Meeting date: 26 October 2002
Guest Speaker: Stephen Green
Curator, Librarian, Archivist MCC, Lord’s Cricket Ground 1968-2003
Grace
Grace was delivered by The Rev. David Brown.
Our steward once again produced a splendid menu for us:
Spiked Vegetable Soup with croutons
Smoked Salmon and Prawns, drizzled with lime and coriander vinaigrette
Roast Pheasant, with a port jus, served with seasonal vegetables and chef’s potatoes
Selection of English Cheeses
Coffee and Mints
The Australian wines served with the lunch were taken to be a good omen for the forthcoming Ashes Tour – a view which, with hindsight, proved utterly unfounded.
Apologies for Absence
Unfortunately, the late change in the date of this lunch resulted in a longer than usual list of apologies from members unable to attend for an astonishing but honourable variety of reasons. The treasurer was in France, the Secretary was on her sick bed, while our former Secretary found himself working on a Saturday.
Apologies were also received from our Vice-President, Lord Alexander; David Rayvern Allen, who was speaking at a cricket function elsewhere; Stephen Saunders, who was recovering from the shock of becoming a grandfather; Alistair MacLennan who was stuck in Australia preparing for the Poms’ visit; Steve and Jenny Tait, who were ably represented by their son Christopher’ Jocelyn Goldsworthy; Keith Mason; Keith Hayhurst; Peter Thompson; Bob Beagley and the entire Pardoe family.
Our Speaker
Stephen Green, the curator of the museum at Lords and a veritable walking encyclopedia of cricket history and memorabilia, entertained members and guests after lunch with an enchanting and at times hysterical ramble through his memories of over 30 years at the MCC.
He immediately expressed his pleasure at having been introduced correctly, which was in great contrast to the occasion when a young member of staff had introduced him as the Lord’s Creator. More recently, when speaking in Warsaw to a bemused audience of Poles with limited knowledge of cricket, he had been catapulted to the rank of Professor Green. Stephen suggested to anyone charged with the task of introducing him in the future that such an exalted academic rank would suit him very well. Alternatively, a knighthood would be perfectly acceptable, especially since many of the letters received at Lords were addressed to him as Sir Stephen Green.
He reminded us of the two contrasting descriptions of Lords, both of which held an element of the truth – the cathedral of cricket, or the only lunatic asylum in the world run by the inmates. Mind you, he was at times worried about the sanity of some of his correspondents.
One letter was addressed to him as O.F. Time, Esq, while another was sent to Mr. WG Grace. When he explained that the great man had died in 1915 his Australian correspondent wrote back to say how sorry he was to hear of the death of his cousin. Stephen commented, “I felt reluctant to tell him of the passing of Queen Victoria, as too much news all at once might have been too much for him”. And staying on that theme Stephen also pointed out that he always got the last word at Lords, since he wrote the obituary notices.
Closer to home, and on a serious note, Stephen told members that the minute books of the Hambledon Cricket Club covering the early years of the 19th century had recently been deposited at Lords on long-term loan and for safe-keeping. Whilst they were of some interest, and important in the context of the game’s history, he had found little in them so far to create any great excitement. But he was still looking.
Finally, Stephen encouraged members to visit the museum at Lords if they had not already done so especially to see the magnificent portrait of the Earl of Winchilsea. He was president of the Hambledon Club in 1787, the year in which he and others formed the MCC and started the demise of the original Hambledon club. “He was a naughty boy, but his portrait is thought to be the finest in our collection at Lords”.
Support for Hambledon CC’s Colts
Members will be delighted to hear that the Hambledon Cricket Club’s Colts now have their own bowling machine, in part as a result of our fund-raising efforts on their behalf.
Next Meeting
Saturday, 12 April 2003, 12.30 for 1 pm
Speaker: David Rayvern Allen
Contact: Dick Orders to book places for you and your guests – 02392 632 692
John Woodcock, the sage of Longparish and chief cricket correspondent of The Times for so many fondly-remembered years, has accepted an invitation to be Ashley Mote’s guest at an April lunch.