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.”
We were so pleased to receive a donation of this delightful miniature bat measuring 3inches high from Ms Jane Hodgkin, autographed by the Somerset CCC players from 1964.
An article by Mike Unwin, Museum Volunteer/ Trustee.
We are very grateful to Mr Phil Wrixon from West Dorset for donating this cricket bat to the Museum. Just another cricket bat, I hear you say, but is it ?
Let’s look at some of the stories and memories that lie behind the donation.
Nothing out of the ordinary about the bat, a fairly standard Gray Nicholls Crusader bat from the 1960s, but one that has been autographed by the Somerset and 1960 South African Tourists. What makes it so different for me is that, as a 12 year old, I was at that game, in July 1960.
I remember catching the 10:00 am train from Yeovil, arriving at Taunton at around 10:50 and then the short walk down to the County Ground, with an eager anticipation of seeing the South Africans play against Somerset, on the last day of the three day match. Fancy allowing a child nowadays to travel alone across the county by public transport!
The first two days had not gone well for Somerset. In their first innings South Africa scored 365 all out, the captain Jackie McGlew top scoring with 65 runs before being bowled by Brian Langford. In reply Somerset only made 122 with McKinnon taking 6/22. Somerset were asked to follow on and were 94/4 at the end of the second day’s play. Adding only another 126 to the total, Somerset were all out for 220, the South Africans winning by an innings and 23 runs sometime after lunch.
Now, my return train was not until 5:00 pm so this gave a lovely opportunity for autograph hunting in the afternoon. Waiting with other children outside the players entrance, somewhere near where the Stragglers Coffee Shop is now, slowly the tourists emerged. Firstly Neil Adcock, the fast bowler, carrying only his cricket boots, but he was too busy to give autographs, then the captain Jackie McGlew and vice-captain Trevor Goddard came out laden with blazers, boots, bats etc. When asked for their autographs more in hope than expectation, they immediately put their kit down, signed our books and instructed other team members including Adcock to do the same. Memories that are still with me today – see Autograph Book (although sadly the second page is missing) below.
What about the bat autographed by both teams ? Well it was won by Mr Wrixon in a raffle, at a fund raising event for Bridport Cricket Club in August 1960 – see press cutting below – after a match between a Somerset XI and Bridport – no auto correct in those days. Another example of Somerset supporting clubs within the region.
As a teenager, Mr Wrixon well remembers the Bridport players although sadly many have now passed away. Members of the BCC team that day were Brian Follett, Dave Cox, Mike Gurd, Mike Break, Tony Samways, Derek Callam, Clive Taylor, Derek Gale (capt), Val Tambini, Des Lawes, B. Pearce, ? Courtier and Bill Graves. Brian Follett also recalls playing in the 1962 and 1963 matches.
Andrew Moulding in his articles for the Axminster Nub News (‘Moulding’s Memories’) noted that “The Bridport Cricket Club ground was a stone’s throw away from Palmer’s Brewery and when the wind was in a certain direction, the smell of hops brewing was quite intoxicating” and “Apart from the beery smell wafting across the field, one of the features of the Bridport ground was the lengthy walk for batsmen from the pavilion to the wicket – and back again, particularly if you had managed to get out early in your innings.”.
For whatever reason, Bridport CC now longer exists. According to reports they had to withdraw from League cricket in 2015 due to a lack of players, finally closing in 2018 and passing their score hut / board to Broadwindsor CC.
So what other stories can be found from the bat and the 1960 tour ?
From nearly every point of view the 1960 South African tour of England proved disappointing.
Firstly, it was a wet summer, and many matches were disrupted by rain. What’s new?
Secondly, the young fast bowler Geoffrey Griffin, who had suffered an elbow injury as a child, and therefore unable to effectively straighten his arm, was no-balled for throwing on several occasions, thus ending his career.
He was no-balled for throwing in several matches prior to the Test series, but nevertheless retained his place in the side. In his second Test appearance, at Lord’s in June 1960, he became not only the first South African cricketer to take a hat-trick in a Test match, but also the first cricketer of any nationality to do so at Lord’s. In the same match, however, he was no-balled for throwing eleven times,
A sad parallel here with the Somerset bowler Eric Bryant who was no balled 5 times during a match v Gloucestershire in 1960, after which Somerset did not re-engage him and his career ended.
Thirdly, anti-apartheid demonstrations were held outside most venues.
Fourthly, none of the young players showed signs of developing into good Test players.
Fifthly, South Africa lost the first three Tests and drew the other two.
Sixthly, the tour showed a financial loss and lastly, apart from Roy McLean (whose autograph can be seen above) the South Africans “found themselves short of enterprising batsmen”.
At face value, just another autographed bat in the Museum’s collection but then look a little further. As we always say, ‘it’s not the objects themselves but the memories and stories that are invoked by them’.
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.
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.
An article contributed by Museum Trustee Richard Walsh (with additional contributions from Mike Unwin).
Somerset County Cricket Club are mourning the sad loss of Ken Palmer who passed away in Musgrove Park Hospital on Tuesday 23rd July aged 87 and the Trustees and Volunteers at the Somerset Cricket Museum, share and feel the same sadness as do all Somerset supporters on hearing of the passing of the Somerset all rounder Ken Palmer.
After a long and successful playing career with Somerset, during which in 1961 at the age of 24 he became the youngest player to achieve the double of 1000 first class runs and 100 first class wickets, he then served as a first class umpire for 31 years before retiring in recognition of which he was awarded the MBE for his services to cricket
Ken was a classy right handed batter and a fast medium bowler, who was born in Winchester on 22nd April 1937 and grew up in Devizes where he made quite an impression on the local cricketing scene as a result of which he was invited to Hampshire for trials.
However he wasn’t offered terms and instead signed for Somerset and arrived at the County Ground in the spring of 1954 at the age of 16.
Ken made his first team debut against Middlesex at Bath in June the following year in which he claimed two wickets in their first innings- Freddie Titmus and Don Bennett and was then dismissed twice himself by Titmus.
After that introduction between 1955 and 1969 he went onto play in 302 matches for the county, scoring 7567 runs at an average of 20.67 which included two centuries and a best of 125 not out against Northamptonshire in 1961, the year in which he topped 1000 runs for the only time.
With the ball Ken took 837 wickets at an average of 21.10 with his best return being nine for 57 against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge in 1963. He took 100 first class wickets in a season four times, his best being in 1963 when he claimed 126.
Ken was 12th man for England in 1963 and two years later when he was coaching out in South Africa in 1965 he got called up to play in the Fifth Test Match against South Africa at Port Elizabeth, which was to be his only appearance for his country.
After retiring from playing Ken became a first class umpire and went onto officiate in 22 Test Matches and 23 One Day Internationals.
In retirement, Ken was a very familiar face at the Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton and also a great friend of the Museum. He made a surprise visit to the Museum in March 2024, with his son Gary, also a former Somerset Cricketer (photographed below with Museum Volunteer Patrick Draycott) and also a few weeks ago, meeting up with Museum Volunteer, Mark Reeve.
Peter Robinson who played alongside Ken in the Somerset and was a good friend said: “Ken was a gutsy cricketer – what I would call a muck and bullets player, he would always get stuck in with the bat and bowl all day. He was a tough cricketer and was unlucky not to have played more Test matches- he should have played in England really.”
The Museum, over the years has held many items of Ken’s, from his cricket bag (pictured below), his testimonial tie, and the story of his Single Wicket Trophy success in 1963.
From a personal perspective, I first started watching Somerset in 1956 and Ken’s autograph sits in my autograph book alongside other childhood heroes such as Bill Alley, Peter Wight and Brian Langford.
Ken was one of the Somerset greats and will be much missed by everyone who knew him.
Article contributed by Richard Walsh and statistics by Kevin Michell (SCCC Second XI scorer)
Somerset’s win at SET20 Finals Day 2024, made them the ninth County to lift the trophy since it began in 2011. It was their third appearance at Finals Day. Glamorgan and Yorkshire were making their fourth and Surrey their second appearance. A young Somerset team with an average age of 21 roared to victory on Second XI T20 Finals Day when they beat Yorkshire by 66 runs
Photo courtesy of Richard Walsh
Playing in the opening semi final Somerset were put into bat by Glamorgan and after losing both George and Josh Thomas early on skipper James Rew and Andy Umeed added 55 before the latter was out for 39, off 20 balls.
The skipper moved the total onto 109 when he was out for 39 off 25 balls after which it was Fin Hill who hit 39 off 26 balls and Kasey Aldridge who remained unbeaten on 33 off 27 who added 61 for the seventh wicket as Somerset ended on 190 for seven.
When Glamorgan replied they were all out for 114 in 13.4 overs, Sonny Baker claiming three for 20 while Alfie Ogborne, Ned Leonard and Josh Thomas all claimed two each.
In the final Somerset chose to bat against Yorkshire, and after losing an early wicket Andy Umeed and Josh Thomas added 36 before the former was out for 21 off 13 deliveries..
Josh Thomas was then joined by the captain and together they put on 46 before Rew was out for 27 off 17 balls, which made Somerset 92 for three in the 10th over.
The younger of the Thomas brothers went to his 50 with a big six, but two balls later he was out for 52.
Hill and Thomas Rew added 43 before Rew perished for 11 and in the next over Hill was out for 35 which he scored off 25 balls.
Aldridge hit 10 off five balls as Somerset were all out for 191off the final ball.
Ogborne made an early breakthrough without a run on the board when Yorkshire replied before the second wicket partnership added 52 before Aldridge struck.
Ned Leonard claimed two wickets in the 10th over by the end of which Yorkshire found themselves 84 for five.
Former Somerset player Dom Bess helped to see up the three figures for his adopted county, but 10 runs later he was caught by Leonard off Ogborne for five
The Somerset bowlers kept the wickets tumbling and it was Leonard who claimed the last to fall and Yorkshire were all out for 125 in 16.5 overs, giving the Cidermen victory for the first time in this competition.
Leonard was the pick of the bowlers taking four for 25, while Ogborne claimed two for 16 and Aldridge two for 22
Photographs courtesy of Keith Johnson
Somerset County Cricket Club 2nd XI – 2024 Statistics
Group stage, 10 games – 7 wins, 1 defeat, 2 abandoned. Group winners.
Finals day – Semi final – beat Glamorgan by 76 runs. Final – beat Yorkshire by 66 runs.
Leading run scorers
George Thomas 226 runs @ 28.25, SR 139
Andy Umeed 171 runs @ 28.50, SR 151
James Rew 149 runs @ 29.80, SR 166
Will Smeed 129 runs @ 25.80, SR 195
Sean Dickson 105 runs @ 105, SR 150
Leading wicket takers
Alfie Ogborne 17 wkts @ 13.12, ER 7.6
Sonny Baker 15 wkts @ 12.40, ER 6.6
Ned Leonard 12 wkts @ 15.42, ER 7.6
Kasey Aldridge 11 wkts @ 17.55, ER 8.2
Ben Green 9 wkts @ 8.67, ER 6.7
Alfie Ogborne’s 17 wickets made him the highest wicket taker in the competition and equalled the Somerset record which was set by Lewis Goldsworthy last season (2023)
We are very grateful to Joanna Cotterell for the donation of this cricket bat, from the collection of the late Dave Gilham, autographed by the Somerset team as part of the centenary celebrations 1891 – 1991.
We are very grateful for this donation of a 1957 Fixture Card, sponsored by the (then) Somerset and Wiltshire Trustee Savings Bank. We are sure some readers will remember both the Bank and some of the matches in this very crowded season.
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.
Apologies for any website issues you may have seen – these are due to problems with the latest release of the WooCommerce module which has taken down hundreds of websites across the country.
The origins of Wedmore Cricket Club, go back to a meeting in Porch House, West End, Wedmore in 1850 though the first match there are recorded details for took place on 30th July 1858 against Wrington. The Weston Mercury of 7th August 1858 shows complete scorecards of a two innings game. The match report stated that “the whole party adjourned to the Golden Lion (in Wrington) where most present played a ‘good innings’ “. Clearly the after match socialising was important even then.
We are very grateful to SCCC scorer Polly Rhodes for passing on this collection of Umpire’s clothing from Jasmine Naeem.
Umpires Naeem Ashraf and his wife, Jasmine, made history, when they became the first husband and wife to officiate together at a professional cricket match.
The Museum is in the process of widening the display of Women’s Cricket Memorabilia as the Club takes on its Tier 1 role in 2025.
I am writing as Chair of the Trustees of the Somerset Cricket Museum. You will be familiar with the Museum and may have visited. Even so, I thought it would be of interest to you to know something about the working of the Museum.
History
The Museum is housed in Priory Barn, which is the only surviving building of the medieval Taunton Priory. When the Somerset County Cricket Club Supporters’ Club was wound up, the remaining assets were liquidated. Some of the proceeds were given to the Club, the rest was used to purchase Priory Barn and the land on which it sits, for the sole purpose of creating a cricket museum. Thus, the Museum really is the SCCC members’ Museum.
When the barn was bought in 1981 it was in disrepair and considerable effort and fundraising was needed before it opened to the public in 1989. A major refurbishment was completed in 2012, to deliver the Museum we have today.
The Trustees
I am privileged to Chair an experienced board of ten Trustees. They come from a wide range of professional backgrounds (artist, photographer, diplomat, journalist, accountant, cricketer, broadcaster) and, over the years in their professional capacity, they have had dealings with the Club. As I say, it is an experienced group, but fresh blood and new ideas are always welcome.
The Trustees have legal responsibility for the management of the Museum. In other words, the buck stops there! Policies and procedures are in place to share the onus among the individual Trustees, at the same time ensuring the collective responsibility is met. The day-to-day work is done by a small, but dedicated, band of volunteers.
The Volunteers
In addition to opening and closing the Museum, the Volunteers are involved in research and the creation of new exhibits; the custody of artefacts; the website; and book sales. They handle the accounting, insurance, security systems and utilities etc. There is also the matter of keeping Priory Barn reasonably clean – no small matter in a 600 year old building.
I am constantly surprised, and a little envious, about how much fun they seem to have. They do tell me that they would like to increase their number, because the more volunteers there are, the more frequently the Museum can open.
Finance
Like everywhere else in the recent past, operating expenses have increased. It costs over £10,000 a year to keep the Museum open. Entry is free, so the Museum depends entirely on donations and the proceeds of book sales. In some years, it is necessary to dip into reserves, especially if major new exhibits are planned. That said, the finances are in good shape. If all income dried up, the reserves are enough to keep the Museum open for at least two years.
However, these reserves will not last forever and the Trustees are always interested to hear of new ways to raise funds.
The Future
The journey from derelict barn to world class cricket museum has taken nearly 50 years. It has been a successful one because of significant contributions made by a lot of people. The Trustees are now planning for the journey to continue for the next 50 years. The plans inevitably include the need for new personnel. If you are interested in being part of this enterprise – as Trustee, Volunteer, or simply interested helper – then please do contact any of the people listed below.
It will be worthwhile; and you will get a real sense of achievement; and it will not mean that you have to give up any of your cricket!
Thank you for reading this note. Now, let’s look forward to a great summer, with some silverware at the end!
We were pleased that Millichamp and Hall (M&H) used the Somerset Cricket Museum for a photoshoot of their new cricket equipment branding along with Tom Bevan, Colin Ingram and Alex Horton. (March 2024).
In recognition of the first anniversary of the Walkers and Talkers group this morning (2/4/2024) we looked at the history of cricket boots (“These boots are made for walking “ lol), and Joel’s size 15s and Ken Palmers steel toe capped boots. Thanks to everyone who visited today.
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 …
We are very grateful to former Somerset Scorer, Colin Crees for his painstaking research in producing and publishing a 50 page booklet of County Cricket at Glastonbury and Street.
A wonderful record of matches played there between 1952 and 1978.
As Colin says in his conclusion , all proceeds from the sale of the booklets (£5) will go to the Somerset Cricket Museum. Do let me know if you would like a copy.
The Somerset Cricket Museum is very grateful to Somerset County Cricket Club scorer, Polly Rhodes, for passing on these two international umpires shirts from Sue Redfern.
After a long playing and umpiring career, in September 2023 Sue became the first female umpire to stand in a first-class match in England and Wales. She umpired in the match between Glamorgan and Derbyshire at Sophia Gardens.
Two wonderful items to join our Women’s Cricket collection.
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.
We are very grateful to Museum Volunteer, Patrick Draycott for researching and setting up the new Vic Marks display along with one of the three international blazers that Vic donated to the Museum.
We are very grateful to Mr John Wall for the loan of this autographed miniature bat from the 1964-65 tour to South Africa. Of particular interest to Somerset fans are signatures of Jim Parkes and Tom Cartwright both of whom played for us in the latter parts of their careers
Priston Cricket Club was founded in 1984, when just 4 away matches were played. After several nomadic years, we got the chance to have our own pitch at Priston Mill, starting each season only after the silage was removed from the outfield.
Somewhere between 50-60 people Walking and Talking came into the Somerset Cricket Museum today to hear David Wood, our Curator, give an amusing talk on Cricket quotations.
The Group then returned to the 1875 Room for a Q&A session with Museum Trustee Mr. Anthony Gibson.
Backwell House was once home to the Robinson family, founders of a very successful packaging company established in Bristol. As employers, the Robinsons took a keen interest in the health and wellbeing of their employees, funding well-furnished respite facilities, evening classes, and sports competitions between teams from different branches of the business. These included hockey, lawn-tennis, athletics, football and rugby, swimming, and bowling. Especially though, cricket, which was a game close to the Robinson family’s hearts.
In a change from the norm (it was raining!) the ‘Museum’ talk for the Walkers and Talkers Group was given in the 1875 room, this morning.
Mr Keith Templeman, Chair of Somerset Stragglers CC, gave a short talk on the history of that Club, after which some folk braved the elements to walk to the Museum and see the display.
Thanks to Keith for preparing and delivering the talk.
This collection of trophies that came into the Somerset Cricket Museum are associated with the (former) Taunton Nomads CC and Mr Ken Knight mostly from the late 1960s.
If anyone has any knowledge of the Nomads CC please let the Museum know via the Contact page.
The trophies, some of which are pictured below, range from Winners and Runners Up of the TNCC Single Wicket Competition, the TECL (Taunton Evening Cricket League?) winners in 1969 and 1970 plus the HGS (Huish Grammar School?) 1939 junior cricket team championship winners.
Article and Photographs contributed by Edwin Morris
Between 1921 and 1927 Monty Hambling played for the Somerset County side, as a ‘holiday’ cricketer, it being the custom of the day that outstanding amateurs were picked by the County when available, usually annual holiday leave from their professional occupations.
Playing for Somerset, Hambling took 24 wickets for an average of 20.54 and was a member of the team which dismissed Gloucestershire for 22 – only to lose the match. His best figures were recorded at Worcestershire where he scored 58 and took 6-31.
Q1 – Who was appointed as captain of Somerset Women in 2023?
Q1 – Emily Edgcombe
Q2 – Somerset Women were scheduled to play 8 matches in the 2023 Women’s County T20 competition – how many actually went ahead?
Q2 – Two
Q3 – Which two players scored half-centuries as Somerset Women beat Wiltshire in a 50-over match in August 2023?
Q3 – Daisy Jeanes and Laila Moledina
Q4 – Who was Western Storm’s leading wicket-taker in the 2023 regional season?
Q4 – Chloe Skelton (19)
Q5 – The final match of the 2023 Women’s Ashes series was played at the County Ground, Taunton. Who scored a century for England during that match?
Q5 – Nat Sciver-Brunt (129)
Somerset Women – History
Somerset Women – History
Q6 – When did Somerset first form as a County Association within the Women’s Cricket Association?
Q6 –1953
Q7 – Somerset hold the record for the highest score in English women’s T20 cricket, scored against Wales in 2013 – what is that score?
Q7 – 255/3
Q8 – Who is Somerset Women’s leading wicket-taker across all formats?
Q8 – Lorraine Szczepanski (125)
Q9 – How many times have Somerset won Division Two of the Women’s County Championship?
Q9 – Four (2004, 2005, 2013, 2015)
Q10 – Which home ground have Somerset Women played at the most times in their history (in the Women’s County Championship or Women’s County T20)?
Q10 – Willis Lane, North Perrott (18 times)
Somerset Women – Players
Somerset Women – Players
Q11 – Which Somerset Women player hailed from the Czech Republic?
Q11 – Magdalena Pokludova
Q12 – Four players who played for Somerset Women in their first ever Women’s County Championship game made their England debut in the same match, against the Netherlands in July 1999 – can you name them?
Q12 – Laura Harper, Jackie Hawker, Hannah Lloyd and Kath Wilkins
Q13 – Which Somerset Women player made her England debut in 2023?
Q13 – Lauren Filer
Q14 – Who holds the record for the highest List A score by a Somerset Women player, with 138* against Wales in 2015?
Q14 – Sophie Luff
Q15 – Name the four players who have played for Somerset Women and have also won a Women’s Cricket World Cup.
Q15 – Jan Godman (1993), Caroline Atkins (2009), Anya Shrubsole (2009, 2017), Fran Wilson (2017)
Women’s Cricket at the County Ground, Taunton
Women’s Cricket at the County Ground, Taunton
Q16 – How many matches have Western Storm played at the County Ground, Taunton (during the Kia Super League, Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and Charlotte Edwards Cup)?
Q16 – 18
Q17 – Western Storm played their first match at the County Ground, Taunton in 2016 against Lancashire Thunder. Who took four wickets for Storm during that match?
Q17 – Stafanie Taylor
Q18 – England played their first international match at the County Ground, Taunton in 1997. Who were their opponents?
Q18 – South Africa
Q19 – Name either of the two players who scored a century at the County Ground, Taunton during the 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup.
Q19 – Nicole Bolton or Smriti Mandhana
Q20 – The first recorded women’s cricket match at the County Ground, Taunton, took place in 1953 between a Women’s Cricket Association XI and the South. How much did it cost for an adult to gain admission to the match?
2023-201 Which Lancashire batsman scored his highest total against Somerset at Bath in 1984?
2023-A201 Steve O’Shaughnessy with 184*
2023-202 What other record does he hold?
2023-A202 On September 11, 1983, against joke bowling from Leicester-shire, he equalled the fastest hundred (35 minutes) established by Percy Fender against Northamptonshire in 1920.
2023-203 With which county was Paul Roebuck connected?
2023-A203 Gloucestershire.
2023-204 Who has the second-biggest benefit for Somerset?
2023-A204 Brian Rose with £71,863.
2023-205 Can you name the Somerset cricketer of the 1980’s whose father played for Yorkshire and England?
2023-A205 Nick Taylor (tather Ken).
2023-206 Who was the Securicor salesman who took six for 36 for Surrey against Somerset in 1984?
2023-A206 Dave Thomas
2023-207 Who was the son of Illtyd who took five for 56 against Somerset at Cardiff, also in 1984?
2023-A207 The other Thomas, Greg.
2023-208 What was Brian Rose’s best-ever bowling return?
2023-A208 Three for nine against Gloucestershire at Taunton in 1975.
2023-209 What was unusual about Murray Turner’s bowling?
2023-A209 He bowled right-arm fast medium and left-arm spin.
2023-210 Who is the player who has played his highest innings against the county that his father skippered?
2023-A210 Tim Tremlett (father Maurice) who made 102* against Somerset at Taunton in 1985.
2023-211 Why did Somerset fail to achieve the double against Glamorgan in the County Championship of 1912?
2023-A211 Glamorgan did not join the County Championship until 1921.
Give the Christian names of these relatives or namesakes who played together in a Somerset side.
2023-212 The Lees.
2023-A212 Frank and Jack.
2023-213 The Atkinsons.
2023-A213 Colin and Graham.
2023-214 The Palairets.
2023-A214 Lionel and Richard.
2023-215 The Palmers.
2023-A215 Ken and Roy.
2023-216 The Roses.
2023-A216 Brian and Graham.
2023-217 What do Mike Denness, Brian Hardie and K. G. McLeod have in common in a Somerset connection?
2023-A217 They are Scots who have scored first-class centuries in matches against Somerset.
2023-218 For how many seasons did Somerset suspend operations during the Second World War?
2023-A218 The years from 1940-45, inclusive, were totally lost to first-class cricket.
2023-219 Who was the Somerset player who scored a century against England at Old Trafford in the summer of 1959?
2023-A219Abbas Ali Baig who scored 112 in the Indian second innings during the Manchester Test.
2023-220 What was especially noteworthy about the century?
2023-183 Which member of the Somerset double team of 1979 was born in Buckinghamshire?
2023-A183 Derek Taylor.
2023-184 Who is the all-rounder who writes occasionally for the magazine The Club Cricketer and scored a career-best 124 against Somerset at Taunton in 1985?
2023-A184 K. D. James of Hampshire.
2023-185 Which Somerset player has as his superstition “always to salute a magpie”?
2023-A185 Adrian Jones.
2023-186 Who was the South African cricketer whose best bowling analysis is eight for 107 against Somerset at Taunton in 1981?
2023-A186 Garth Le Roux.
2023-187 For which two South African provincial sides has Adrian Jones played?
2023-A187 For Border in 1981-82 and for Orange Free State in 1986.
2023-188 Adrian Jones is almost inevitably Jonah to his team-mates but he has another title. What is it?
2023-A188 Quincy.
2023-189 Adrian Jones has an unusual outside job for a professional cricketer, what is it?
2023-A189 He is a financial consultant.
2023-190 Who described his father as “a dangerous village cricketer”?
2023-A190 Vic Marks.
2023-191 For which New Zealand side did Neil Mallender play?
2023-A191 Otago.
2023-192 Which Somerset fast bowler had a relation playing with Glamorgan?
2023-A192 Hallam Moseley.
2023-193 Who was the Sri Lankan batsman who scored 209* against Somerset at Hove in 1984?
2023-A193 Gehan Mendis, (Lancashire).
2023-194 Vic Marks has a cricket blue and another half-blue. For which sport did he get his half blue?
2023-A194 From Oxford University for Rugby fives.
2023-195 Who is the player who recommended himself to his county and got his first century against Somerset at Weston-super-Mare in 1986?
2023-A195 Andy Moles of Warwickshire with 102*
2023-196 What is Gary Palmer’s job outside cricket?
2023-A196 He was a squash coach.
2023-197 Which Somerset player was for a time a grave-digger?
2023-A197 Peter Denning.
2023-198 What unique distinction does Gary Palmer hold for Somerset?
2023-A198 He was their youngest professional ever, having been given a contract at the age of 14.
2023-199 Of which university does Viv Richards hold an honorary doctorate?
2023-A199 The University of Exeter.
2023-200 Who played for Somerset 2nd XI at the age of 13?
2023-141 Who comes second to Brian Langford in first-class matches played for the county?
2023-A141 Harold Stephenson.
2023-142 What is the lowest total that Somerset have recorded against another county?
2023-A142 25 against Gloucestershire at Bristol in 1947.
2023-143 And the lowest total for which they have dismissed another county?
2023-A143 Also against Gloucestershire in 1920.
2023-144 At the end of 1986 only two counties had always recorded three-figure totals against Somerset in county match. Who were they?
2023-A144 Oddly enough Northamptonshire and Warwickshire.
2023-145 Who has the best Somerset bowling analysis in the Sunday League?
2023-A145 Viv Richards with six for 24 against Lancashire at Old Trafford in 1983.
2023-146 From which county did reserve wicket-keeper R. J. Blitz come?
2023-A146 From Essex 2nd Xl in 1985.
2023-147 How many first-class victims had he with Somerset?
2023-A147 Eight, all caught.
2023-148 How much did Ian Botham’s benefit realise?
2023-A148 £90,822.
2023-149 In which country and for what side has Neil Burns played overseas cricket?
2023-A149 Western Province B in South Africa.
2023-150 What was Ian Botham’s soccer club as a player in the Football League?
2023-A150 Scunthorpe United.
2023-151 Who is the West Ham United supporter on the Somerset staff?
2023-A151 Neil Burns.
2023-152 Who follows Tottenham Hotspur?
2023-A152 Graham Rose.
2023-153 And Hull Rugby League Club?
2023-A153 Neil Mallender.
2023-154 Of which town is Ian Botham a freeman?
2023-A154 Yeovil, where he went to school.
2023-155 The holder of the amateur batting record in the Central Lancashire League scored 132 against Somerset at Old Trafford in 1985. Who was he?
2023-A155 M. R. Chadwick.
2023-156 Who was best man at Viv Richards’ wedding?
2023-A156 Ian Botham.
2023-157 What book did Ian Botham pick to take with him to his desert island on the programme Desert Island Discs?
2023-A157 The Immortal Victor Trumper by Jack Fingleton.
2023-158 For which county did one of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of1986 take nine for 56 against Somerset in 1981?
2023-A158 John Childs (who moved to Essex) for Gloucestershire at Bristol.
2023-159 What unusual non-cricketing feat did Ian Botham perform on a May afternoon in 1982?
2023-A159 He wrote off two sports cars in successive 100 m.p.h. crashes.
2023-160 Which England slow bowler had recorded, at the start of the 1987 season, both his best batting and bowling performances against Somerset?
2023-A160 Nick Cook of Northants who, while with Leicestershire, scored 75 against Somerset at Taunton in 1980 and two years later on the same ground took seven for 63.
And an extra contribution from our Curator David Wood. Can you name 6 England Captains whose surname began and ended with the same letter?
Flintoff, Greig, Gatting, Strauss, Stokes and Yardley, all amazingly recently, except perhaps Greig
2023-133 Only three players have ever achieved the double twice in Somerset matches only. Who are they?
2023-A133 Oddly all were team-mates: Jack White, Arthur Wellard and Bill Andrews.
2023-134 Who is the Yorkshire player who against Somerset recorded the only instance of a player scoring a century in each innings and taking five wickets in each innings?
2023-A134 George Hirst who at Bath in 1906 scored 111 and 117* and took six for 70 and five for 45.
2023-135 Who is the player who in four separate matches against Somerset scored a century and took ten wickets?
2023-A135 J. R. Mason of Kent.
2023-136 Six times in Somerset matches a bowler has taken all ten wickets in an innings, twice for and four against. Name the bowlers.
2023-A136 Jack White and Ernest Tyler of Somerset, A. Drake (Yorkshire), A. E. Trott (Middlesex), T. Rushby (Surrey) and C. W. L. Parker (Gloucestershire).
2023-137 What is the best bowling analysis against Somerset by a member of a touring side?
2023-A137 Nine for 38 by Bill O’Reilly of Australia at Taunton in 1930.
2023-138 How many wickets did Brian Langford take in the three matches of the Bath Festival of 1953 which marked his first-class debut?
2023-A138 He took one against Lancashire, 14 against Kent and 11 against Leicestershire.
2023-139 How many Somerset bowlers have been called for throwing?
2023-A139 Two, E. J. Tyler in 1900 and L. E. Bryant in 1960.
2023-140 Only one player has made more than 500 first-class appearances for Somerset. Who is he?
2023-101 Which Somerset player is being described here by John Arlott? “With his precise manner, high forehead, dignified step and trim moustache he looked completely unlike the Bath Rugby full-back and natural games player that he was”
2023-A101 Bertie Buse.
2023-102 Who once took a wicket for Somerset in a first-class match wearing evening-dress shoes?
2023-A102 R. C. Robertson-Glasgow.
2023-103 Did C. R. M. Atkinson ever score 1000 runs in a season for Somerset?
2023-A103 Yes, in 1966 he scored 1120 runs at an average of 26.04.
2023-104 Who was the second-eleven bowler called up to play against Sussex in the Gillette tie of 1964 at Taunton who became Man of the Match?
2023-A104 Geoff Hall who took five for 34.
2023-105 Only two of the Somerset Gillette Cup final side of 1967 had played in every match for the county since the competition started in 1963. Who were they?
2023-A105 Bill Alley and Roy Virgin.
2023-106 Viv Richards with 4745 runs is the John Player League highest aggregate scorer for Somerset. Who comes second?
2023-A106 Peter Denning with 4565 runs.
2023-107 What other players have scored more than 3000 runs in the John Player League, now Refuge Assurance League?
2023-A107 Ian Botham, Brian Kose and Peter Roebuck.
2023-108 How many times have Somerset reached the semi-finals of the One Day knock-out competition, i.c. Gillette and Nat West?
2023-A108 Eight times.
2023-109 At the beginning of season 1988 what is their overall record in matches won and lost in this competition since 1963?
2023-A109 Played 60, won 37, lost 23.
2023-110 A Somerset cricketer, still playing (in 1988) first-class cricket has scored over 1000 runs for the county in this competition. Who is it?
2023-A110 Viv Richards.
2023-111 Of the current staff (1988) who has the highest average in this competition (qualification – having played 5 matches or more?
2023-A111 Nigel Felton.
2023-112 At the end of 1986 only one bowler on the staff had taken half as many wickets as Ian Botham in the Gillette and Nat. West competitions. Who was it?
2023-A112 Colin Dredge with 60 wickets to Botham’s 88.
2023-113 Who holds the Somerset record for carrying his bat through a completed innings?
2023-A113 It is shared by L. C. H. Palairet and Len Braund, both of whom accomplished this feat on four occasions.
2023-114 Which Somerset captain made a century on his debut for the county?
2023-A114 D. B. Close with 104* against Leicestershire at Leicester in 1971. He was then 40 years of age.
2023-115 Who made five first-class centuries before lunch in 1901?
2023-A115 L. C. H. Palairet.
2023-116 On how many occasions did Viv Richards score a century before lunch?
2023-A116 On two occasions, 117* not out against Lancashire al Southport in 1977 and 102 against Glamorgan at Launton in 1986 when his century occupied a mere 58 minutes.
2023-117 Name the two players who made centuries against touring teams on their debut for the County?
2023-A117 M. M. Walford with 141* v. India in 1946 and P. B. Wight with 109* v. Australia in 1953.
2023-118 How many times did Ian Botham hit 10 or more sixes in an innings for Somerset in a county match?
2023-A118 Four times: hitting 10 v. Gloucester at Taunton in 1980; v. Warwickshire at Taunton in 1982; v. Northants at Weston-super-Mare in 1985; and 12 v. Warwickshire at Edgbaston in 1985.
2023-119 Who has recorded the fastest-ever hundred for Somerset?
2023-A119 N. F. M. Popplewell in 41 minutes against Gloucestershire at Bath in 1983. He went on to score 141 in 62 minutes.
2023-120 Who has scored the fastest double century?
2023-A120 S. M. J. Woods in 135 minutes against Sussex at Hove in 1895. He was out having scored 215 in 150 minutes
2023-81 Who was the early Somerset professional who had a melodrama produced on the London stage?
2023-A81 G. B. Nichols.
2023-82 With what county had the writer played as an amateur?
2023-A82 Gloucestershire.
2023-83 Why was he allowed to leave Gloucestershire?
2023-A83 He once dropped four catches in a day and was told by W.G. Grace “You shall never play for us again!”
2023-84 In which game at Taunton did the opposition’s last man come to the wicket in a blue pin-striped suit?
2023-A84 Against Sussex at Taunton in 1919 the last man, Heygate had changed because, suffering from arthritis, it was thought unlikely that he could bat. He took so long to get to the wicket that on appeal he was given out and the match ended as a tie.
2023-85 Who used to turn up for matches in the 1920s dressed in top hat and morning coat?
2023-A85 P. Johnson.
2023-86 How did he spend his Sundays?
2023-A86 In bed, reading Dickens.
2023-87 At which match (post-World War Two did the Somerset pros hire a donkey and cart, borrow sombreros and pretend to be visiting South Americans?
2023-A87 Against Essex at Clacton 1949. The South Americans won by an innings and fifty runs!
2023-88 Who was denied a collection at a home game after scoring 310 runs because “that’s what he’s paid to do”?
2023-A88 Harold Gimblett after making 310 v. Sussex at Eastbourne in 1948. The county secretary of the time turned down the request.
2023-89 Which two Kent players conspired to give Wally Luckes his only first-class century?
2023-A89 Leslie Ames and Frank Woolley. Ames found out in the 90s that Luckes had never scored a first-class century and induced Woolley to bowl.
2023-90 Which county captain, enquiring of his partner if he should appeal against the light at Weston-super-Mare, received from him the reply “I can hear you m’lord, but I can’t see you.”?
2023-A90 Lord Tennyson of Hampshire.
2023-91 In which match was an angel (almost) caught fiddling?
2023-A91 Les Angell was caught behind by Ken Fiddling, the Northants wicket-keeper in the match at Frome in 1950.
2023-92 Whose remedy for cramp in the legs was to rub them with whisky?
2023-A92 S. M. J. Woods.
2023-93 When Jack Hobbs broke W. G. Grace’s record of centuries at Taunton in August 1925 was he compiling his 83rd, 127th or 141st?
2023-A93 127th.
2023-94 How many centuries had he previously made that season?
2023-A94 13.
2023-95 What Somerset batsman scored a century in that same match?
2023-A95 J. C. W. MacBryan.
2023-96 Who succeeded Jack White as captain of Somerset?
2023-A96 R. A. ingle.
2023-97 Which Somerset cricketer was a one-time bouncer in a Sydney dance hall?
2023-A97 Bill Alley.
2023-98 What do H. Gimblett, K. Palmer, Arthur Wellard, Maurice Tremlett, Harold Stephenson and L. C. H. Palairet all have in common?
2023-A98They never played for any other first-class county.
2023-99 In 1946 Somerset recorded three successive scores of 500 or over. Who were the opponents in these three matches?
2023-A99 India, Middlesex and Yorkshire.
2023-100 Who did Somerset defeat in the 1967 Gillette Cup semi-final?
2023-183 Which member of the Somerset double team of 1979 was born in Buckinghamshire?
2023-184 Who is the all-rounder who writes occasionally for the magazine The Club Cricketer and scored a career-best 124 against Somerset at Taunton in 1985?
2023-185 Which Somerset player has as his superstition “always to salute a magpie”?
2023-186 Who was the South African cricketer whose best bowling analysis is eight for 107 against Somerset at Taunton in 1981?
2023-187 For which two South African provincial sides has Adrian Jones played?
2023-188 Adrian Jones is almost inevitably Jonah to his team-mates but he has another title. What is it?
2023-189 Adrian Jones has an unusual outside job for a professional cricketer, what is it?
2023-190 Who described his father as “a dangerous village cricketer”?
2023-191 For which New Zealand side did Neil Mallender play?
2023-192 Which Somerset fast bowler had a relation playing with Glamorgan?
2023-193 Who was the Sri Lankan batsman who scored 209* against Somerset at Hove in 1984?
2023-194 Vic Marks has a cricket blue and another half-blue. For which sport did he get his half blue?
2023-195 Who is the player who recommended himself to his county and got his first century against Somerset at Weston-super-Mare in 1986?
2023-196 What is Gary Palmer’s job outside cricket?
2023-197 Which Somerset player was for a time a grave-digger?
2023-198 What unique distinction does Gary Palmer hold for Somerset?
2023-199 Of which university does Viv Richards hold an honorary doctorate?
2023-200 Who played for Somerset 2nd XI at the age of 13?
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