evans – rugby Croydon Airport to Australia in 1926. too fast for his skipper Paul Shepherd, who was run out

30 The Forty Club 2020 Yearbook https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com 31 INTER DISTRICT

INTER-DISTRICT FINAL AT LUTTERWORTH CC 2019

The undaunted, sporting losers of Surrey/WSussex

A TRIUMPH FOR THE WELSH WARRIORS

n 4 September, Welsh fervour won the day, as they regained the Herbert Hunter O Trophy after their last and only other success in 2006. The happy Wales winners Claude Kensett, one of the umpires, said afterwards: “That’s the best cricket I’ve seen for Crash! Rob Warne was bowled by a full toss with many years from Wales.” It was indeed: their the first from Leighton Walters, whose bowling was more testing, their batting was far figures were a commendable 4-55 in his nine superior, and their fielding more determined overs. Soon Sanjay Beri was playing some bold against a Surrey and West Sussex side which strokes but then he was bowled by an lacked their figure, the unavailable from Gavin Rodway for 34. Then Andi Price, Jon Thornton. hovering halfway backward of square leg, pulled off a magnificent catch to dismiss opener Richard Rain had deadened the outfield – the pitch was Thompson, 33, off another full toss. covered – but the forecast was “windy, more sun and risk of showers.” The teams agreed to start at 12.30 Further distress followed. Rob Hall, on 21, retired and SX skipper Richard Greatorex decided to bat. from a pulled groin muscle but Surrey’s star all- rounder Will Moore whacked two successive sixes to open his account. Walters was recalled and he Andi Price the Man of the Match on the left and Sanjay Beri bowling went on to bowl Moore for 39 off 35 balls, making the Epsom player the top scorer of the innings. Fifty-year-old left-handed Andi, who plays for Walters then bowled Allan Fairlie-Clarke, 28, and It turned out to be one of the most one-sided Blackwood CC, said: “I haven’t been scoring too caught and bowled Matt Cannon, 5, on 217. Six finals in the Forty Club’s history. Price hit 20 fours many runs recently but in this innings I went batsmen had passed 25 but none reached the and two sixes in his 117* off 115 balls and near well from the start. I can’t remember how many half-century mark. the target he slowed down to try and let Morgan hundreds I’ve made but it is about 20, most of reach his hundred. In vain, as Morgan finished them with Aberystwyth.” Built like Colin Milburn, he The tailenders squeezed out a few more runs before on 89 in 97 balls with 14 fours and one six. Wales doesn’t weigh himself regularly but said: “It might the 45 overs expired, helped by 18 wides: 238 for 8 finished on an impressive 240 for 1 with 39 be 20 stone, I don’t know. I used to play a lot of on a surface which eased considerably with the sun deliveries unused. rugby.” He reckoned he was slightly hampered by now shining. a sore heel in his innings but his running between In his speech in the Lutterworth pavilion, Forty the wickets was better than most. In the ensuing rout, Moore proved to be the main Club chairman Phil Fawkner-Corbett called the threat but only Beri, 1-51, took a wicket. Andi winners “The Welsh Warriors” and said: “they Barry Aitken thanked Lutterworth’s Jeff Baxter and (the Welsh spelling!) Price and Chris Morgan, a surprised me – they were spectacular.” He had his staff for laying on a splendid day and excellent mechanical engineer who plays for Gorseinon CC, an easy job to name the Man of the Match – Andi supper, as well as the umpires Claude Kensett and kept up a run-a-ball rate with sound techniques Price [pictured right]. Will Moore took the award Richard Hanson and scorers Richard Grover and and swift running. for the opposition. Phil Stallard.

32 The Forty Club 2020 Yearbook https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com 33 XL 50th

QUADRANGULAR QUADRANGULAR TOURNAMENT 2019

THE LATEST WELCOME INVASION Neston CC, Parkgate FROM THE FAR EAST he Triangular Tournament was held in BAD BOYS WHACKED FITNESS COUNTS Neston in 1998 and in the last decade they T have spent £1m turning it into a multisport Canada made 131 runs and Zulfi Shahid was the The opening match of the Quadrangular Tournament Playing every day, at a high intensity in increasingly complex with 1,500 members, staging real star, scoring 302 runs at 100.17 and taking 11 was played at King’s School Chester. Randomly hot weather, might have led to withdrawals but Ian funerals, weddings, conferences, dinner, hockey, wickets at 13.27. selected, the XL Royal Bad Boys XI scored 145 for 9 in 35 Robinson’s players kept going. Nigel Buckingham- tennis, squash and other events. The week turned out overs with Neil Canham top-scoring with 36, and the Jones turned up earlier in the day and said his to be the hottest period of the year and three people XL’S FIRST BROKEN ARM CASUALTY? XL team won easily in 24.5 overs with 149 for 2. Two shoulder was troubling him but he took 2-3. had to go to a hospital, including Chris Gladwin of batsmen, Michael Jepperson and Zulfi Shadid, retired Spain, who had an arm broken by a beamer. How many members have been hit by a beamer and on 35 and Amir Raza was 35*. The players enjoyed Wednesday was a particularly taxing day with two T20 broken an arm in an XL match? Carl Openshaw, our spectacular hospitality courtesy of King’s School. matches starting at 10am and two more at 2pm. The Most of the players played every day despite niggles archivist, who joined the club in 1980 and played in fielding was of a high standard, and some particularly and the event was a huge success. Most credit his final Triangular Tournament at Neston in 1998, ASHWANI SHOWS HIS CLASS fine diving catches were greeted by vigorous applause. goes to Neston’s long-serving officer Jim Marshall says: “I can’t remember a case because our players Dansk beat Spain, as did SGS and XL routed SGS and and commercial manager Craig Stubbs. From the don’t bowl them.” The temperature moved towards 30C and XL’s five Dansk, racking up 181-1 (Zulfi 72, Ashwani 57 and Ash XL side, the heroes were the hard working Barry newcomers made an impression against Still Going Mohammed 37). Aitken and the scoring genius Nathan Bradley. Stats During Spain’s innings against Dansk, 57-year-old Strong Holland on the Monday. After Jon Thornton now dominate today’s cricket and a surprising one left-handed former Essex batsman Chris Gladwin had held one end up, scoring 12 off 73 deliveries, Amir XL TRIUMPH IN FINE FINAL emerged when Barry insisted that he’d recorded was struck a painful blow near his elbow and Raza, 52, Zulfi Shadid 49, and Ashwani Arora 37, helped 10,450 steps during one match. the umpire ordered a free hit. The bowler was XL posted 197 in 45 overs against seven bowlers. Fortunately the deciding 45-over match between XL and Hendrik Saxe Hansen, a genuinely fast bowler who Spain took place with a breeze emanating off the river The Vikings came to this part of the Wirral some bowled several bouncers at Jon Thornton in the Ashwani proved to be almost unplayable in reply. On Dee. Spain’s 218 for 6 went the full distance and owed 900 years ago and they christened it Nes-tun, from XL v Dansk match on the Tuesday. “I had to take a slowish pitch the ball zipped around and his figures a lot to Richard Lake’s 85*. Opener Kevin Laundon, 42, a hamlet in Norway. The name meant “farmstead evasive action,” said Jon, who scored 61 leaving were 9-1-27-5. SGS Holland totalled 149 for 9 from and Akmal, 39, put on 90 for the first wicket but XL’s near a promontory” and for many years it was Hansen wicketless. their 45 overs, losing by 48 runs. On the other pitch spinners quickly removed the next four batsmen. Jon the largest port on the Wirral between Wales and Dansk’s 187 for 9 was comfortably passed by Spain’s Hartley, the slowest and craftiest, had the best figures Liverpool, before it silted up. There was a dispute about whether the beamer was 188 for 5 with French hitting ten fours in his 61. of 2-28 in nine overs and Neil Canham, 2-31, was close delivered above the waist, with Gladwin saying it behind. Jon Thornton experienced a rare duck but Zulfi On July 22 2019 there was another invasion – this was. After a short delay the match resumed with a RUNS ABOUND scored 53 and Amir Raza 71, meaning the match ended time from five all-rounders in their 40s and 50s born free hit. Hansen then knocked out the off stump, quietly with 26 balls remaining and XL triumphant. in India and Pakistan, England-qualified, successful followed by another delivery which was very close XL then ran up 324 for 8 in a 45-over game at the businessmen, cricket lovers. Together they scored to being a beamer. expense of Dansk. Zulfi Shahid batted beautifully for two thirds of the XL’s runs and took the bulk of the his 93, before falling to Hendrik Saxe Hansen, who wickets and catches. As a result XL swept to victory Gladwin was in obvious distress and had to go took 3-72. Jon Thornton laid the foundation of the in both the 45-over competition and the T20, off. Dansk had scored 118 in their 20 overs and innings with 61 and Amir Raza struck a rapid 73. Spin completing a clean sweep with the Fair Play Trophy. when Spain were 109 for 9 he gallantly resumed from Ash Arora, 3-29, and Neil Canham, 3-28, did the his innings, batting with one arm. Two more runs bulk of the damage in Dansk’s 170 in 44.5 overs. SGS Ashwani Arora contributed 101 runs and took ten were added before the 20 overs were completed. had a bad day on the main pitch. They had a weaker wickets at 14.30. Sanjay Beri scored 71 runs and Gladwin was 20* with four fours. Hansen’s figures squad than in previous years. In reply to Spain’s 245-8 took three wickets at 34.33, Ash Mohammed from were 4-1-21-3. they managed just 102 off 29.1 overs.

34 The Forty Club 2020 Yearbook https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com 35 Scyld Berry was born and grew up within a mile of Bramall Lane in Sheffield. He started as a cricket journalist

ARTICLES in 1976, and has successively been the cricket correspondent of the Observer, the Sunday Correspondent, the Independent on Sunday, the Sunday Telegraph REMEMBERING THE GIBSONS and the Daily Telegraph, and for four years he was the editor of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack. A match was played at Nairn Cricket Club to honour the He has reported on more England Test matches memory of Neil and who tragically died in the than anyone – over 400 of them, including Achnashellach area of Strathcarron in February 2018. 20 Ashes series. On the field he has taken five wickets in an innings in county cricket – for he match between Nairn Cricket Club and the SCYLD Gloucestershire Over-60s. He is also co-founder Forty Club Scotland side was organised by of what is now the ECB City Cup. T Forty Club member and Nairn Vice President BERRY Dave Wolton for his former teammate Neil and attracted scores of people throughout the day. – the captain maybe in his county age-group side – while a few more are competent because they The climbers went walking in the Achnashellach area excel at every sport they play; and two or three, in February 2018 with Neil’s pointer dog Archie but depending on exams, make up the numbers. It is were reported missing after failing to return from their therefore beneficial for the Forty Club’s opening walk. A major search operation was launched to locate not judge the success of a game by how close bowler, who may be making a name for himself in the brothers, but only bodies were found. The Torridon LAST OVER TWO TO WIN it is? The best possible record would be: Played grade cricket, to bowl against the school Mountain Rescue team who searched for the missing men The former Editor of the Wisden Cricketers’ 30, and the number of games to finish in the last captain, giving him a taste of a higher standard; were present at Nairn Cricket Club for the game and the Almanack on what the Forty Club really meams. possible over: 30. but the boys making up the team should be pitted funds raised will go to them. against one of the Forty Club’s veteran spinners (like f the Forty Club, I confess to now being a This change in approach has been accompanied me!). But these are details: the main point is that the Colin Neill, Vice Chairman of the Forty Club and Chairman fan. The Club is evolving to establish its role by, and perhaps conditioned by, the change of Club’s approach is right, and admirable. of the Scotland District, said: “Very few of us have played O in a world where everyone in employment personnel. Seniors county cricket has grown in Nairn before and this is the furthest north the Forty Club or education seems to have ever less time. enormously, so that many counties have two My wish-list for the Club goes one stage further, has ever played. We have had guys travel from all over, Over-50 sides, two Over-60 sides and one Over- if I may venture it. We have members who have with around six or seven coming from Glasgow and the I was not a fan, however, when I joined. In those 70s – with the demand growing for more teams. a bit of time and money as well as love of the West of Scotland area. Everyone was extremely excited more stilted days the club would bat first, usually by This is great: I am all for everyone playing as many game; and there are many state secondary to play at Nairn and we are delighted to be doing this for arrangement, and reach something like 68 for two games of cricket as they want. But these players schools where little if any cricket is played. I such a great cause. We are really about playing cricket in wickets by lunch, then declare shortly before tea, at are no longer available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays would urge the Forty Club to organise a week the right spirit, our vision is to inspire a lifelong love of around 220 off 58 overs. That would leave the school and Thursdays when county senior games take in every city possible – the week after most cricket, so we will take a fixture anywhere really, but once only 34 overs or so to knock them off, because our place, and thus reduce the pool from which Forty school exams – by hiring a ground, or two, at we knew the reason for this one, it was pretty easy to get a over-rate – especially when changing between Club players can be selected. a fee-paying school. Then we invite secondary side together. As a youngster, I used to holiday in the Loch overs – was so slow. Whatever the school then did schools to send a team, who would play perhaps Maree area near Torridon and have great respect for the – whether they shut up shop or, more likely, got out Lowering the age limit to 18 has been a pragmatic three games in that week. The first game might mountain rescue teams. It’s incredible what these guys put slogging – would be greeted by tut-tutting. change for the good: back in the good old days, be a sort of practice match against the Forty themselves through for other people. The Forty Club are children did not go to the gym all winter, therefore Club, or with Forty Club members, if some of delighted to help contribute to the raising of funds for the It is not like that any more, thank goodness – or, adults of 40-plus could keep up with them. the boys – and girls – had not played much if Torridon Mountain Rescue team.” rather, thank the Forty Club powers-that-be. In at all before: members and pupils could play in the West of England where I play, the Club is now But often, at least in the West of England area, two mixed teams, with the members offering The game itself was played on a glorious sunny April Sunday prepared to lose. We set challenging declarations players younger than 35 have to be called into coaching advice during the game, in the field, in front of one of the larger crowds as cricket lovers and – not like MCC, who still think it is fun to set the Forty Club sides to make up the numbers – and between balls and overs. The second would be a tourists alike enjoyed the spectacle. Batting first the Forty school 290 off 40 overs, and charge them for the often they are players from overseas, perhaps pros, 40-over game between two rival schools, with a Club posted a very competitive 179 for 4, on the back of a privilege. At the Forty Club we pay our way and perhaps over for the summer. We need to be careful natural competitive edge. Finally, the third, a T20 fine second wicket partnership of 92 between Mike Davies encourage the kids, so that the ideal result is if about going too far, by pitting almost a full team between them. I would bet almost every school and Mike Louw. Unfortunately, it transpired over the tea they win in the final over – without any overt of fit 22-year-olds against schoolboys. The secret almost every year would throw up a player, male break that two of the Forty Club bowling attack would not contrivance – and taste cricket at its most exciting. lies in the mixture, as in any non-league or social or female, of hitherto untapped talent. be able to contribute! Despite that, Nairn were only able to game: in matching up players of roughly equal succeed in their chase in the third last over, winning by two In this light I would recommend that the way of ability, so they stretch each other to improve. Let us not only play against the converted. Let us wickets. The club’s most successful bowler was Jerry Smith, judging the Forty Club season is reviewed. For the also “preach” to the unconverted, and give them who took 5-49 off 14 overs and very nearly helped us pull off games against schools and colts team, the worst Most school teams consist of players of -ranging the opportunity to play a sport which they could a fantastic win. Well done to Nairn County for the win and possible record would be: Played 30, won 30. Why ability. The top two or three are excellent prospects then enjoy for the rest of their active lives. their hospitality as well as raising £1,600 on the day.

36 The Forty Club 2020 Yearbook https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com 37 LIFE WITH THE XL CLUB Sitting at home in her study, Mrs Paddy Gaywood reflects on her role as the long-serving Forty Club Members Secretary. ARTICLES t the beginning I knew nothing about the Forty Club. I was scoring for the Bluemantles A CC, who are based at the Nevill Ground in Tunbridge Wells. It was 1966, in a match at Sutton Valence School that a gentleman approached me and asked if I could score for his own XI. This was John Gardiner, then the Membership Secretary of The Forty Club, a member of the Dinner Committee and the Hon Sec of the Golfing Society.

Enjoying cricket and scoring as I do, I agreed. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, because his team was made up mostly of ex-England players like MJK Smith and Peter Richardson. Later, John Gardiner asked if I could score for the Forty Club at the Nevill and around club and I’m the only one now and I must say I have Kent. One year I went with the team to France, where always been treated with the utmost respect. they played against SHAPE and the Paris Sports Club with other Forty Club members from Holland. In the beginning I felt very close to the membership. All the correspondence was by letter and telephone John travelled for six months every year to Australia and I met some of them while cricket scoring, but and the West Indies and he asked me if I would look once the computer arrived it made for a lot of work after his private affairs while he was away, including and that personal connection ended. I had to give the Forty Club Cricket and Golf. I did not even give up the scoring. There was the long-term job of a thought as to how long I would be doing this for. transferring the written application information onto I thoroughly enjoyed the cricket and looking after the system over time it has had the fiddly additions everything and meeting, of course, so many different of postcodes and three national telephone changes. ALEX STEELE BECOMES AN standing of our Club whenever I can. I have been and interesting people. At the start of my involvement, I All the Forty Club cricket and golf members’ details lucky to have played against the best in and around was engaged in the collating, checking, correcting and are recorded, such as when they were elected, their HONORARY LIFE MEMBER the world, but nothing can beat the thrill of an XL typing out the score sheets, right down to checking the club affiliations and their contact information. All of game against a school and seeing the youngsters last comma, for inclusion in the handbook. the original forms are all held in small neat arch lever lex Steele was born in Salisbury, Rhodesia in playing their hearts out! A wonderful grounding files and divided into groups. 1941. He was educated at Prince Edward’s in many aspects which will hold them in good In 1983, the Membership Secretary Doug Wilshin A School, Salisbury, Rhodesia and Morgan stead for later years in life and in cricket. Everyone retired and the Chairman of the General Committee One year, fire destroyed the Secretary’s address list, Academy, Dundee. He qualified as an experiences highs and lows in life but there are asked if I would become the Membership Secretary, and for the following two years I had to type out every architect and had a very successful practice in Dundee. events which take place that have a profound effect on the proviso that it would have to be in the Club single label for the mailings. Now that it is all digitised, I on an individual life. Such an event happened Secretary’s name ‘DL Hamilton’. The ‘package’ I only have to press a button or two! He also had a very successful career as a cricketer, when I joined the Forty Club many years ago. Many received consisted of a small card index, a few playing for Forfarshire, Scotland and the MCC. thanks for the invitation, it is a huge privilege and I thousand application forms and nothing else. The I also handle the Umpire and Scorer records for the He was first capped by Scotland in 1967 and accept with the deepest appreciation.” membership then was 3,938. It has never reached purposes of DBS disclosure, fixture card contact details represented his adopted country in 14 first- 4,000 and now it’s down to 2,289, due to deaths, and the listing to send orders for Forty Club kit for class matches and won 33 caps. He also played resignations and the inevitable ageing membership new members. However, my biggest bugbear and seven non-cap matches, against the likes of the of the club. I started by separating out playing from frustration is with the club membership incorrectly International Cavaliers and in 1972 an MCC Young non-playing membership, the lapsed, deceased, and filling in their application and direct debit forms. Cricketers team that included . In his setting up a Treasurers list to enable the checking international career he played against Sri Lanka, of payments. These are all kept in neat files in my As for the future, I think the biggest concern for the New Zealand and the West Indies. study. These members’ lists reveal many interesting club is, unfortunately, its finances, due in part to an and well-known names from Sir John Paul Getty ageing membership, I often feel that the club will end He scored two fifties for Scotland, both against to Sir Gary Sobers; and we even have a Prince. I up with a predominantly playing membership, whose Ireland, with a highest score of 97 and in all he also started helping out with the Annual Dinner, numbers are increasing but not as fast as the leavers, scored 621 runs at 26.84 in first-class matches name checking and seating plans. Alas, I was never through age, ill health and work. for Scotland. Since 1981 Alex has turned out over allowed to attend. Very quickly this become a 150 times for the Forty Club, scoring 937 runs and six-day a week task. I never thought then, what it Would I have done anything differently? I think dismissing 178 batsmen, 74 caught and 104 stumped! would lead to and how long it would last! overall I wouldn’t. We are up to date and online, it has made it easier to access all of the club’s On accepting his invitation Alex replied to the In 1989 I was accepted, officially, onto the Executive information; I am busy and it runs quite smoothly, but Club: “We all know what the Club stands for and Alex stumping Colin Croft at Forthill in 1980 Committee. There have been no other women in the in a way it is not quite the same. I shall continue to do my utmost to promote the

38 The Forty Club 2020 Yearbook https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com 39 DISTRICT DISTRICTS REPORTS 2019

Sandy Baird bowling at Rossie Priory with Forty Club member Jim Inglis umpiring

YORKSHIRE AND NORTH EAST the fact that we had so many new people turn out to SCOTLAND (COLIN NEILL) DISTRICT (KEVIN OWENS) represent the District is exciting. I’m going with option record 42 games played, t’s right and proper that we start by thanking two; from speaking with everybody who turned out well 41 plus one in a Tony Sheppard for his sterling efforts as DC this year, there’s a genuine excitement about the type A pub in Harrogate! 23 I over 15 years. I’ve only been a member of of cricket we can offer and the real enthusiasm for the wins, 6 draws, 10 losses the Club since 2018, but in that time Tony prospect of playing at some great new venues. Ten of including “Harrogate” and one has shown me what it is about. He says: “It is with a these people have already signed up as new members, tie. We entertained three touring mixture of sadness and relief that I step down as DC for which is a great start and I’ve no doubt more of them teams, played the MCC for the first Yorkshire & NE. Sadness in that I have enjoyed my 15 will follow. time, helped Weirs celebrate their years as DC, getting new members and players, new centenary. Additionally, along with fixtures and playing for all those years. Relief in that And we’ve already got 12 fixtures lined up for 2020. Nairn County we raised £1,600 for I can hand over to someone much younger, keener In a bid to establish a foothold in the North East part the Torridon Mountain Rescue and with Torrance CC we and more able to firstly get the right age group of new of our patch, we’ve lined up a new game against the KEVIN OWENS raised £300 for the Wooden Spoon Society. We played members and associates. It has felt at times as if it were Royal Grammar School, Newcastle at the end of April. six teams for the first time, the West, East and North LX rather than XL teams we put out and that is not fair This will be played at Jesmond, which hosts Minor I’ve accepted the challenge of taking over as played for the Jingles Trophy for the first time, and on for the schools we play.” Counties matches for Northumberland. Crucially, DC of the YN District from Tony Sheppard. five occasions we raised two teams on the same day. however, we’ve got a couple of contacts established It’s a challenge as I have to follow in the So, how did the 2019 season shape up,? Better than up in the North East and we’re hopeful that a majority footsteps of a man who’s been doing the job I guess in anyone’s words a pretty successful season. It expected as it happens. At the start of the season we of the team that turns out in that game will be for the best part of 15 years and because we’re started on 14 April on the coldest day I have ever played only had five fixtures on the card, and one of them from the area. If all goes well, we can arrange more being rebranded as “Yorkshire & North East” cricket with a 32-run win over Stewarts/Melville College failed to make it out of the stalls as Ashville College games up there in the future and start to tap into the (YN in future!) and, as a Lancastrian, I have to in Edinburgh and ended on a balmy 22 September realised they’d double booked. cricketing talent in that area. reconcile myself with the fact that I’ll be leading with a 21-run win over Glendelvine at Spittalfield in something with ‘Yorkshire’ in the title! Perthshire. In between there were 5,644 runs scored, In the end, we actually played seven games. As well as establishing new fixtures, we’ve retained all 1,229 overs bowled, and 302 wickets taken. Comprehensive victories over Hymers College and of the school fixtures from 2019’s card and reinstated Tribal cross-Pennine rivalries aside, I’m excited Alberbury CC (on tour from Shropshire) were the some that haven’t been played in a while. We’re also about the opportunities ahead. I’ll lay claim April also saw us travel to Nairn to play in the Neil highlights, but of the five defeats we suffered, two looking forward to hosting a touring veterans team here to being one of the youngest ever DCs at Fergusson Memorial match. This was a great day played (Ermysted’s Grammar and the East Midlands District) from Australia at the back end of the season, meaning the tender age of 36 – whether that’s actually in front of a large crowd and although we lost by two were last over affairs, with the other three were pretty we’ve got a really good spread of school and non- true or not, I’ve no idea, but in these interesting wickets, cricket and the charity were the winners. There tight too. To me that shouts out loud and clear that school matches; something for everybody. times we live in, it seems you can make were also first wins over Fettes and Merchiston for many we’ve been playing some good games of cricket and whatever claim you want and get away with it, a year and in fact we went through April’s six games are getting our XIs more evenly matched up with those The District WhatsApp group is in full flow, keeping so we’ll run with that! with five wins and the loss at Nairn. of our opponents than in recent years. everybody regularly updated during the winter months. New potential members are being added to My cricketing heritage, such as it is, extends to May was badly affected by weather, losing three games The real positive for me though is on the personnel that group too so they can keep up-to-date with new playing for Skipton (North Yorkshire), Blackheath to cancellations and having two interrupted by the front. It was clear at the start of the season that we developments. I’m more than happy to add anybody CC (London) and latterly Leeds Modernians weather. A playing record of played 6, won 1, drew 2, needed new players representing our District. To ‘out of District’ onto the group if you have an interest (West Yorkshire). I’m an opening batter by trade and lost 3 doesn’t reflect some good performances, highlight the point, in 2019 we used 47 players across in playing any games in our District – just drop me a (in the old fashioned sense – block the bejesus nevertheless. May also saw a first match with West of our seven games; only six of these players had ever note! Hopefully 2020 will bring a rash of new members out of it first, rather than try and whack the Scotland Ladies and we hope to make that fixture an played for the District before. You can look at this and we can add more fixtures to the card either as the first over for 27) and a bowler of no repute annual one. One of the losses was to our school of the statistic in one of two ways: 1) the fact that we had so season goes on or ahead into the 2021 season. Here’s whatsoever. Bring on 2020! year, Dollar Academy, and that performance was judged few people playing from prior years is worrying, or 2) to a great season! to be the best from a school in the UK.

40 The Forty Club 2020 Yearbook https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com 41 XL CLUB MATCHES July was a funny month weather-wise. In the games SWAMPED BY A YOUNG MCC XI we played the weather was fantastic, but we lost four games to monsoon conditions, and unfortunately The Scottish District were the hosts for the annual that included our Inter District fixture with Wales. We MCC match, played at Hamilton Crescent, site of the

DISTRICTS started the month off with the Indian tourists, and then very first ever football international. For whatever helped Weirs celebrate their centenary on the day of reason, MCC selected a side with an average age of the Final and the result of our match, 25 that included Hamza Tahir, a current Scotland inevitably, was a tie! We also had a first at the Jingles international, who in his last ODI won the Man Trophy. This is usually competed for by the West and of the Match Award; Angus Guy, captain of the the East but this year we were able to raise a side from Scotland under 19 side; and seven other players in Harvey Grammer at Sibton Park CC the North so had a T20 Triangular Tournament. The the Scotland national set-up! West retained the trophy with the North in second place KENT & EAST SUSSEX and the East bringing up the rear. We left Scotland for MCC won the toss and elected to bat and Guy (71) (CLIFF HAYWARD) Harrogate to play Wales on the last day of July. The and Tom Parnell (58) put on 106 for the first wicket weather forecast was predicting thunderstorms but for before Richard Young (3-57) took the first of his he season has been and the West of the country not the East. As we crossed the three wickets. John Oliver, another former Scotland gone and the match statistics border that prediction was looking dodgy. Just as we under 19 cap, ended the game with 55*, putting on T as follows: played 21, won 5, arrived in Harrogate a storm the like of which I haven’t 67 for the sixth wicket with Jamie Dickinson, who lost 8, drawn 1, abandoned seen for a while broke and unfortunately put paid to is attached to Leicestershire CCC. MCC declared on 2 and cancelled 5, of which two were any chance of cricket the next day. Over dinner in a pub 256 for 6, leaving XL a tricky half hour before tea. down to the District not being able to in Harrogate we agreed with Wales to toss a coin and Unfortunately it was too tricky, and the club lost raise a side. The Nairn CC Bandstand they called correctly. So, 7 games in July, one in a pub, 3 two wickets and went into the break at 17 for 2. wins, 3 losses and a tie. The games initially came thick and fast due to the June was a busy month with 11 games. We had the They had to survive around 40 overs and a couple lateness of Easter, seeing us play Alleyn’s School and honour of hosting a very talented squad from Australia August saw the arrival of our third touring team, the of partnerships between Dave Wolton, Dinesh Sutton Valance in the same week. It also produced called the EMUs, who beat us well at Hamilton Crescent. Victoria Veterans. Another great bunch of people Bailwal and Patrick Druce looked promising but two centuries for XL members – Kevin Owens, who This game also saw the debut of the Australian tour and cricketers, the Vics were following the trail of the the MCC spinners Hamza Tahir (3-4), Haroon Tahir was down for the week, scored an unbeaten 100 coach Peter Clifford, one of the finest professionals to famous 1948 Australian Invincibles. We played them at (2-13) and Jamie Dickinson (2-5) put an end to against Alleyn’s which we drew as we could not get have played in Scotland. Unfortunately, “Cliffo” couldn’t Mannofield, the scene of the Don’s last game and final those hopes as we ended up 62 all out off 33 overs, the last wicket, and Robert Warne scored 102 against reproduce the numbers from 20 years ago, as the century in the UK and won by 39 runs and the next losing by 194 runs. Sutton Valance School, which took us to our first win young tourists seemed to up a gear when he came to day bettered them again by 48 runs at Rossie Priory. in a long time against the school. Robert was again the wicket. We also helped Torrance Community CC August saw four games fall foul of the weather, but we We were outplayed and lost heavily but it was a in the runs against St Edmund’s School, with another raise £300 for the Wooden Spoon Society in a charity were able to beat Kelso, Helensburgh under 15s and the good game and we spent a very pleasant couple of unbeaten century, before the rains came down and match that ended in an honourable draw. The Hutchie Australian tourists twice. At the end of the month we hours exchanging cricket stories after the match. the match had to be abandoned. game, although drawn, featured our highest score of were honoured to host the MCC at Hamilton Crescent, the season, with Arnie Sathiy hitting 92 before holing as you can read about on these pages. Our nomination for the Henry Grierson Trophy was Dover out in the deep. Our chairman wore one at the drawn College. They are a hard-working school who look after game at Strathallan, plenty of claret and eight stitches! September is usually a grand month for weather in us whenever we play them, thanks to the tireless work of There was a tremendous 131-run stand between Darren Scotland and we had arranged seven fixtures including Master in Charge of Cricket Rupert Hills, who doesn’t just Butler (74) and Raj Waruna (61) in the drawn game at two weekends where we were fielding two teams look after the cricket team. Year on year we cannot ask for Helensburgh and a fantastic bowling performance on the same day. The weather wasn’t kind and we more and it is a joy to play in one of the most picturesque from Alan Borthwick, 5-9, at St Andrews against the lost three games to rain but in the four others we grounds, with Dover Castle in the background. Although University Ladies team. The month ended with the played some of our best cricket, ending the month our game was eventually abandoned due to rain the first match in the “Masters Series” with the Royal Indian unbeaten. The season review wouldn’t be complete schoolboys did their school proud and played with a lot touring team. The Royal Indians were a tremendous without mentioning our match with Doune, which of team spirit and never dropped their heads. Chasing group of people and cricketers. The first game was lost you can read about in the NEWSROUND section of this Dinesh Bailwal tries to get some resistance going 176 for 4 they were 15 for 2 before the rains came and the by six runs, but with a fantastic after-match meal and yearbook. So, as the season ended with that 21-run game could not be continued hospitality at Helensburgh CC. So, June’s record was 11 win at Glendelvine, 115 players had represented the games, 4 wins, 5 draws and 2 losses. District including 35 for the first time and of that 35, 19 We had good victories against Kent 50’s, Harvey subsequently joined the Forty Club. Grammar (where Stuart Faulkner scored 71 and Henry The second match of the Masters Series – four games Roberts 58 in a total of 221), Chislehurst and Sidcup over five days – also went to the tourists, this time It would be remiss not to thank Duncan Walker, Bruce School, where Neil Canham scored 61 and took 6-24, by 16 runs. However, game 3 saw a reversal with a Dixon, Mac Wylie, Matt Crawford, Jim McClymont, and St Dunstan’s where Steve Dummer scored 129*. 14-run win for the District and it was down to the Gregg Watson and Clayton Lambert who supported us I would like to thank the Match Managers for all their game at Uddingston CC. Could we square the series? as umpires during the year. Also, to Allan Baxter, Colin hard work and to all the players who played for us. As it turned out it was probably a game too far for the Dawson, Robert Fleming and Jane Neil, who kept score We also managed to get to the area final of the ID Indians touring party of 13, whereas we were able to and made sure that the books balanced. At the start of tournament but lost to Surrey and West Sussex. bring in fresh faces. The district won convincingly by 63 the season I must be honest I was apprehensive about runs on the back of a fine half-century by Ronnie Singh our fixture list, but the players stood up and gave me, Hamza Tahir wheeling away I would finally like to thank John Widgery, who and 4-12 from Jerry Smith. the district and the club great support. umpired most of the games this year – a fantastic effort. Enjoy the winter break and see you next year!

42 The Forty Club 2020 Yearbook https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com 43 NORTH THAMES to 152 all out. Father and son team the Gleadalls SURREY AND WEST SUSSEX (ILIJA KRUNIC) did the damage. Camping overnight on the ground (RICHARD BENNETT) was fun as was Warren Birchall’s Spandau Ballet s the Bard once said... tribute and the goldfish bowl cocktails. Notts High t seems to be “Our doubts are traitors School was another triumph, our 181 all out, with something of a

DISTRICTS A and make us lose the W Cupido 51, was too much for the lads as the spin I tradition that I write the good we oft might win triplets Birchall, 3-20, Porter, 3-24, and Howarth, 3-24, review of the season by fearing to attempt.” But don’t wreaked havoc. while jetting off to escape the think, despite the odds often not UK winter! Last year I was at being in our favour, that anyone The highlight for myself was the inaugural Peter 30,000 feet above Iceland and can accuse the Forty Club of not attempting to give Barnett Memorial Trophy at Tickhill CC. Considered Greenland en route to San it a go! Another season of fine achievements, closely a prestigious enough side to start proceedings was Francisco and today we’re at fought contests and, er, well, the odd batting collapse. an honour in itself. A full day game, with ex-Yorkshire 32,000 feet over the Atlantic en cricketer Mike Cowan doing the lunchtime speech, route to Orlando. It is easy, on such occasions, to At Aldenham School we were 96 for 6 when rain was a treat. XL impressed with 269 all out, Kevin look back on a season through rose tinted spectacles came and washed the day away, stranding Richard Owens’ 87 and a swashbuckling 48 from R Howarth for there is always much to remember fondly about Pineo on 39. At Haileybury we only managed to score the highlights. Tickhill got off to a brisk start but Porter our season: there was, as always, great camaraderie 71, with only the openers getting to double figures. 3-42 applied the brakes, and as the rains fell at 222 for on and off the cricket field and some enjoyable But XL put in a much better performance in the field 7 with six overs left, an honourable draw was declared. cricket as well. Results against the schools continue and only lost by two wickets with Simon Rawson beloved game, but after the first nine games, mainly to be challenging – played 6, drew 2 and lost 4. taking 3-10 and the ever youthful Rob Nelson 2-12. against particularly strong school XIs, we had lost six Having a first-round concession victory in the Inter Unusually, the season started at Epsom where the and had three cancellations. District we took our strongest XI to Tickhill CC, to play school batted first scoring 214 off 35 overs. The XL At Parmiter’s we put up a mighty display with the bat, reigning champions the NW in the northern semi- response was inauspicious (80 for 6) when rain saved scoring 313 for 4 off 40 overs with Messrs Thornton Oakham won by eight wickets, with county juniors final. What a cracker! Flight and guile from Deakin’s the day! Once again, against St John’s, despite having and Flint both scoring undefeated centuries. A Kimber and Bell to the fore under the stewardship of men, plus remarkably agile fielding, restricted us to a strong side, we failed to score enough runs. 168 for comfortable 74-run victory ensued. A less-than- Neil Johnson (ex-Zimbabwe). Stamford were equally 190 for 8, reached thanks to tail-enders Smith and 8 was never going to be challenging and the school mighty batting display against Forest School resulted adept under Dean Headley, and a swashbuckling Shepherd, who put on a rearguard partnership of 80 chased down the total in the 21st over! in 145 all out. Steve Marsh’s 35 was the only highlight. 105 from Evison saw the school to 311 for 5. When after we were reeling at 100 for 6. NW were cruising Forest only lost three wickets achieving their goal. the rain saved us, our score was at 46-4, giving us through Turner and Sutcliffe, but Smith, 3-20, and Our next fixture was a new one – Christ’s Hospital Against Highgate we bowled first, they made 217 for an hour or so in Dean’s company quaffing ale and Wilson, 2-28, staged a dramatic fightback with the School in Horsham – and a very enjoyable afternoon 3 with Adrian Fawden taking 2-51 and we managed a hearing many an amusing cricket tale. Chris Read’s NW edging home seven down with a ball to spare. it was too! We batted first, scoring 194 for 8 off 33 pretty comfortable draw scoring 196 for 6 with Adnan Repton brushed us aside by eight wickets despite a overs with Ollie Barnes scoring a fine 72. Sadly our Mohammed scoring a fine 79. 100 stand by Shepherd and Bates. In summary, this was a very enjoyable first year in bowlers were not able to make great inroads and charge thanks to all the Match Managers, umpires, Christ’s Hospital passed the total in the 30th over for At Latymer’s, XL made an impressive 263 for 8 The Wellingborough game was a cracker, finely scorers and for Peter Mason for allowing the transition the loss of just two wickets. declared, with Steve Dummer just falling short of the poised at 62 for 4 chasing our 171 for 8 (Chapman 50, to run so smoothly, always a phone call away! magical three figures with an excellent 92. Latymer’s Louw 49), when two promising 16-year-olds put on That the Reed’s fixture was completed at all was were never really in the hunt finishing well short a 110 partnership to win the game. Worksop College, a great testament to the groundstaff! No play was on 151 for 5 with their opener scoring a more than after 10 years of not playing the Forty Club, put on NORTH WEST (PHILIP DEAKIN) possible between lunch and tea due to torrential handy 86. For XL Miss Lottie Hayward picked up 2 for a bowling and fielding master class, where three rain. Nevertheless, the game was played out to a 17 with daddy Cliff taking a sharp catch, keeping it in magnificent catches and two sublime run outs saw conclusion with the school easily surpassing our 137, the family. our strongest team of the season fall woefully short. 019 was again an scoring 138 for 3 in 21 overs! Clumber Park, a magnificent setting, beat us for the excellent year for Many thanks to all the players for their efforts and of first time in years, and in a rain-affected T20, Ratcliffe 2 the North West The match against Wilson’s Grammar School Wallington course a big thank you to the Match Managers for College cantered home. although we did was a terrific game. XL scored 260 thanks mainly to organising sides to take on our youthful opponents. not manage to get to the ID Robert Hall (81) and Jano Miller (77). P Madan, opening Roll on the 2020 season. Licking our wounds from heavy defeats to the stars final as we were defeated by for the school, scored a wonderful 135 and the school of tomorrow we looked forward to the second a very strong Welsh team in scored the winning run in the last over. Well done. half of the season with increased availability and the semi-final. We are always EAST MIDLANDS (PAUL SHEPHERD) optimism. Played, 8 won 6, lost 2. We finally tasted looking for new members and We had another terrific match at Worth (Worth 194 victory at Paul Bradley’s Outcasts CC by 14 runs, we hope to introduce a few new Match Managers in for 9 declared off 46 overs; XL 188 for 7 off 43 overs) ensuring the Black Sheep tasted sweeter, as did the 2020. Thanks to our scorer Nick Chamberlain, who where Richard Greatorex scored a magnificent 019 promised much with post-match barbeque. We brushed aside Colston attended every game. 95. What a pleasure it was, too, to see Mel Brown new fixtures secured and Bassett CC on another quaint ground by 30 runs, playing and taking wickets! 2 new members aplenty, 15-year-old guest Olly Gleadall’s 3-13 setting the We are lucky to have a couple of ex-professionals in covering a broad standards with ale and triple-cooked chips to our district and we hope to get them playing in 2020 Of the club games, only the game at Dorking was spectrum of ages and ability, as is celebrate afterwards. and showing the Forty Club as an excellent ambassador played – it seems to be getting harder and harder to the mantra of the Forty Club. We for the game of cricket. My report is definitely short find clubs who wish to turn out a mid-week senior played 17, won 6, lost 8 and had The annual trip to Skegness once again saw fruitful and sweet this year but we are touring Cape Town and side. This is, of course, in no small way because of the three cancellations. A game of 50s for 17-year-old Max Davidson, W Cupido and R Durban and fly next week – these Forty Club tours are success of seniors’ cricket in our constituent counties. two halves is not often said of our Louw. We made 252 for 6 and old Lincolnians limped fantastic and come highly recommended. That said, the Dorking fixture was a great day’s cricket

44 The Forty Club 2020 Yearbook https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com 45 – Dorking scored 287 and declared, with Stuart all my Match Managers, umpires and scorers without INTRODUCING THE NEW WEST Faulkner taking three stumpings. In reply, Stuart again whom our games would not be possible: I would CHAIRMAN: excelled, scoring 90 but it was not enough and XL like to single out Robert Nelson, Jim Keys and Robert were 207 for 7 at the close. Smith for their unwavering support and camaraderie Ben has been keen on cricket since early as well as being my informal deputies. Their input childhood, introduced through his father. He is an

DISTRICTS In the ID competition we had a good run in the early has been fantastic and without it we may not have avid Gloucestershire fan, having been a season rounds, restricting EC to 208 for 8 off their 45 overs enjoyed the success we had. ticket holder during his teenage years and of and reaching the target in the 37th over for the loss course loved the golden period of the late 90s/ of six wickets thanks to a swashbuckling 67* from Will The season didn’t start too well, with three out of early 2000s. His first live international match Moore. In the next round Kent batted first and were our first five fixtures falling foul of the weather or was the second day at Lords in 1990 when he all out for 166 which we reached in the 37th over school functions but all in all we played 15 matches saw Gooch make 333* and his then (non Glos) thanks to 50s from Steve Donelan and Robert Hall. with 4 wins, 7 losses and 4 draws. All the results and favourite player Allan Lamb score a ton as well. It The final, against Wales, was a very different affair, individual performances can now be viewed on the was all downhill from there watching England! however. Batting first a score of 238 always looked a play-cricket website. A massive pat on the back goes little short of par. Just how far under par was revealed to Kevin Owens, whose herculean effort has given the He’s a slow left-arm bowler and lower-order in the next 39 overs as our total was surpassed for club a website to be proud of. bat, having played for his school King Edwards the loss of only one wicket, Andi Price scoring a in Bath, followed by Marshfield CC. He is the magnificent 117*. Well played Wales! Some great games took place as the season current leading wicket-taker for Marshfield 1st XI progressed, including a three-match tour to but more recently plies his trade in the seconds A total of 51 different people played for the club Holland organised and managed by Robert Smith. and thirds when family and work commitments during the season, of which 27 only played once. Unfortunately, we did not fare so well in this year’s permit! Plus he’s not good enough any more. He’s Seven people played twice, 10 played three times, 2 ID Tournament, losing to Surry & West District in a has also held down his “other full time job” of club played four, 2 played five, 2 played six and 1 played match which could have gone either way – here’s to secretary for the last 18 years. Bloxham School seven times. My thanks to all those who made giving it another go in 2020! themselves available to play - it was good to welcome some new faces this year – welcome one and all. Will We have managed to gain several new playing not only found another ground, he even persuaded always provide excellent facilities Moore was the leading run scorer with 244 (averaging members this year and this has continued after the his mother to produce a very good tea! Castle is a and despite the inclement weather the groundstaff 49) with Richard Greatorex scoring 183 (averaging cricket finished. Here’s to 2020! public sector school in Taunton that finishes at GCSE had prepared a solid wicket and beautiful outfield. The 45). The leading wicket taker was Paul Lack with nine, year, therefore the team was younger than many XL school offered the toss to XL and we gratefully batted, closely followed by David Mann with eight. Club opposition schools but not without its cricket declaring on 130 for 3, with Giles Clements and Stuart WEST (BEN WHITE) pedigree – Josh Thomas, son of Alphonso, and Alex, Reeve providing a sound opening partnership. Tireless Thanks, as always, to all the Match Managers, the son of Keith Parsons played against us. bowling by Andy Robertson could not prevent the scorers and the umpires, all of whom are greatly y first year as District school winning in the penultimate over of an exciting valued and who make the playing of cricket possible Chairman was not In terms of individual performances, it was definitely game played in great spirit. and enjoyable. Off the cricket field, on the admin side, M without its challenges, a season for batsmen – 12 half-centuries and 2 Alan Newman has continued to ensure that we have but was also extremely centuries – Calum Burnstone (112*) against Prior I must commend Match Manager Stuart Reeve, umpires electronic communication with all our members, enjoyable! I’d like to pass on Park College and Iraq Thomas (106*) against Hinton John Bates and Eddie Boileau along with the hard- Adrian Gale has continued to be so supportive looking my thanks to Winston Duguid Charterhouse CC. For the bowlers, whilst there were working King Henry School Coventry groundstaff and after the Henry Grierson Trophy and Roly Walton has for his years in charge and for a numerous tight spells, only one fivefer was claimed pupils for their efforts to get a game on. Unfortunately, once again been everywhere doing everything! Thank great handover. Also, of course, to the ever-present – the wily Scyld Berry snaring his scalps against with three rain breaks, the game faded into an early you gentlemen – it wouldn’t be possible without you. and helpful Voutts – Colin and Heather – whose Kingswood School with 5-45. finish but not before XL had reached 180 for 2. Giles We look forward to the 2020 season! work as district treasurer, main scorers and all round Clements (50) and Sunny Singh-Nijjar (45) batted organisers made my job so much easier! I’d like to thank all the players who brilliantly represented steadily against fine bowling by Goodwin and Isles. the West District and very much hope we are able to EASTERN COUNTIES On the field, unfortunately we had to cancel a couple convert a number of them to long-term members. We lost the game against Old Swinford Hospital School of games but for those games we did play, we did to the very wet weather and unfortunately were not able (NIGEL BUCKINGHAM-JONES) fairly well (P10, W4, D3, L3). Wins came against Castle to rearrange. We very much look forward to this match School, Kings College Taunton, Prior Park College and WEST MIDLANDS in 2020. At Bloxham School in Banbury the weather aving now got to grips Hinton Charterhouse. There was also an excellent was kinder. After deciding to bat first, a score of 186 for with the machinations and dramatic draw against Millfield, where we played (KEVIN BISSETT) 9 provided an opportunity for the bowling experience H of running an XL District on their superb 2nd XI ground which afforded us the he first game of the of Daryl Bellfield and the pace of Solihull Municipal CC and survived my second delights of the wooden Paul Ashton Pavilion – an season, against a strong overseas player Toby Kerswell, to win the game for XL but year in charge of Eastern Counties experience made all the more interesting as Paul T Warwick School, ended in captain Staveley-Parker, who had already taken 4-20, hit a all I have left to do is to sum-up Ashton was in the XL side that day! defeat. Stalwart XL opener fine innings of 119 to win the game. our efforts on and off the field. Stuart Reeve was accompanied The district winning school was Castle School in by debutant Richard Thompson with instructions Bishop Vesey School were a new addition to the XL It has been a fantastic second second in charge Taunton. Whilst the school lost the match, it was from captain Mike Weir to provide a solid platform. fixture list for 2018 and had obviously gained valuable as District Chairman and hopefully enjoyed by all the spirit in which the game was played with their Unfortunately, 116 was not what he meant and was experience from hosting the first game, chasing down and, on that note, and before I get on to cricketing schoolmaster Russ Jones’ “get the game on” attitude. never going to be sufficient to challenge the school. The our 116 with ease. The school really impressed the XL matters, there are a few very important things I Unfortunately, the original ground was made use of seven bowlers did not disrupt the calm batting by members and was nominated as the West Midlands would like to say in terms of a personal thank-you to unavailable with less than two weeks’ notice but he Hornby and Afzal to see the school home. winner and contender for the national awards.

46 The Forty Club 2020 Yearbook https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com 47 batted first posting 244 for 8 and XL lost wickets the exception of Steele, 46, and Meadows, 32, and at regular intervals until 19-year-old South African we declared on 188 for 8. Our slow bowlers, headed WALES (PHILLIP STALLARD) guest player Gary Schreuder scored a rapid century. by Massey with 4-50, saw the school dismissed for After his dismissal the lower order failed to press on 162: another win! The next match was at Clayesmore he 2019 season was very and we were dismissed for 158. Next we played Lord where they were soon in trouble, having been put

DISTRICTS good despite a few ups Wandsworth College after an absence of eight years. in. Derek Candy’s 4-48 took out the top order with T and downs. I am pleased The College put on 67 for the first wicket before only Gordon batting with any freedom and the to say that we have collapsing to 112 for 5 but then managed to get up to school declared on 208 for 8. We lost early wickets continued our efforts to recruit 186 for 5. Opening batsman Steve Dummer set about but with the middle order producing quick runs the new players and this has been the College bowling, scoring a rapid 67 before Kyle total looked achievable but as wickets fell at regular successful with several younger Bradley, 50, steered the team home with two balls to intervals we were bowled out for 140. players increasing our strength. spare. Lord Wandsworth was this season’s nominee for the XL Schools Trophy. Bedales School was the venue against club side We had 15 matches, of which Stoner, who made 219 for 9. Visiting Australian over 70 seven were actually played. I am pleased to say Against Ryde School we tookXl early Annual wickets but wereDinner player - Mervin20th Kratzman November opened the innings, 2020 scoring that we won them all, which I think is the first time put to the sword by Atrill and Sewell in a total of 222 a rapid 44, and West and King secured the win by we’ve been unbeaten for many years. Six matches for 7. We then lost early wickets- Pavilion, before Mew joined Lord 'sfive Cricket wickets in theGround, last over. A new London. fixture at Alton CC were cancelled for a number of reasons including King in a stand of 71 and the match finished with took place after we were asked to play in their 150th the weather and problems in raising teams. One was a draw on 162 for 6. The fourth This fixture form iswas for against Members whoanniversary are NOT cricket on the week Forty against Club a mixedmailing colts list. side. abandoned, our annual fixture with the Wales Over Milton Abbey, where we were inserted and runs were We were soon in trouble at 20 for 3 but Thapan and 50s XI, which was promising to be a good contest. hard to come by until BaneyPlease was joined complete by Morgan, the form toLawrence express rebuilt an interest the innings in attending with Lawrence the reachingDinner. putting on 63 before declaringYou on will 172 be for contacted 5. The later inhis the century year as with the inningsthe full closed details. on 239 for 7. Alton’s I have said that we “won” seven matches but one Abbey batsmen also struggled and were dismissed Scott and Bridger kept their side in the game but the of them we were bound to win as it was the annual for 155. This was followed by a new all-day match innings ended on 226 for 9, Senda draw to: which was a good East Wales v West Wales. This is always a fiercely againstName: Wellington College where we scored a very result for a first fixture. The final match of the season competitive match and this year was no exception. respectable 230 for 4 with opener Eral Anderson was against Basingstoke andM. North Barnes, Hants and was a The East has the bragging right this year but will scoringAddress: an undefeated 135. Despite taking two early high-scoring affair with Basingstoke21 Woodhouse declaring Road, on 261 they be able to do so again in 2020? wickets opening batsman Taberlake was soon into for 7. Our openers Millar andHove, Dean put on a century his stride. We had no answer to the onslaught and opening stand and with the arrival of Dummer and The highlight was the ID Tournament when we he finished on 154* in one of the best school innings Gibson, the total was passedEast on 263 Sussex, for 3, gaining and managed to end 13 years of hurt by winning the seen for a long time. Postcode: a win after a few years of trying.BN3 5NA, competition. Things started off on a disappointing note with our regional semi-final match against TheEmail: next fixture was a re-arranged match after This has been the most successfulor email: season for the Scotland having to be decided by a toss of a Leighton Park had their cricket week washed out. South District in many [email protected] with five wins, two draws Sam Raza with Joseph Craig the School Captain of Tettenhall College coin after it was cancelled by heavy rain. In the WeTel: batted first and all our batsmen struggled with and three losses. northern regional final we visited our lucky ground at Oswestry CC and defeated NW to set up a Final The Kings Worcester ground is adjacent to the New against Surrey and W/Sussex at Lutterworth CC. Road County ground and unfortunately the game Since the final the praise has gone to the batsmen was cancelled due to severe flooding from the River for their superb performances but the bowlers – Severn. The Tettenhall College game survived the Leighton Walters with 4-55, Gavin Rodway 2-59 and Xl Annual Dinner - 20th November 2020 weather with Nigel Goodger holding the innings Huw Wilcox 2-39 – played a large part by restricting together but the school won by three wickets. our opponents to 238 for 8 off their 45 overs. After - Pavilion, Lord's Cricket Ground, London. the loss of an early wicket, Andi Price, 117*, and The final game of the season was at King Edwards Chris Morgan, 89*, put on an unbroken partnership School Birmingham. Batting first we made 167 for 5 of 219 to see us home. This form is for Members who are NOT on the Forty Club mailing list. from 40 overs and managed to win the game by using Please complete the form to express an interest in attending the Dinner. eight bowlers including debutant Nigel Batsford. Finally I must thank everyone – all the Match Managers, captains, scorers, umpires, tea ladies and You will be contacted later in the year with the full details. I would personally like to thank all Match Managers anyone who isn’t one of these but who has helped – for their commitment this year and their support for their sterling work during the year. Send to: during challenging times for all forms of cricket. Name: Unfortunately our Chairman Andy Robertson is M. Barnes, standing down after two years, leaving a vacancy. SOUTH (DEREK CANDY) Address: 21 Woodhouse Road, We would like to thank Andy for his commitment. I Hove, am pleased to announce that Andy will still be still he season began with providing his talents through playing and being a a visit to Winchester East Sussex, Match Manager. Last but not least I would like to wish T College where old Postcode: BN3 5NA, our dedicated member and scorer John Tunbridge a boy full recovery after he was involved in a car accident adorns the Roll of Honour Board Email: or email: that has left him in hospital since July. in the pavilion. The College [email protected] Tel:

48 The Forty Club 2020 Yearbook GOLF

Mike Johnson-Hill teeing off at Moortown Golf Club in Leeds

GOLFING SOCIETY REPORT superb fixtures we have, organise the monies, co- ordinate the membership numbers and manage the eflecting upon another golf year I am happy club clothing; thus enabling everyone to relax and to report that the Golfing Society is in good enjoy the golfing season. The Society endorsed my R order. Richard Freedman had a fine season thanks to them at the AGM. Speaking of the AGM, it leading the Club as Captain – outstanding on was a great pleasure to see our Chairman, Tony (AJ) the availability front, only missing two matches. The Colbeck, being elected as a Life Member of the Forty John Morrissey, Simon Davies and Richard Willacy at St George’s Hill Golf Club Club has a great history of Captains representing and Club Golfing Society in recognition of his dedicated being the focal point of the XLGS, and Richard carried service in many different roles during his 35+ years on this tradition – especially memorable for the of Membership. at a slight loss. However, with the level of interest Our traditional tours to Scotland and the Kent amount of kümmel consumed with the opposition. received and transferred to the current account, coast were again enjoyed by all who toured and Richard also very kindly hosted an enjoyable Captain’s MEMBERSHIP: At last we had a year where we this may be avoided for a year or two yet. The very well managed as always by Doug Adams and Day at his own club Liphook. There has been a lot gained more joiners than leavers. We are also Committee has looked at the possibility of a small Chris Greet respectively. We travelled North again of feedback from players to all the Match Managers trying to simplify the joining process by sending increase of the annual subscription, or levying a to Moortown to play against an XL Club Yorkshire stating how much the matches and tours have been completed forms to the XLGS Membership small match day fee on each player; however it was team and also played an MCC (North) team at enjoyed by all – this is good news and shows how Secretary for checking and then forwarding on to agreed that we should maintain the status quo at Fixby GC, both very enjoyable days for which we well the fixtures have been organised and the great the parent XL Club. This gives us the advantage of present while we remain in the black. We continue thank Chris Farrell and Denis Johnson. On the way work from all of the respective Match Managers. We more direct control and follow-up with those who to enjoy a Membership rebate from the XL Club “up North”, it was a real pleasure to play again at have had a number of new members joining, which is have indicated that they want to join and are not (all XLGS Members are also Members of the parent Holinwell GC, kindly organised by Richard Tennant, fantastic, and I thank everyone who has promoted the familiar with the main Forty Club. We have also Club), without which we would no doubt be more Chairman of Nottinghamshire CCC. Thanks go club and proposed new guys to join. The more the encouraged Match Managers and attendees at the restricted in our activities. to David Lancaster for running this tour. We are merrier in my opinion. Spring and Autumn Meetings to have forms available hoping to do these same tours again in 2020. for suitable prospective Members (be they match FIXTURES: This year we played 39 matches, which Our Spring, Autumn and Summer Meetings were all opponents, guests or just friends) to complete there included some notable wins against the redoubtable It goes without saying that the Club’s gratitude also well attended – a big hand to Special Agent Steve and then. For those that read this please try and Windcheaters from Royal County Down, The Army goes to all the Match Managers who give up their Barton for his continued good work at the Berkshire recruit at least one new Member this coming year as Officers GS, The Royal Navy GS and The Farmers time to help run our many fixtures – carry on the – big shoes for his successor Chris Greet to fill so we rely heavily on subscriptions for our income flow. Club. Sadly, we fared much less well this year against great work! Anyone who would like to take on the I urge everyone to put the dates in their diaries our fellow cricketing golf societies, not managing role of Match Manager in the future should contact for 2020. Bill John organised the Summer Meeting FINANCE: A reasonable year with our bank to win even one of these matches – a far cry from our Fixture Secretary. And remember – if you want (which replaces our old West Country Meeting) very balance remaining in the black, notwithstanding our “Grand Slam” a couple of years ago. Still, we won to play in any of our matches then please contact well at Brokenhurst Manor GC – a new venue for us; the purchase of the new Seager Tumblers trophy to or drew more matches than we lost and, regardless the relevant Match Manager as soon as you can. so much so that we are back there next year. Book replace the fragile Twinning Candelabras (which are of the results, I know that every single match was Don’t expect him to call you. your place now. The Xmas Meeting gave members now on permanent display in the XL Trophy cabinet thoroughly enjoyed by all who played in them. the opportunity to meet for a round of golf and at The Farmers Club in London) and the acquisition In conclusion, our Society continues to prosper some food and drinks before Christmas. Alan Ewart of new jumper stock. These new sweaters are much MATCH RESULTS SUMMARY but we must not be complacent. So, enjoy your organised the day and some fair if somewhat cool more durable and of considerably better quality than golf next year, and please do try to recruit at weather. My thanks to all four, but especially Steve, the last batch we purchased. It is hoped that with 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 least one new Member each, so that we can who is standing down from the Committee this year. our current stock of ties, shirts and the new jumpers Won 15 16 12 14 14 continue the enviable traditions of The Forty He will be replaced by Finbarr O’Connor. we will not need to spend on these items for at least Halved 5 5 8 7 8 Club Golfing Society. another two years. Our deposit account may well Lost 15 13 18 12 15 Behind the scenes Messrs Lancaster and Bowden have to continue to be used in order to subsidise the Cancelled 2 2 3 5 2 Peter Crowcroft worked their magic once again to produce the Spring and Autumn Meetings, which we are running Total 37 36 41 38 39 Hon. Secretary

50 The Forty Club 2020 Yearbook https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com 51 MEMBERS’ JOE MITCHELL here was a full house at St OBITUARIES Mary’s Church, Car Colston, OBITUARIES We deeply regret to record the T Nottinghamshire on 20 death of the following members June 2019 to say farewell during the past year: to Joe Mitchell, aged 76. His Harrow size bat leant against the coffin while his trusty retriever Tess watched BARRETT, M 1980 on. His brother Stephen said that BUSHBY, MH 1974 in his early days he was a “bolshy” CULLY, RJ; OBE 1983 teenager at Bedford School and through his time at university where FEAR, WIC; KCAR (Aus) 1968 he qualified as a chartered surveyor. DENNIS RAOUL where he was brought up by his FORWARD, AH 1987 WHITEHALL SILK, CBE grandmother in Primrose Hill, He was heavily involved in local north London. He was educated GAMMON, P 1989 cricket at a several Nottingham at Christ’s Hospital in Horsham, GIBBONS, AS 1961 clubs and he managed to hit the and went on to gain an MA in ball remarkable distances as well history at Sidney Sussex College HEWSON, WJ 1971 as bowling off-spin. in Cambridge University. He was HOFF, RHG 1964 a stylish batsman who skippered CAPTAIN DEREK ALICK Joe joined the Forty Club in 1985 KEALL, TGM 1981 Cambridge and scored successive OAKLEY MBE and continued playing well into centuries against Oxford with LOGAN, O; Col 1988 his 60s having been the Match a highest score of 126. He won erek was a man of many Manager of fixtures at Trent LONDON, EJ 2012 Blues for cricket and his other parts, serving with College and on occasions at other sporting love, rugby. D distinction for 42 years MACLURE, PSWK 1981 schools within the East Midlands. with the Royal Marines. MANNERS, JE 1937 In the school holidays Dennis At King’s School, Wimbledon he played for Somerset as an played cricket, hockey and tennis MARCHANT, DJ 1975 REGINALD OSMOND BILL HEWSON, MBE amateur. He was good enough and represented the Combined MITCHELL, BJ 1985 to earn a full-time career as a Services and the Royal Navy SCARLETT ill was a courageous batsman with them but preferred at cricket. Rear Admiral Roger MOLESWORTH, JH 1985 ot many Test players go man of Kent who served ot many of our members being in education. He appeared Moylan-Jones said of him: “He MOORE, MJ 1983 on to play much after B his county and nation receive a fullpage in 33 1st XI matches and his first- was known never to go anywhere N their careers end but the with great enthusiasm. N obituary in The Times but class average was a respectable without his whites and cricket MORRIS, AJ 1984 universally liked Reg was He died on his 98th birthday Dennis Silk did. Dennis 29.80. He also skippered four MCC bat in the back of his car and on NIELSON, PC; Dr 2013 still playing high-quality friendly on 11 April after a fall. He flew joined XL in 2001 but was too old tours to East Africa, North and business, it always seemed to cricket in his late sixties. But his best on many RAF bombing raids to play a game. However, he spoke South America and New Zealand. coincide with a cricket match NORVILLE, RE 1983 work was coaching youngsters in his over Germany and in 1943 he very amusingly at two dinners, in somewhere. He played so much OAKLEY, DA; Capt, MBE, RM 1969 native Jamaica and at the Haringey was severely injured in the hip, 1992 and 1993, and both speeches He taught at Marlborough College cricket, we used to joke that by Cricket College, which produced a knee and ankle which ended his O’CONNOR, T; MBE, RD 1973 were beautifully delivered. before he was appointed Warden early June, he’d scored 1,000 runs.” number of county and Test players career as a Folkestone FC player. of Radley in 1968 and did such a OGDEN, J 1991 for England. He only played in three However he was able to continue His greatest contributions were in brilliant job that he remained in his Derek died on 22 September Tests for the West Indies in 1959-60. playing cricket for Folkestone CC OHLSON, KB; OBE, MC, TD 1967 cricket – he was MCC President for post for 23 years before retiring at aged 92 and his funeral service and XL, which he joined in 1971. two years and had a less enjoyable 60. With his charm he eased out was packed out. He produced POPE, AV 1974 Reg emigrated to London at the end two years as chairman of the “difficult” elements and maintained an 180,000-word memoir about of 1960 and coached for 15 years His father William was a baker RUOFF, FP 1968 Test and County Cricket Board – high standards of behaviour. He his career, which included the while playing minor league cricket. and Bill the Younger was born at and education where he was an met his wife Diana, who worked command of the first landing craft SCARLETT, RO 1983 He then returned to Jamaica and Elham Valley. Aged eight, he was a inspirational headmaster of Radley. for Reader’s Digest at a dance in during the Suez invasion in 1956; SILK, DRW; CBE 2001 was appointed director of coaching member of the football and cricket Everyone knew him as a good egg. the village hall in 1963 and three being an aide-de-camp to Lord for the West Indies Board. In 1979 he 2nd XI sides. In 1935 he won a Jack days later they got engaged. Mountbatten; and a member of the STOCKTON, JC 1981 was back as the main organiser of Hobbs prize for scoring 17 out of Dennis was born on 8 October, guard of honour at the funeral of WHARTON, P 1985 the Haringey College. He also worked his side’s 21 and taking 9-1 in the 1931 in Eureka, California. His Dennis was a Christian, a Winston Churchill. for the Greater London Council. George Spurgeon’s school total of 4. father was a medical missionary fisherman, a keen gardener, a WHITE, MG; Dr 1973 Just as WWII started he was playing on a Native American reservation collector of Staffordshire pottery He was honorary secretary to the WILLIAMS, LA 1990 He played for the Forty Club football for Folkestone Invicta with in the Sierra Nevada desert and his and a keen follower of horse racing Royal Navy Cricket Club and joined between 1983 and 1993 as an the score 3-3 when he fell and mother Louise was Spanish. She through teaching one of his pupils, XL in 1969 and was chairman of off-spinner and a hard-hitting broke an arm. The captain told him The date after each name died when he was four and his Ian Balding the trainer and father of the South District for some time, batsman. He died on 14 August, a to take the penalty. He converted it denotes year of election. father brought them to England, sports presenter Clare Balding. proving a reliable batsman. day before his 85th birthday. to give his side a 4-3 victory.

52 The Forty Club 2020 Yearbook https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com 53 LIDEKE OHM After the War he met and married ideke was the wife of Dorothy, a marriage that lasted for former international ICC 65 years. Bill went into business and L umpire, SGS President, and one of his many accomplishments XL Honorary Life Member was to save the Romney, Hyde and Duco Ohm. They were always to Dymchurch railway from going be seen at the Triangular – latterly out of business. In 2018 he was Quadrangular – Tournament in all awarded the MBE for his services to four countries and until a few years sport and the community. ago they were regular tourists on XL overseas tours. THOMAS GERALD Whilst Duco did the umpiring, MICHAEL KEALL Lideke was the scorer and in that personality, and helpfulness and on Sunday 8 December 2019. central seat of coordination and kindness. Over so many years of Whilst we have lost a dear, member of XL from 1981, record, she became a friend and support to cricket, she became an dear friend, we are left with Thomas was a Member companion to so many cricketers admired and popular figure to so so many wonderful memories A of Surrey CCC for more from all corners, initially attracted many cricketers. and recollections with which to than 60 years and was a by a never-ending supply of sweets, celebrate her life. Our thoughts distinguished prep school Head of but more importantly because of Thankfully her illness was a and prayers go out to Duco and the Portsmouth Grammar Junior her welcome, her friendship, her short one, and she passed away their family. School, Ascham House School and Westminster Abbey Choir School A very talented sportsman, to Dollar Academy very special for before becoming a Fellow at Jamie played cricket for Carlton, the Forty Club and we will miss Magdalene College, Cambridge. He Grange and the MCC as well as him, but not as much as his wife, also played for Hampshire Hogs, the the Forty Club. His availability to children and family. Our thoughts On the night of his wedding in 1940 Patron Prince Philip at our dinner Cryptics and was a member of MCC. play Forty Club was restricted by are with them now and always. the Luftwaffe bombed the hotel he at Lord’s and the following year he He died on 7 July at the age of 88. school duties but from his first and his wife were staying in and and one of our centenarians Ken appearance in 2008 he played WILLIAM six months later another raid on Medlock were honoured. JAMIE FROST regularly up until 2013. a rented house killed four people, MACKENDRICK MANN and again, they survived. But his He never took any medication amie Frost, Head of He made a highest score of 48 and scariest moments came when and his chief exercise was Cricket at Dollar Academy, had best bowling figures of 6-71, orty Club Life Member escorting convoy PQ18 to Russia. to walk half a mile to the J sadly passed away on 20 both against Dollar Academy. As William (Bill) Mann CBE More than a hundred torpedoes newsagents at Hungerford to buy September at the age of head of cricket at Dollar Academy F died last year. A former were launched from Junkers “The Times.” “I like reading Mike 53. Jamie was a great supporter Jamie took his school to the top of opening batsman/wicket- aircraft and a third of the convoy Atherton,” he said. of Forty Club and what it stands schools cricket in Scotland. It was keeper, Bill played 10 games for the was sunk in freezing conditions. for. He was educated at Stewart’s very appropriate that Dollar won Forty Club before hanging up his LT COMMANDER JOHN Melville and Exeter University the Forty Club trophy this year and gloves in 1995. He remained very ERROL MANNERS His first class cricket activities MICHAEL HOWARD and held teaching positions at both the current coach Peter Ross supportive and continued to be a started with a debut for Hampshire both Fettes College and Dollar and 1st XI captain Toby Douglas Match Manager in the 90s. Many hen Lt Commander against Gloucestershire in 1936 BUSHBY (1931-2020) Academy as well as coaching paid tribute to him at the Annual of the stalwarts of the Scotland John Errol Manners, DSC and in all he scored 1,162 runs cricket at both schools. Dinner at Lord’s. Jamie made visits District were introduced to Forty W bowed out on March 7 at 31.40. WW11 put an end to ne of the country’s Club cricket through Billy. aged 105 he left several his hopes of continuing with outstanding teachers unique records. He was the oldest Hampshire. He joined XL in 1962 O and cricket coaches, He was a huge supporter of first class cricketer in Britain and but only played three matches. Mike opened with Dennis charity, recreation, the Arts and possibly in the world, was the He did however, believe in the Silk for Cambridge University sport, and his efforts to ensure longest serving playing member Grierson philosophy of playing the in 1952-4 and he also opened that the rateable value of sports of MCC which he joined in 1937 game the right way. with . He was clubs was reduced in the 1980s and he sunk the last U boat in our renowned for his old fashioned undoubtedly aided the survival of a waters on April 16, 1945. John was born in Exeter, son of habits – he spurned technological number of clubs. He was a former Rear Admiral Errol Manners, KBE aids, wore Hush Puppies painted President of the Scottish Cricket He commanded HMS Viceroy (1883-1953), and was educated at white for extra comfort and when Union (1984) and his company off Newcastle and after U-1274 Dartmouth Naval College from the his jackets wore out he patched was a major supporter of Scottish went down to the bottom with no age of thirteen. He retired from them up. He was a housemaster cricket for many years. survivors a dinghy floated to the the Royal Navy in 1958 and was and cricket coach at the highly surface containing a casket full of Bursar at one of our opponents, successful Tonbridge first team Bill was a marvellous friend to brandy. He opened one bottle and Dauntsey’s School in Wiltshire. At which included Colin Cowdrey. the Forty Club and we offer our sent the rest to Winston Churchill the age of 103 he took part in an When he retired in 1991 he sincere condolences to the Mann who thanked him and said “I shall ITV documentary “100 Year Old became a Good Samaritan. He family on their loss. keep it as an interesting souvenir.” Driving School.” In 2013 he met our joined XL in 1974.

54 The Forty Club 2020 Yearbook https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com 55 DISTRICT CONTACTS SCOTLAND [SC] SURREY & WEST SUSSEX [SX] District Chairman: Colin Neill 01436 672688 : 07703 387110 District Chairman: Richard Bennett 07769 653502 [email protected] [email protected]

www.xlclubscotland.play-cricket.com https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com/ https://www.facebook.com/Forty-Club-Scotland-District-294519251746/?fref=ts YORKSHIRE & THE NORTH EAST [YNE] SOUTH [SO] District Chairman: Kevin Owens 07825 515537 District Chairman: Derek Candy [H] 02392 359677 [M] 07887 394505 [email protected] [email protected]

https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com/ https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com/

KENT & EAST SUSSEX [CP] NORTH WEST [NW] District Chairman: Cliff Hayward 01689 858283 : 07963 624508 District Chairman: Phil Deakin 07703 576394 [email protected] [email protected]

https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com/ https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com/ https://www.40club-kent.co.uk EAST MIDLANDS [EM] WEST MIDLANDS [WM] District Chairman: Paul Shepherd 01302 771355: 07971 875308 District Chairman: Kevin Bissett [email protected] kevin [email protected]

https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com/ https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com/ www.xlclubemidlands.play-cricket.com/home/home.asp www.xlclubwestmidlands.play-cricket.com WEST [WE] NORTH THAMES[NT] District Chairman: Ben White 07974 777037 District Chairman: Ilija Krunic [H] 0207 603 4940 : [M] 07958 348474 [email protected] [email protected]

https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com/ https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com/

WALES [WA] EASTERN COUNTIES [EC] District Chairman: Phillip C Stallard [W]0292082 1790 [H] 01633 215753 District Chairman: Nigel Buckingham-Jones 07798 751078 [email protected] [email protected]

https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com/ https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com/ www.xlclubeasterncounties.play-cricket.com

56 The Forty Club 2020 Yearbook https://thefortyclub.play-cricket.com 57

OFFICERS

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

Founder President Henry Grierson John RT Barclay

Past Presidents Sir , Sir John Hobbs, Sir George Allen CBE, GO Shelmerdine, H Sutcliffe, H Grierson, F Appleyard, Sir Robert Menzies KT CH QC, AER Gilligan, HEH Gabriel, SC Griffith CBE DFC, 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 , CA Fry.

Honorary Fellows RG Munn, MC Barton, PH Bown, CDE Bazalgette, JA Williams, CF Openshaw, BD Hunter, RCA Hart, JRA Widgery, TS Hale and RJ Evans

Honorary Life Members JR Reid CNZM OBE, DK Gaekwad, RB Simpson, MJK Smith OBE, R Illingworth CBE, Sir MBE, R Subba Row CBE, MJ Stewart OBE, DL Underwood MBE, Lord MacLaurin of Knebworth DL, Sir Garfield Sobers, Group Captain GP Carson, ED Ohm, CA Fry, RW Tennant, RM Ellison, JP Agnew MBE DL, Kumar Sangakkara and Alex Steele.

Officers of the club

Chairman PW Fawkner-Corbett

Hon Secretary Hon Treasurer Hon Fixtures Secretary Hon Membership Barry Aitken Ian Witchell Tony Fare Secretary Mrs Paddy Gaywood

Curator of WG Grace’s Grave Howard Smith

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (The Officers of the Club plus) Nathan Bradley, Stephen Dell, Peter Mason, Colin Neill, Peter Owens, Jeremy Roberts and Roly Walton.

Dinner Secretary Michael Barnes

Key Personnel and Services

Cricket Manager Cricket Tours Facebook Page admin Hon Secretary, John Sharples Hasan Jafri Barry Aitken XL Golfing Society Rob Nelson www.facebook.com/ Peter Crowcroft fortyclubcricket

Yearbook Editor Website Manager Club Archivist Club Shop Brian Scovell Kevin Owens Carl Openshaw morrant.com

To Contact any of the Officers and Key Personnel, please use the CONTACT facility on the Home Page of the club website.

58 The Forty Club 2020 Yearbook