Author: Mike

Chief executive Jamie Cox (centre) is pictured with Stephen Astaire (left) and Brian Lee (photograph and article below – contributed by Museum Trustee Richard Walsh).

During the County Championship match v Yorkshire (9th September 2025) the Somerset Cricket Museum was presented with two prized items relating to the legendary bowler Teddy Tyler.

The slow left armer was one of the cricketers who played a major part in helping Somerset gain first class status and between 1891 and 1907 he appeared in 177 first class matches during which he took 864 wickets at an average of 22.34.

Tyler holds the record for the best figures by a Somerset bowler for the 10 for 49 he took against Surrey in 1895. During his career Tyler took 15 wickets in a match twice, 14 wickets in a match on three occasions and 13 wickets twice.

 One of the items presented to the museum was the ball that was used by Tyler to take the first ever hat-trick for Somerset in First Class cricket.

He claimed the hat-trick in the match against Yorkshire at the end of August 1895, taking the three prized wickets of JT Brown, Denton and Tunnicliffe. In the first innings Tyler claimed seven for 133 and in the second he took seven for 114, which included the hat-trick.

The hat-trick ball along with some early Somerset CCC yearbooks signed by Tyler were donated by Brian Lee, who said: “Ted Tyler was a very distant relative on my Dad’s side and the cricket ball and books have been passed down through the family over the years. 

“I was born here in Taunton and now live in Newton Abbot.I came back to watch a number of matches in the 1970s and 80s in the Glory Years and I come up to watch Somerset occasionally. The books and ball have sat on the shelf and occasionally I got it down and looked at it, but thought it was time that other people had the chance to share them.”

The second item relating to Tyler was an engraved silver cigarette box presented to the bowler to commemorate his 14 for 122 against Gloucestershire at Ashley Down in May 1896. In the first innings Tyler took six for 50 which he followed up with eight for 72 in the second- in both of which he took the wicket of Dr. W.G.Grace.

Stephen Astaire who donated the cigarette box said: “ I collect boxes and vesta cases with interesting engravings on them. I bought the cigarette box off e-bay 10 or 15 years ago and now I have got so many that I thought Id thin my collection out. 

“I contacted Jamie Cox and told him I’d got this box and think it ought to be exhibited so would you please like to have it. Mike Unwin from the SCM replied to me  and I have brought it down today.”

Chief Executive Jamie Cox was on hand to receive the two new treasured items relating to the achievements of one of Somerset’s early heroes.

We are very grateful to Mr Andrew Maxwell for donating a picture and other memorabilia of his great grandfather James Maxwell, who played for Somerset from 1906 to 1908. He was born and died at Taunton, Somerset. James was a right-handed batsman and a right-arm fast-medium bowler.

A photograph of James Maxwell who played for Somerset CCC at the start of last century was recently presented to the Cricket Museum by his great- grandson Andrew Maxwell, a lifelong supporter who now resides in Shropshire.

Ahead of the Vitality Blast match against Kent, Andrew made the trip to Taunton to present the picture along with some cricketing memorabilia relating to one of his sporting heroes, Brian Rose, who was on hand to receive it.

The original photograph of James, also known as Jimmy, who made 10 first class appearances between 1906-08, had been in the Maxwell family ever since, but last summer after consulting with the rest of the family it was agreed to present it to the SCM so it could be enjoyed by others.

In September last year (2024) Andrew travelled to Trent Bridge to watch the Metro Bank Final between Somerset and Glamorgan, and during a rain break took the opportunity to mention the photograph to James Rew.

James put Andrew in contact with Mike Unwin at the Cricket Museum, who in turn spoke to Somerset Vice Chairman Richard Brice who made the link with Brian Rose the upshot of which was his visit to present the photograph.

In addition to the photograph of his great- grandfather, Andrew also presented the museum with a collection of articles and memorabilia relating to Brian Rose- his hero, who had kindly come along to meet him when he was at the museum.

Andrew Maxwell said: “Brian, the most successful Somerset captain ever, was one of my sporting heroes when growing up. It was extra special to share with him, my first ever experience of watching first class cricket, and what a start it was? 

“Brian was playing for England, having been recalled for the third Test Match in 1980 at Old Trafford against that feared West Indies foursome of Andy Roberts, Joel Garner, Malcolm Marshall and Michael Holding.

“I told Brian, I didn’t even see Holding’s first ball, before it hit the wicket keeper’s gloves. Brian said something similar regards the first ball he faced from him. But once that had passed, literally, he was on his way, scoring 70 out of an all out total of 150. 

“As a 15 year old on a school trip, I had recorded every single ball of that first day’s play in 1980. I was just so happy to share that with Brian along with other items relating to him, and present it to the museum for future generations to enjoy, as I have. 

“Sometimes when eventually meeting your life long hero you can be disappointed but not me. A truly great captain and a lovely, quiet unassuming gentleman. I could have chatted for hours with Brian.”

Andrew added: “Many thanks to Mike Unwin from the Somerset Cricket Museum, Richard Brice (for putting me in touch with Brian), Richard Walsh, for sharing my grandfather’s story and of course, Brian, for the joy and pleasure he brought to me as a 15 year old on that June day in 1980 at Old Trafford.”.

We are very grateful to Alan Ranger for passing on this autographed program from the SCCC match v Australia in 1948 to the Somerset Cricket Museum.

By coincidence Mr. Paul Gilley, who was in the Museum recently, was at that match and remembered it well.

The Peter Spencer (1933-2021) Memorial Cup is now held in the Somerset Cricket Museum and is played for annually between Somerset Stragglers and Devon Dumplings.

Peter was a member of Devon Dumplings, Somerset Stragglers, the MCC and many other clubs during his more than 60 years of playing.

2023 winners Devon Dumplings.

2024 winners Devon Dumplings.

2025 winners Somerset Stragglers

We are very grateful to Mr Paul Cole for sending this set of Memorabilia to the Museum. They recall the testimonial match for Mervyn Kitchener v Nailsea in June 1973.

From the programme “Mervyn was born in Nailsea and played for the local Club as a Junior. He then played several seasons for Flax Bourton C.C. before joining the Somerset Staff in 1957. He made his first class debut in 1960 and gained his County Cap in 1966. He has topped 1,000 runs in the last seven seasons with the exception of 1970, scored 14 centuries, 51 half centuries, and made a highest personal score of 189 in 1967 against the Pakistan touring team at Taunton”.

From the teamsheet below it can also be seen that Somerset sent a very strong team to Nailsea for the match.

‘This could be the start……an article by Museum Trustee Colin Trim,

…of something big’’ was a hit song of the 50’s, and t it was in that decade on Saturday 22nd August 1953 that my father, Harry Trim, took me for my baptism into watching first-class cricket at the County Ground. The Australians were coming to Taunton after losing the Fifth Test (and the Ashes) to England by 1 wicket.

Earlier this year (2024) Buses of Somerset (BoS) had announced an official partnership with Somerset County Cricket Club. The Trustees of the Somerset Cricket Museum are delighted to say the this association has been extended to the Museum and are very grateful for the donation that has been made.

Regarding this association, Claire Wood, Senior Marketing Manager at First Bus stated “We are delighted to support the Cricket Museum and look forward to working collaboratively with them to ensure more people visit by bus! Please click here for full details on our Buses of Somerset timetables and routes: https://www.firstbus.co.uk/somerset”.

This is a lovely story sent to us by a member of staff at the Braemar Lodge Care Home, Salisbury and thanks also go to Keith Templeman at the Somerset Stragglers Club for his help in the research……

“For the last two years, Anthony Collyns has lived at Braemar Lodge Care Home in Salisbury. It was very clear, right from his early days in the home, that he has a passion for cricket. Anthony often speaks fondly of his time playing with the Somerset Stragglers in the middle of the last century. ‘I had many happy times at the club, both playing and watching.’

At the time, (mid 1959s) Anthony was serving in the Somerset Light Infantry (later becoming the Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry) and would play with the Stragglers whenever he was back at base in Taunton, or on one occasion for the SLI v Stragglers.

One of the Companions at Braemar Lodge decided to contact the Somerset Cricket Museum to find out what memorabilia there might be about Anthony, and his brother Napier who also played.

Using Stragglers memorabilia including the book on their history 1900-2000 and yearbooks, they did some research and produced several pages of information, with statistics on matches that Anthony had played in – including one where he scored a century.

Anthony’s daughter also brought in a replica plaque from the Somerset CCC Legends Wall, where he and his brother are listed (see photos above). We presented these finds to Anthony, in front of some of his fellow residents, who were impressed with his achievements. Anthony was very touched for the research done, and we thank everyone so much for their work in finding this for him.”

Can anyone add to this story….?

We were delighted to welcome the Officials, Parents and members of the Tiddington U13 team to the Museum today – 29th July 2024,

The group are on a tour of Somerset and Devon, playing Taunton Deane and then travelling to Cullompton and Exeter. After a tour of the ground and lunch they spent about 40 minutes with us – the video of the 2023 Blast final a favourite.

Supporters may recall that Jack Brooks was a junior cricketer at Tiddington before moving into the county pathways.

Photographs by kind permission of Tiddington CC.

The Somerset Cricket Foundation led by Mustafa Shaikh and Susann Savidge from the SACN had a wonderful time in the Museum, decorated for the occasion, engaging in conversation with visitors and especially chatting to them about their memories about “Sir Viv” and are very grateful to visitors for completing the brief questionnaire of which approaching 20 have been returned, – they will be collating the stories and sharing them at a later date.

There were lovely recollections of  “Sir Viv” the person beyond the elite cricketer that he was. The museum upstairs was just a perfect setting and looked amazing with the flags of Antiqua and Barbuda, Barbados and Jamaica.

Susann Savidge and the Somerset African Caribbean Network will be writing their own report of the Windrush Legacy event – which will shared at a later date.

SOMERSET CRICKET MUSEUM – 124 YEARS ON – OLYMPIC HEROES

An article written by the late Tony Stedall, once Curator of the Museum.

One hundred and twenty four years ago a party of cricket tourists from the West Country and a team of the best players from the handful of cricket clubs then existing in the Paris area met in the French capital for a two-day 12-a-side match grandly billed as ‘France contre Angleterre’. 

It was one of many sporting events arranged in Paris in 1900 as part of the great World Fair.

The match played in the Vincennes arena, attracted very little interest, but the few spectators were rewarded with an exciting finish. ‘England’ beat ‘France by 158 runs after dismissing the home side for only 26 in the second innings with just minutes to spare.

The second Olympic Games of the modern era were also being staged in Paris that summer. They were poorly organised, facilities were inadequate, only 22 countries took part, and in fact the games ended up as nothing more than an adjunct to the World Fair. But when 12 years later, the Olympic authorities finally compiled an official record of the 1900 Games they included the cricket match and a number of other World Fair events, to the surprise, no doubt, of those who had taken part.

Cricket has never figured in the Games before or since, so the West Country amateurs who played in Paris that summer have their own little niche in cricket history.

This curious story becomes even stranger when one looks at their opponents, for only three of the French team have French names. The rest were Englishmen resident in France.

The touring team, moreover, had little claim to represent England. They played as the Devon County Wanderers on this occasion, but retrospectively were renamed the Devon and Somerset Wanderers, for several came from Somerset and two in fact Alf Bowerman and Montague Toller each played a few first class games for the county around the turn of the century.

 The Wanderers owed their existence to W.S. Donne of the Castle Cary Club, who founded and led an annual tour for many years, (see additional notes below). Several of the players were former Blundells boys.

The 1900 tour, however, was not captained by Donne(although he took part), but by C.B.K.Beachcroft of Exeter.

The two who played for Somerset were heroes of the rain-affected match. The scores were; England 117 and 145 for 5 dec., France 78 and 26. Bowerman, who was born at Broomfield in the Quantocks, was top scorer of the game with a brisk 59 in the second innings. Toller, a Barnstaple man, then took 7 quick wickets (all bowled) when the French batted again. He conceded only 9, 10, or 14 runs according to which account one believes.

To sum up, England are the current Olympic Cricket gold medalists and champions.

Additional notes re W. S. Donne (contributed by Barry Philips)

William Stephens Donne was the driving force behind early Castle Cary CC tours. The first took place in 1894 to the Isle of Wight and in  subsequent years the tourists went to the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands and the Lake District. In June 1898, the touring cricketers and family left Harwich bound for Holland where William Donne had organised an ambitious 5th tour which featured seven matches. 

For whatever reason, William probably needed to broaden the representation, the tour to Paris in 1900 was made under the team name of the Devon County Wanderers, which would in later years adopt the broader title of the Devon and Somerset Wanderers. William was involved as secretary and organiser of each subsequent annual tour until his death in March 1934, aged 58.

The first image (below):is taken from the 1904 tour to the Channel Islands. The second image is from the 34th tour to Hampshire in August 1933. By the time of his death, he had already organised the 35th tour (again to Hampshire) which went ahead in August 1934 as a mark of respect. 

William was not much of a cricketer. He wasn’t a bowler and he usually batted in mid to late order. In the ‘Olympics’ match, going in as the 8th batsman, he was run out for 6 in his only innings. His running between wickets may well have been hampered by his ample girth as apparent from the images. He did captain the Castle Cary 1st X1 from 1912-1915, but he was happier playing for the 2nd X1 and it was his outstanding organising ability that counted more than his cricketing contribution. At various stages, he acted as secretary, chairman and president of the club. 

But, what he lacked in ability for cricket he made up for it with his rugby and his penchant for scrummaging. Firstly for Castle Cary RFC and then for Somerset. Elected to the latter’s committee in 1893, aged 18, he served as hon. secretary from 1896 to 1905 and was elected president in 1923, a position he held until his death. He was also president of the Rugby Football Union in 1924/25. Whilst president of the RFU he suffered a significant health scare, to the dismay of the King who sent him a get well message.  

A pupil of King’s School, Bruton, he and his brother Thomas were the directors of a twine and rope company at the Higher Flax Mills in Castle Cary. They were the 6th generation of the family to carry on the business. William was a pillar of the Castle Cary community. He was a Justice of the Peace, a parish, district and county councillor and he was the Chairman of various charities and boards which were the beneficiaries of his organisational and communication skills. The streets of the town were lined with mourners to pay their last respects at his funeral.

Article contributed by Trustee and Journalist, Richard Walsh.

Former Somerset all rounder Ken Palmer, who is still a very familiar face at the Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton, made a surprise visit to the Museum last month (March 2024), with his son Gary, also a former Somerset Cricketer (photographed with Museum Volunteer Patrick Draycott).

He may not have been born in Taunton, but Ken Palmer has certainly made it home since he first travelled west from his then home at Devizes, although he was born at Winchester in Hampshire where he initially went for a trial.

However it wasn’t to be and instead the highly talented youngster who was more of a batsmen, was signed on after he impressed Harry Parks who was the Somerset coach back in 1954.

Palmer played his early cricket for the Somerset Dragons and the Second XI at the same time as which he spent a lot of time working round the ground sweeping up the stands and picking up the grass mowings.

“That’s how it was back then. We had sandwiches and a bottle of milk for lunch,” he said.

Palmer made his first team debut against Middlesex at Bath in 1955 and gradually became established in the line up.

“After you had got the taste of first team cricket you didn’t want to go back playing for the Seconds anymore.”

However it was Maurice Tremlett, who went onto become Somerset’s first ever professional captain that taught Palmer the art of swing bowling and made him into the successful all rounder he became.

“Maurice Tremlett took me under his wing and helped me a great deal with my bowling. He taught me how to swing the ball out which I couldn’t do at that time.”

Once Ken had mastered that art there was no holding him back and he went onto become a genuine all rounder, which he underlined when in 1961, at the age of 24 he became Somerset first player since the Second World War to achieve the double of 1000 first class runs and 100 wickets in a season.

That summer Palmer played in 32 three day championship matches in which he scored 1036 runs at an average of 25.90, including a best of 125 not out, and bowled 965 overs, 248 of which were maidens and took 114 wickets at an average of 20.32, which included seven games in which he had five or more wicket hauls.

Between 1955 and 1969 Palmer appeared in 302 first class games for Somerset in which he scored over 7500 runs at an average of 20.73 with two centuries and took 837 wickets at a cost of 21.11 each.

His career best innings for Somerset was an unbeaten 125 against Northants at Wantage Road in 1961, while he best bowling figures were nine for 57 at Trent Bridge against Nottinghamshire in 1963- although Palmer reckons the best he bowled was against Lancashire at Old Trafford in 1963 when he took seven for 37, all of which were bowled!k

They don’t make them like Ken Palmer anymore that’s for sure!

A bit of research by Paul Baker has uncovered, he believes, that the clock at the top of the Colin Atkinson Pavilion celebrates its centenary this year (2024).

He writes “It previously resided at the top of the old scoreboard which stood, more or less, on the current site of the Colin Atkinson Pavilion, until 1979. It was then moved to its current location. It is the only remnant of the ground from before 1979. The old scoreboard was paid for by a donation of, as far as I can see, £69 from the Stragglers Club. The donation was made at the end of the 1923 season and so, and I have made a bit of an assumption here, the scoreboard was in place for the 1924 season. It has therefore seen a few things and a bit of change in its time.”

The Colin Atkinson Pavilion Clock 
1924-2024

I am the Colin Atkinson Pavilion clock. 
I marke the walk of Old Father Time. 
Endlessly measuring days 
Since John Daniell stood firm at the crease, 
And Ramsay McDonald first reigned in Downing Street. 
New, from atop the scoreboard then, I cast my steady gaze. 
Now, I am the only remnant of those post Great War days. 
I am the Colin Atkinson Pavilion clock. 
Marking time. Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock. 

Days when brightly jacketed amateurs formed Somerset’s front line, 
With names like Critchley-Salmonson and Ulrick Considine 
Playing on endless summer days. 
Days when Munich’s Beer Hall Putsch simply melted away, 
And winning the Championship was a thing for another day. 
I saw Bill Andrews and Arthur Wellard in their prime. 
In days when Neville Chamberlain claimed peace in our time. 
I am the Colin Atkinson Pavilion clock. 
Marking time. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. 

I stood firm as another war was fought and won. 
Then saw Gimblett strike sixes into the churchyard, as if for fun, 
As times changed 
Nye Bevan laid the NHS at our feet 
Before our years of perpetual Championship defeat. 
I saw Maurice Tremlett create a team to fear, 
And Bill Alley score three thousand runs in a year. 
I am the Colin Atkinson Pavilion clock. 
Marking time. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. 

I saw the shift from Gentlemen to Players 
And one-day cricket come to Taunton’s sacred acres 
As times changed 
In the wake of the Sixties social revolution 
I watched as Somerset built towards one-day trophies with professional resolution. 
Close, Richards, Garner and Botham to the fore 
But the Championship never came to our door. 
I am the Colin Atkinson Pavilion clock. 
Marking time. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. 

The old scoreboard was the first of the old ground to go. 
In its place the new Colin Atkinson Pavilion on show. 
As times changed 
With traditional industries swept away in the face of global competition, 
And wood-splintered cricket stands displaced by plastic modernisation. 
For Somerset, no Championship, but five glorious trophies to ponder, 
Before, beneath my gaze, a great team split violently asunder. 
I am the Colin Atkinson Pavilion clock. 
Marking time. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. 

I gazed on in the quieter years that followed. 
Watching the artistry of Jimmy Cook and Mushtaq Ahmed. 
As the world moved on 
The Channel Tunnel completed. The Berlin Wall demolished. 
The Soviet Union unseated. Apartheid abolished. 
Then, at Taunton, a stirring: the Botham Stand erected, Jamie Cox appointed, 
But still, the ever-patient wait for the Championship pennant to be hoisted. 
I am the Colin Atkinson Pavilion clock. 
Marking time. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. 

Then, amid the razzmatazz of a new millennium 
Came energy and infrastructure regeneration. 
As times changed 
The Twin Towers came crashing down, filmed live in their plight. 
While Andy Caddick bowled endlessly, never ceasing to fight. 
And Jamie Cox produced a team which played as if in his image cast, 
With atomic energy unleashed, and a trophy eighteen years after the last. 
I am the Colin Atkinson Pavilion clock. 
Marking time. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. 

I saw the Stragglers Bar and wooden benches fall away, 
To be replaced by structures designed for the modern day. 
As times changed 
Lehmann Brothers crashed, and Harry Potter ruled supreme, 
While Justin Langer arrived to pursue the Championship dream. 
He laid the foundation for two decades of first-division play, 
But the Championship still in the future lay. 
I am the Colin Atkinson Pavilion clock. 
Marking time. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. 

I saw Craig Overton and Jack Leach in their prime, 
And Marcus Trescothick batting with touch sublime. 
As times changed 
In the unreal world, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram held sway, 
While in County Cricket’s world, live streams became the order of the day. 
I saw Alfonso Thomas take four in four, 
And James Hildreth’s hundred with a broken ankle at its core. 
I am the Colin Atkinson Pavilion clock. 
Marking time. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. 

Now, as my second century beckons, 
And another dictator threatens, 
As times change, yet remain the same, 
I look down with hope renewed as I have at each new season’s start, 
Waiting to see who will come forth and who will play their part. 
And with every run, and every wicket and cheer 
Breathe the eternal hope, “This year. This year.” 
I am the Colin Atkinson Pavilion clock. 
Marking time. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock … 

This research started in trying to establish the identity of the Artist who painted the picture of the Recreation Ground in Bath shown below.

Painted in the late 1940s/early 1950s. (Note – No Hampton Stand or Leisure Centre) this picture is owned by the Somerset Cricket Museum, and was on temporary loan to the Bath & Wilts Area Committee, before being returned to the Museum.

The signature (bottom right) is a little blurred but with a little guess work and a spot by Michael Tarr in a book containing one of his paintings, one can just about make out the name Durman. Plus the date and location and it all seemed to add up.

Many internet searches later I found that an Alan Durman lived in Saltford until his death in 1963. Further research found other oil paintings and the 1950s/1960s Railway travel posters bearing the same signature. (Google alan durman travel pictures for more information).

According to the Saltford News, after his death, his wife, Kathleen, moved away to Essex to be with her family and there the trail ran dry, However there was a reference in the Keynsham News of his two children Mark and Shelly.

In addition to Shelley, Mark Durman lived in Saltford in 1945 according to “A Wartime Childhood in Saltford” by Elizabeth Sabin published by Keynsham and Saltford Local History Society in 2003.

Now other things of Somerset Cricket interest began to emerge. From the Saltford online Museum “ To commemorate the death in March 1751 of Prince Frederick of Wales, who had visited Saltford for a village royal picnic with his eldest daughter Lady Augusta in 1750 during a visit to Bath (see above), a cricket match was organised in his honour.

This match is the first recorded cricket match in Somerset and was repeated annually for a few years thereafter. According to ‘A History of Saltford Village’ by Percy Sims (1976) the cricket match was held in the same Saltford Meadow where Prince Frederick had dined.”

Also in 1995, Somerset CCC played a charity / testimonial match against Saltford as seen in the Match Programme.

Also of importance to the village was that Alan Durman, spent most of one summer (1963?) painting a mural on the rear wall of Saltford Hall. Each person representing his or her’s organisation. 1.xxxxxx, 2.xxxxxx, 3.xxxxxx, 4.Roger Evans, 5.Joy Brignall, 6. John Brice, 7.Shelley Durman, 8.xxxxxx

Note that No. 7 is Shelley Durman, his daughter, who followed a modelling career and it is believed featured in many of the Railway / Travel posters. However I was unable to find any more information or contact details.

Then the final piece of the jigsaw, searching through LinkedIn and Facebook I did find a fiction writer, Mark Durman, living in Spain and somewhat apologetically inquired if indeed he was Alan’s son and had any recollection of the picture? To which he replied.

“You correctly found the right person concerning the picture of cricket on the Bath Recreation Ground circa 1950! I recognise the distinctive style of my father, Alan Durman, and indeed I have a hazy memory of the day he painted it. At that age, about ten, I was a dedicated cricket fan (still am!) and always tried to watch county games played on the Bath rec. My father did not share my sports enthusiasm but came with me one day and painted that scene while I was enthralled watching the match. Those were the days of the excellent Somerset team where Harold Gimblett would set the innings going leading to swashbuckling cameos from the likes of Maurice Tremlett and Arthur Wellard! Amazing when Somerset played Gloucestershire and we young fans got to watch the outstanding Tom Graveney.

Regarding the painting. The attachment you sent from the Somerset Cricket Museum is the first time I’ve seen it since soon after my father painted it. At that time he frequently painted in the centre of Bath usually around the area of Pulteney  bridge. I would very much like to have a copy of this cricket painting for my family. Could I ask you to send a good quality photo that I can print out?

Art skipped a generation in my family. I inherited no artistic talent but my two sons did. Anthony is currently Head of Art at the prestigious Denia British School in Bangkok and William is a talented photographer currently living in Bali, Indonesia. I know they will both be very interested in your mail which I will copy to them.”

I would like to thank the kind folk of the Saltford Parish Council and the Saltford Environmental Group for the help that they gave me.

Mike Unwin (February 2024)