LITTLE MARLOW CRICKET CLUB Newsletter – April 2014

Welcome to the fi nal

Newsletter of 20 1 3/14 .

In this edition our President reflects upon the early years of his cricketing career with

Little Marlow, and introduces several new Vice-Presidents.

We welcome you all and hope to see you at the ground, on or

off the pitch, during the summer.

Bible study – by Quentin Falk

It’s taken more than a century and a half, but there, finally, on page 94 of the 151st and latest edition of Wisden, cricket’s “bible”, is a reference to Little Marlow Cricket Club.

We are included in a fascinating article, Wisden and the Great War, subtitled “Upon Another Shore”, by Andrew Renshaw, dealing with cricketers who received premature obituaries in the venerable tome.

The LMCC cricketer in question is Wilfred Shaw (pictured on p13), a pillar of the Sir William Borlase X1 before he joined up and, after he managed to survive the rigours of World War One as well as being officially written off in both Wisden and the Times, an irregular player here.

Renshaw’s own book, Wisden on the Great War: The Lives of Cricket’s Fallen, 1914-1918, is published on 8 May.

Guy Thistlethwaite, who joined the club just twelve months ago, provides a thoroughly enjoyable

'Player Profile', whilst my contribution takes a look at the Little Marlow cricketers who gave their lives for King and

Country nearly 100 years ago.

Also, news that our club has a mention in this year's 'bible'.

The first game is just hours away as I write, so I'd like to take this opportunity to wish everybody all the best for a

happy and successful season.

Scores and reports of all matches will be published on the club's website, whilst the newsletter will return in the

autumn.

Richard Tedham

Q TIPS – FROM THE PRESIDENT Seasons In The Sun I have to pinch myself even as I write this … 2014 marks the 48th

anniversary of my first association with our beloved LMCC. And just because I don’t pull on the “whites” any longer – the bones now creak audibly - doesn’t mean I have any less affection for a club whose weekly results I still search for as eagerly as I do for, in the winter, QPR, and in the summer, Middlesex CCC.

This will be the 55th year since the club was re-formed in 1960, six years before I made my debut on the Bradish-Ellames Ground aged 17. Not that much has changed with the “look” of the place apart from the major upgrading of changing rooms and, even more significantly, the square (Ted was just 8, still a dozen years away from assuming groundsman duties when I first attempted in 1966 to impart leg spin on a low, slow track before becoming, allegedly, a ”quickie” at the turn of the 70s though sheer frustration).

Those of you who bothered to attend the AGM earlier this year will hear that the club finances are currently in comparatively decent shape, due in no small part to the continuing generosity of the vice-presidents.

So this seemed a good place to let you know that we have six new “Veeps” in place for this coming season, all of whom have varying connections with the club and/or village.

There are three “old boys” of LMCC: Mark “Psycho” Fisher, arguably the best all-rounder ever to grace the club in his more than 30 years of playing – and he’s still only in his mid-40s; John “Jonno” White, fearless middle-order bat and guileful SLA (that’s slow left arm); and Ben “The Dybbuk” Falk, the heir to my overdraft, who made his LMCC debut aged 11, peaked here in his late teens, and now, as a husband-and-father, plays for The Authors XI in London and at assorted stately homes around this isle.

Daniel O’Sullivan and Chris Rising, respectively, mine host and chef at “Marlow’s Little Secret” (note the addition of a correct apostrophe), The Queen’s Head, are especially welcome additions to the list as is their neighbour, Jason Downes, the comparatively new, still reasonably youthful, occupant, with his wife Priya, of Little Marlow Manor, who has hinted he may play from time to time … if selected, of course!

Finally, to all our playing members, First, Seconds and Colts, remember what the man said:

There's a breathless hush in the Close to-night—

Ten to make and the match to win—

A bumping pitch and a blinding light,

An hour to play and the last man in.

And it's not for the sake of a ribboned coat,

Or the selfish hope of a season's fame,

But his captain's hand on his shoulder smote

"Play up! play up! and play the game!"

LOOKING BACK

19 14/18 - Little Marlow Cricket Club's Roll of Honour

On 21st August 1915 British soldiers launched their final offensive of the failed Gallipoli peninsula campaign in Turkey. Members of the Royal Bucks Hussars were among them, including Well End and Little Marlow Cricket Club Secretary Henry Haddon.

It was a disaster. In one day over a third of the 14,300 Allied troops who took part were either killed or wounded. Haddon, recently promoted to sergeant, was never seen again and, almost a year later, his mother received official confirmation that she should assume the worse. His name is recorded on the Helles War Memorial, as well as those of Little Marlow, Marlow and Marlow Rowing Club. …..........................................

Henry James Perkins Haddon was born in Hampstead on the 25th January 1886, the third of eight children for Richard, a groom/coachman, and Elsie. The first born, and only girl, inherited her mother's name and the second his father's. Henry was then followed by Christopher, Thomas, Cecil, Leopold and Colin. Sadly, Christopher and Colin died during childhood.

Sgt. H.J.P. Haddon

In or around 1902 the family moved to Holland Road in Newtown, Marlow. Henry found work as a clerk at Wethered's Brewery in the High Street, joined the town's rowing club and enroled in the Royal Bucks Hussars. His three surviving younger brothers attended Little Marlow School.

By 1910/11 Henry, Richard and 14-year-old Leo had become members of Well End and Little Marlow Cricket Club. The older two were soon senior officers; Richard succeeding the long-serving Edwin Day as Treasurer in 1913 whilst Henry, an occasional player, was elected Secretary.

After war broke out Thomas, Cecil and Leo joined their brother in the army. Happily, they all survived. Virtually the entire active membership of Marlow Rowing Club fought for King and Country, nineteen of them losing their lives.

Leo Haddon played a few matches when the club was resurrected in 1920, but there is no record of Richard returning.

…..........................................

There are eight names, including Haddon's, on the Little Marlow War Memorial who played, or might have played, for the village cricket club. Unfortunately, at this distance it's impossible to determine whether or not Philip Harris, Charles Collins, Edward Smith, Joseph Smith, John Bowler and Joseph Ridgley were the P. Harris, C. Collins, E. Smith, J. Smith, J. Bowler and J. Ridgley who did so. Surely at least one or two must have been.

William Tolman is the only other certainty. In his mid-forties when war was declared, Tolman worked as a chauffeur in Little Marlow, presumably at either The Manor House or Westhorpe. He played irregularly after moving to the village from Smethwick, Staffordshire in or around 1905.

Tolman sustained fatal wounds while serving as an ambulance driver and died in England on the 4th June 1916. Sadly, details of the circumstances leading to his injuries were lost when 2nd World War bombing of London destroyed the records. His son, Harold, another Little Marlow School pupil, played at least one game for the club in 1920.

PLAYER PROFILE – GUY THISTLETHWAITE

PLEASE COULD YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR EARLY LIFE?

I was born on the 28th April 1970. My family moved to Devon from Chester when I was 9 and I went to St Mary Tavy Primary and Tavistock Comprehensive , and then to Manchester University where I "studied" Town Planning. Amazingly I have 2 degrees in Planning which really help me to explain difficult English grammar in my current job. Town Planning was clearly a calling for many sporty types, as well as the Captain if the university rugby XV (me) there was also the captain of the hockey team and various members of other sporting clubs. It was a very easy degree!

WHAT, OR WHO, BROUGHT YOU TO LMCC?

After uni I went to live in Spain, teaching English. I loved it and met a beautiful Spanish lady and settled down and had 2 wonderful children. My wife works for Astrazeneca, a pharmaceutical company, and saw the opportunity to progress in her career in London, so dragged me, kicking and screaming, back to the UK. The few benefits I could see in moving back were cricket and decent beer (most other essentials can be found in Madrid), so I started checking out teams as near as possible to the Rebellion brewery. The nicest and most helpful reply came from Ted, and here I am!

Playing rugby in Spain about three years ago

HOW DO YOU NOW EARN YOUR LIVING?

I'm a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) Teacher/Teacher Trainer.

WHAT WAS YOUR CRICKETING EXPERIENCE BEFORE JOINING OUR CLUB?

Cricketing experience pre-LMCC: there is an enormous Spain shaped hole in my cricketing CV. Early memories are with my Dad in the back garden being told to keep my left elbow up (advice I have studiously ignored) but we never played in primary so I began at Tavistock CC colts and played with the grown-ups for Brentor CC, the tiny Devon village where I lived. For the colts I played as a wicket keeper/slogger until one evening I was late from competing in the area sports High jump (3rd with a clearance of 1.70), and the school football team goalie had taken the gloves. This meant I got a bowl and neither of us looked back, we represented Devon schools together the following year in our new roles. This, however, was the height of my representative cricket. At uni I played in the summers wherever life / girlfriends / summer jobs took me - Cheltenham, Formby, even Amsterdam while on Erasmus over there. Eventually I went to Spain and in the 20 years previous to joining LMCC, had only played a few games one summer for the United Bristol Hospitals Trust while my brother was convalescing. Consequently I was quite rusty last season...I hope to perform a little better this year, and I guess the rest of the seconds do too!

Batting at Cookham Dean last September

PLEASE COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT SOME OF YOUR MOST MEMORABLE MATCHES AND PERFORMANCES?

Playing for Tavistock colts we once bowled a team out for 15, 9 ducks, one chap got 13 (though I had him caught behind for 0 but his dad was umpiring) and 2 extras. The other opening bowler and I got 5 each for single figures. I have only scored 1 century, for Tavistock school against a (very poor) Sri Lankan touring team. Winning the league for Brentor with my Dad in the same team was also a high.

WHAT ARE YOUR INTERESTS OTHER THAN CRICKET?

I am chairman of Madrid Barbarians RFC, I was a founder member and am very proud of how they're getting on this season In the first division of the Madrid leagues. I am also a huge Liverpool fan and hoping beyond hope that our first title in far too long might materialise this year! Away from sport, my passion is rap music and I have produced various albums for artistes in Britain and Spain.

HOW HAS THE GAME CHANGED DURING YOUR TIME AS A PLAYER?

How has the game changed? I basically had a 20 year gap between playing village cricket in Devon and then village cricket in the Chilterns. The wonderful thing is that the game at this level has hardly changed at all in those 20 years. Cricket is such a weird game, anachronistic and with the strangest traditions and idiosyncrasies - something I never fully appreciated til I tried explaining it to Spanish friends! Long may it continue that way.