Review of David Frith's Inaugural Lecture

David Frith's 'Inaugural Lecture' at the University of Huddersfield Cricket Research Centre was a wonderful event.

Over 70 people were in attendance and the old-style West Building lecture theatre (W2/43) was packed to the rafters with standing room only. Coffee and biscuits were served beforehand, the bookstall was doing good business, and many local cricket enthusiasts seemed to be networking with long lost friends and contacts.

David took Yorkshire cricketers as his theme, exclusively those who he had got to know as a journalist, writer and magazine editor. He weaved together some excellent tales - and there were almost audible gasps in the room when he explained how he had chatted to Wilfred Rhodes about playing alongside W.G.Grace! In all, he picked out around 20 White Rose cricketers - from legends of the game to good county pros and occasional England players.


One major theme of his talk was declining standards: 21st Century cricketers not being willing to talk to the press, being mollycoddled, and not even writing their own autobiographies! At the end of his lecture he fielded a variety of questions - which touched on players he had left out(!!!) and also his favourite Yorkshire batsmen, bowlers and writers. He also signed a lot of books - with many audience members bringing their favourite D.Frith books with them to get autographed.


Audience members had come from all over - a cohort from Middlesbrough and also one chap from the South of France! Others in attendance were South Yorkshire cricket author Mick Pope, Dickie Bird Foundation official Eric Stephens, Todmorden CC historians Malcolm and Freda Heywood, cricket author Tony Bateman, Almondbury Wesleyans CC chairman Mark Binns, Scholes CC webmaster Paul Ibbotson, local cricket book dealer William Roberts, Lightcliffe CC stalwarts John Brooke and Bob Horne, and an array of Professional Cricket Watchers and local cricket enthusiasts.

All in all a wonderful night!