One for your shelves

posted by John Winn

Apart from Wisden,  books from Fairfield Books of Bath take up more space on my 'cricket shelves' than those by any other publisher. The publishing company is owned by Stephen Chalke who took up writing about cricket in 1997 with Runs in the Memory, a book about the domestic game in the 1950s,  a time when championship cricket was the only game in town apart from visits by touring teams. Based on interviews with players of the era it is  fascinating stuff and a book I can go to time and time again and the only surprise is that I did not purchase my copy until five years after publication.

It is fitting and a nice coincidence that Tony should have mentioned Stephen's  biography of Bob Appleyard in his tribute to the great Yorkshire bowler posted yesterday. If you are seeking a copy of this then you will probably have to go second hand for it is not on the latest list from Fairfield Books. My own favourite among Stephen's books, at least until last week, is 'One More Run', a slim volume describing Yorkshire's visit to Cheltenham in 1957 a thrilling match described through the eyes and memories of Bryan 'Bomber' Wells and as the title suggests resulting in victory by a single run. To which side went the spoils I will not reveal.

 

About 18 months ago in a newsletter from Fairfield Books, Stephen warned his readers that there would be an unusually long gap before his next publication and that this was because he had been invited to write a history of the county championship. My copy of the magnum opus arrived last week and what a splendid record it is, a book that feels good in your hands before you even look inside its 352 pages . With many lovely photographs the book is a record of a competition that is just about recognisable today compared with its beginnings in the nineteenth century. How much longer that is likely to be the case was a topic of discussion at The Thoroughbreds lunch yesterday. 'Not much longer' once Colin Graves slides back the bolt on  the new broom cupboard at the ECB, seemed to be the consensus.

For those of a certain age, reading books like 'Runs in the memory' and 'One more run' can be chastening for it leaves you wondering why it can't still be like that and longing for a time when for a little over four months each year every Wednesday and Saturday saw the start of seven or more three day championship grounds with lots of 'out ground' cricket and festivals at places like Bath, Maidstone, Folkestone and many more.

I suggested earlier that 'Summer's Crown', the title of the new book, might usurp 'Just one Run' in my affections but whilst essentially they have the same subject matter they are very different kinds of books and will sit proudly side by side, filed under Chalke, and each will continue to give me great pleasure. 'Summer's Crown' retails at £20 post free in the UK from Fairfield Books 17 George's Road, Bath, BA1 6EYwith £2 postage for overseas delivery. If you wish to check availability ring 01225 335813.