Mentor to Many

In a posting I made in the spring of 2012, NYSD Memories, I recalled a time in the 1950s  when my Saturday afternoons would be spent watching Darlington CC playing in the A Division of the NYSD League and of particular interest were the performances of the man in the photograph above, a stylish opening bat for club and county and master in charge of cricket at my school, Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Darlington. The posting came to mind yesterday when, through social media I heard of Mr Camburn's death aged 88. Following the announcement many tributes were paid to JMC as a cricketer, coach and teacher.

John Martin Camburn was born in Thirsk, North Yorkshire in 1929 and came to the attention of the Darlington cricketing public when in 1953 he scored 114* in an unbeaten opening stand of 233 for Darlington II against Stokesley partnered by skipper Geoff Gillow (still alive at over 100), against Stokesley. He soon established himself as a regular opener in the first team, a team that dominated the NYSD in the 50s. His partner at this time was Arthur 'Hank' Saunders and they became one of the league's most successful opening pairs. In his history of the club the late Bob Hattersley writes of Camburn's period as captain, 1967-68 and how, whilst teaching at QEGS he encouraged his charges to join the town club. To this day I remember being told that JMC wanted to see me in his classroom at break but was relieved on arrival to see two other cricketers, Keith Black, a lifelong friend and captain of the U13 side and Mike Sheil, a seam bowler and a discussion followed as to what fields Keith might set when Mike and I opened the bowling against Grangefield Grammar, Stockton the following day. This was to be our first 'school match' and I was both pleased and proud to be told I would be sharing the cherry with Mike. Mr Camburn would not be present of course as it was a Saturday match and he would be opening the batting for DCC that afternoon.

By the time I returned to teach at my old school in 1968 JMC had moved on to teach at one of the town's new comprehensive schools and with his departure and the change of grammar school to sixth form college cricket at Abbey Road would never be the same. Shortly after this I played in a match at Feethams against Darlington III who played their home matches on Friday evenings and towards the end of the game John Camburn appeared to take his Friday evening pint and watch the closing overs. On learning that I had taken eight wickets, a one off occasion,  my former mentor spent a long time inspecting the wicket before announcing that if Winn had taken eight then, given Feethams' reputation as a good batting track, it might be best not to use that strip again. Not one to let you get too big for your boots.

1973 saw the end of John's Darlington career, having scored almost ten thousand runs for the club. His son Clyde was a useful cricketer but excelled on the hockey field where he achieve international honours. His company was amongst the sponsors at last year's Scarborough Festival.  I have made only passing reference to John's county career but he made 22 appearances for Durham between 1955 and 1960, scoring 830 runs at 23.71 with a top score of 95, one of five fifties he made.

'A true gentleman and a real teacher'  'the best cover drive in the NYSD'  'a thoroughly good bloke' three tributes to John Camburn posted on social media yesterday. RIP