Christmas has come early this year and I am already the proud possessor of three splendid cricket volumes to see me through the winter months. The first one to arrive was the sports book of the year - 'The Great Romantic' by Duncan Hamilton. This is the remarkable story of Neville Cardus, thought by many to have been the greatest cricket writer ever, as well as being a classical music critic. I had already purchased another Cardus volume earlier in the year, which I can also heartily recommend. This is an anthology of his cricket writing, edited by Gideon Haigh, entitled 'A Field of Tents and Waving Colours'.
The chapter in this volume which I probably enjoyed most was entitled 'Cricket at Dover' and is a description of the match between Kent and Lancashire in July 1926. The first two sentences set the tone - 'The distance from Lord's to the Dover cricket field is farther than the crow flies or even than the train travels. Here we find a different habitation than cosmopolitan Lord's, here is Kent and real England'. His account of each three days of the game make fascinating reading, with Frank Woolley's century on the final day being in vain as the Australian McDonald bowled Lancashire to a narrow victory at precisely five o'clock on the third day.
To return to Duncan Hamilton's book, which to some extent corrects the current fashion of denigrating the great man's writing. It is of course true that he exaggerated at times and put words into the mouth of cricketers suggesting what they ought to have said, rather than what they actually did. He tells Cardus's remarkable life story from humble beginnings to reaching the pinnacle of his profession in the fields of both cricket and classical music with detailed research which indeed makes this a most readable book and well worthy of the award.
Earlier this week I attended the Northern Cricket Society's Christmas lunch which provided not only first class entertainment, but an excellent lunch as well, to a full house at Sandmoor Golf Club, Leeds. We were there to listen to the wonderful double act of Fred Rumsey and Stephen Chalke. The main purpose of the exercise was to promote Fred Rumsey's recent book 'Sense of Humour, Sense of Justice'. This is yet another tales of the unexpected, published by Stephen Chalke's Fairfield Books. Rumsey has a most interesting story to tell not only of his career as a left arm quick bowler, but how he came to form the Professional Cricketers Association off his own bat so to speak.
Chalke provided the perfect foil to prompt Rumsey into endless stories of his life and times while keeping a low profile himself. His own wonderful books over the years never got a mention and neither did his impending retirement after an amazing career writing and publishing numerous volumes to delight the cricket connoisseur. This are all listed in an article in the current edition of the 'Cricketer' which is well worth a read.
My partner kindly bought not only Rumsey's book, but Stephen Chalke's final volume 'Through the Remembered Gate' as a further Christmas present. Nothing could have been more appropriate. Have only just skimmed through Rumsey's book but came across some very interesting photographs recalling his early days with Worcestershire before moving on to Somerset. A picture of the Worcestershire second eleven of the early 1960s shows three players I remember playing against. One being Rumsey himself, who I faced as a club cricketer in the Edgbaston nets one winter night. All I can remember is that he was quicker than anything I had faced before.
The other two, Ken Arch and Ted Hemsley, both played for Bridgnorth cricket club in Shropshire. Arch was yet another very quick bowler, but did not make the first class game playing Minor Counties for Shropshire. Ted Hemsley of course became a Worcestershire regular as well as a very good full back for Sheffield United. The book is full of stories including having to share a room with Geoff Boycott when playing for England. Great memories for all who remember that particular era.
I still have to get round to Stephen Chalke's final volume, but am certain it will be of the same standard as those which have gone before, including of course the stories of Bob Appleyard and Geoff Cope. Geoff, complete with wife and guide dog, was present at the lunch together with Brian Close's widow Vivienne. A very special occasion for all concerned and plenty of good reading for the winter months ahead.
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