Meeting: 12 April 2003
Guest Speaker: David Rayvern Allen
Former BBC Producer and Cricket Historian
Grace
Grace was said by Andrew Renshaw in the absence of David Brown:
‘Loving Father, we ask your blessing on our gathering today, the first day of a new cricket season. We give thanks for the wonderful weather, good food, and friendship, and as the present-day custodians of The Hambledon Club, may we be true to the memory of its founders, for whose vision and example we give grateful thanks.’
Once again, our steward produced a mouth-watering menu:
Fan of Melon, with fruit coulis; Lemon Sole, with a Veronique sauce; Spring Lamb and Apricot stuffing, served with seasonal vegetables and chef’s potatoes; Selection of English Cheeses; Coffee and Mints
Apologies for Absence
Clive Barnett, Christopher Bazalgette, David Brown, Roy Clarke (the first time he has ever missed one of our lunches), Graham Collyer, John Fingleton, Jocelyn Galsworthy, Michael Knox, Steve Lampard, Harold Langrish, John Lofting, Alistair Maclennan, Keith Mason, the Pardoe family, Tony Roberts, the Tait family, Peter Thomspon, Peter Tomkins and John Young.
Next Meeting
Saturday, 27 September 2003, 1230 for 1 pm
Contact: Dick Orders to book places for you and your guests – 02392 632 692
Our Speaker
The Chairman introduced David Rayvern Allen, who over the years has produced a number of very find cricket books, such as: ‘Butcher’s Scores 1790 – 1805’ – limited edition, and a joint venture, ‘Arlott & Ackroyd’ – another collector’s item.
David’s address was based around his fascination with the art of commentary – at best, an art form, at worst, disastrous – still bringing to life, in words, the pictures that can now be seen on the television, with all the gimmicks and gadgetry in use today. Pondering the demise of the pure commentator, with the preponderance of retiring cricketers moving into the realms of the media.
David rendered the assembled company helpless with a superb compilation of classic commentary moments, filling the Bat and Ball with memories and voices of such illustrious names as: Howard Marshall, Rex Alston, John Arlott, Jim Swanton, Brian Johnston, with the immortal ‘Leg Over’ moment, et al. All too fast and too funny for the secretary to record!
David finished by wishing The Hambledon Club all the best of what’s gone before and the worst of what’s yet to come.
The Chairman thanked David for an absolutely wonderful presentation and how great it had been to hear so many of our known and loved commentators.
New Books
100 Great Hampshire County Cricket Players by Neil Jenkinson, published by Tempest Press
Lords: The Cathedral of Cricket, by Stephen Green – due for publication in May 2003.
Match
Bowral Foundation XI – v – The Hambledon Club – 2 pm Tuesday, 20 May 2003 at The Bat & Ball
Ralph Simmons and Kevin Beaumont volunteered to Umpire and Penny Taylor to score.
The Foundation XI is the ‘playing arm’ of the Bradman Foundation in Bowral. Originally founded in 1989, it has experienced significant growth over the last three years. We are a social side that plays about fifteen fixtures per year. Our touring squad will vary in age from their mid-20s to mid-50s, with an average in their late 30s. About half of the team plays competitive cricket on a weekly basis. Generally, the players competed at Grade level in their earlier years and have now ‘retired’ to the pleasant surrounds of Bradman Oval.
Full scorecard and picture in the next Newsletter!
Support for Hambledon CC’s Colts
The traditional collection was made to raise funds for the Hambledon CC Colts.