Kidmore End Cricket Club – 150 Not Out

1863 – 1900

It was in June 1863 that it was decided to found a cricket club in Kidmore End, or inKidmore as it was then known. The first meeting ever to be convened was held at the Schoolroom on 19th July of that year for the purpose of framing the club rules. Either the weather was kinder in those days or cricketers cared less about muddy wickets, but one of these rules laid down that the season should commence on the first Monday in April and end on the first Monday in October. A record exists of games having been played as late as 13th October. Practice was to be held on Monday and Friday evenings and the Club started its career with “4 bats, 2 balls and stumps, etc.” presented by the Vicar (the Revd J. W. Cobb).

Small though this amount of equipment may now seem, it was then jealously guarded for one of the first by-laws laid down stated that the equipment was “to be kept by the Secretary and never given out except on application of at least three members”

By the end of that first season, the Club had 32 playing and non-playing members on its books, its Patron was the Lord Bishop of Oxford and its Chairman, the Revd J. W. Cobb. The subscription of players had been fixed at a 6d, entry fee and a payment of 2d. per week during the Summer months and a 1d. per week during the Winter, so that the job of the Treasurer appears to have been an all the year round activity. (6d. = 2.5 p).  

The distinction of leading the first team on to a field here fell to Henry Hamilton Palairet Esquire, who then lived at Kidmore House and was a member of an old West of England family renowned for its sportsmen. He was, we are told, a man of great natural energy, most methodical in his ways and who devoted the greatest pains to mastering any subject he took up. His greatest delight was, however, to help others in sports and games by organising and coaching, at both of which he excelled. The village had reason to be thankful for the application of those qualities in the formation of a club here. Fortunately for the cricket public of the country, he extended them untiringly to the tuition of his two sons, Lionel and Richard, as soon as they could hold a bat. Both became great cricketers and all round sportsmen. Both played for Somerset and, to this day, Lionel still holds (with H. T. Hewitt) the record opening wicket partnership for that county, 346 against Yorkshire at Taunton in 1892. In 1902 Lionel Palairet played for England against Australia and in the opinion of many critics the perfect style of his batting has never been equalled. To see him in form on a fast wicket was, it has been said, the best sight that cricket could offer.

That Henry Palairet, in addition to being five times archery champion of England between 1876 and 1882, was himself more than a useful cricketer may be judged from existing records of his batting, bowling and wicket-keeping feats. His 60 not out, out of a total of 98 against Highmoor on 6th July, 1865 must, for instance, have been a formidable feat on the wickets and in the conditions connected with village cricket in those days. Even in 1888 when 43 years old, he took a team to play against Repton, his son’s school, and made 60 runs himself.

The office of Treasurer and Secretary was a joint one and was first occupied by Mr. Henry Lovejoy, son of the then publican at the New Inn, Mr. Joseph Palmer, who lived at Pond House, gave the use of the large field opposite the New Inn, which he rented from the Squire, Mr. William Vanderstegen. This was the first home ground of the Club and it was reported at the time that “a number of gentlemen and labourers in the village had promised to keep it in a state of good playing repair”, The Schoolroom was used as the “pavilion” and the Club headquarters. In those days, cricket was played in mid-week, Monday being a popular day. Games started in the early morning and went on all day, both sides nearly always having plenty of time for the completion of two innings apiece. The fixture list was not a very extensive one. In 1863, three matches were played and in 1864 and 1865 the number of opponents met totalled five. Amongst these were such clubs as Caversham, Emmer Green, Highmoor and Sonning.

The first cricket match ever to take place in the village was held on 31st August, 1863 when Emmer Green was defeated by 10 wickets. It may be of interest to recall the scores, These were: Emmer Green 30 and 17, Kidmore End 47 and 2 for O. The team which achieved this first victory was H. Palairet, Esq,., Hussey, Litchfield, Sellard, Townsend, Ambrose, James, Patey, Povey, Frances and Middleton.

Even in those days the umpire’s decision was sometimes no more welcome to local supporters than it is today, for the report of this game carries a comment on an obvious “error of judgement” in connection with an LBW decision. The ball, it was said, “would clearly have passed some six inches over the top of the stumps”.

For as long as there has been cricket here there has also been the traditional end of the season supper and the first of these was held in the Schoolroom on Monday, 12th October, 1863 after the last game of the season had been played in the morning.

Once started, cricket continued to flourish in the village. By 1885 (when the population of Kidmore End was little more than 500) there were 57 playing and non-playing members, producing an annual subscription figure of €3 17s. 2d. (E3.86) the subscription for players then having been altered to 5d a year.

It was in 1885 that the Club moved its ground to the field next to Mr. J. Allwright’s house at Gallows Tree Common. The total cost of new turf for this, its laying, beating and rolling was £2 17s. 4d. (£2.87) It was, however, only a matter of two or three years before the Club returned to its first home.

In those days, a working profit at the end of the year of anything between 5s, and 12s 6d. was sufficient to keep the Club ticking over healthily. That 44 members’ subscriptions should only be represented by an item of £2 3s. 6d. (£2.17½) in the balance sheet in 1887 seems not to have worried the then Treasurer, the Vicar (the Revd A. Sturgess) or to have diminished the zeal with which Mr. W. Colwill (then the village schoolmaster) carried out his duties as Captain and Secretary. This is perhaps not surprising when it is recalled that annew cricket pitch could be laid for under £3 and that the end of the season supper expenses in 1801 cost the Club no more than 2s. 11 /yd. (nearly 15 p).

By 1891, as many as ten matches a season were being played but cricket in Kidmore End was still mainly a mid-week pastime, Wednesday having become a popular day. When the team was short, it was not uncommon, apparently, for it to be made up by a promising youngster being fetched out of school for the purpose. 1892 was notable for the dismissal of Peppard for 8, a considerable achievement even in days when country wickets could hardly be accused of being “featherbeds”.

But by then it was beginning to become an increasing complaint that the Club’s wicket was just not all that it should be. In 1895, Mr. Henry (Douglas) Vanderstegen offered to lay a pitch at Gallows Tree Common in the field opposite M. K. Paddick’s yard and to allow the Club the use of the new hall (since converted into cottages) which had recently been built there. The ground was to be sown with grass seed of the best quality, a temporary rail fence was to be put up whilst a specially planted quick hedge was growing. A pitch ready for use in two years’ time was to be laid, all at a cost of €40 recoverable at an annual rent of £10. But this proposal did not find favour with the Parish Council, which had not long been formed and which had sought the ground as the means of also serving public demand for a recreation ground. The scheme was rejected as being too costly, which can be understood when memories could still recall the cost of the 1885 venture.

As a result, cricket continued to be played at its original home, but still, it seems, not too comfortably. By 1887, the Club through its Secretary, Mr. J. Pound, was pressing the Parish Council (which was renting the field for E a year as a recreation ground) to take steps to improve the pitch. But seemingly it was not then in a financial position to share as much of the burden of cost as the Parish Council thought reasonable and, in 1901, proposals werenstill being made to raise funds to lay and fence in a piece of ground there. The difficulty was resolved in 1902 by moving to the meadow at the back of the Vicarage at an annual rental of £2, half of which was returned by way of annual subscription by the Vicar (the Revd J. E. Smith Masters). It was, it was said, thought better to pay a small annual rental for a private ground than to spend £15 on laying down a pitch.

1901 – 1914

In 1901, the Club joined the 2nd Division of the Reading and District League. It was then that Saturday matches first became commonplace. Fourteen matches were played that season and third place was gained. This performance was recognised in the following year, 1902, by promotion to the 1st Division, which no doubt prompted the steps that were then made to improve the ground and wicket. Second place was gained in that division in 1903and the Club was awarded the cup for runners up, amidst great excitement when they won the last match of the season against Wokingham Magpies.

This feat was repeated in 1904 under the presidency of the Vicar (the Revd J. E. Smith Masters) and the captaincy and secretaryship of Mr. Thomas Higgins, the then schoolmaster. The necessary one point was gained again in the last match despite having first been dismissed by Grovelands (Reading) for 22. On 19th October at an end of the season supper held in the School (an attendance of upwards of 60 members and friends was then common) the Club was warmly congratulated by its Patron, Sir Herman Hodge (later tonbecome Lord Wyfold), on being the first ever to win the cup for runners up in two successive seasons.

It was in 1905 that Mr. Fred Paddick (the instigator of the Club’s 1950s pavilion and, at the time of his death in January 1962, its President) was elected Captain. He was to serve the Club both as player and member of the Committee for nearly 60 years. Perhaps his most remarkable feat in the field was that, in a league match, of catching at point the last six Stoke Row batsmen for 0 runs, their team’s score having stood at 16 for 4 in reply to Kidmore End’s total of 22.

League cricket continued to be played and did much to improve the standard and keenness of the game here, even though umpire’s decisions were occasionally not as unbiased as they should be. Long distance away matches brought to a head for the first time the occasional need of transport for the team. This was met by the hiring of a horse drawn van or brake. The part hire of this conveyance in 1905 cost the Club 18s (90 p) and, in 1907, £3.

By 1906, the Club’s main worries were not the size of its membership nor the ability of its players, but the lack of accommodation on its ground and, again, the indifferent state of its pitch. The Vicar (the Revd G. E. Milner), who played for the Club, undertook to see what he could do about pitch improvements, although at the same time decrying the lack of a public recreation ground in the village, the old one having been given up in 1904 owing to its small use by parishioners. He also started a subscription list for the erection of suitable changing accommodation. As a result, a bell tent was purchased at a cost of £4 and coats and hats were left under cover on the ground for the first time.

The cost of playing equipment was still, however, such as to produce a sigh from the modern Treasurer. The bat annually for the player with the highest batting average cost the Club but 15s. A new ball was then only 4s. 6d. (22½ p).

In 1907, there was also a cricket club at Sonning Common. This continued for a number of years and played in the field which now houses the Telephone Exchange. It was revived in the 1930s and played for a few years opposite to Coopersfield in Kennylands Road. In 1908, a Kidmore End boys’ club was atso playing a mumber of matches annually and it remained in existence for a few years.

It was in 1908 that the Club again moved its ground. The Vicar (the Revd G. E. Milner) again offered the Vicarage meadow free of charge. Getting no rent and wishing to utilise it for making hay, he asked if the Club could arrange to play the early matches on their opponents’ grounds and the return matches at home when the grass had been cut.  This seemingly presented too many difficulties and it was decided to take a new ground at the Horse Pond field at Gallows Tree Common, which was rented at a cost of £1 from Mr. J. Allwright. He returned this income annually as his subscription. Here it was to remain for over 30 years. A sum of £2 13s. (£2.65) was expended in making necessary ground preparations and a small shed was erected there, which served as the “club house” until a small summer-house was purchased second-hand in 1937. However, this move in 1908nwitnessed the end of League cricket. Friendly fixtures were reverted to for the next 40 years.

In 1913, the pitch was levelled and re-turfed by local labour at a cost of £10. Various other small repairs were carried out in 1920,

The years preceding the First World War were ones of meagre financial resources and it was found necessary to raise the subscription to 2s. 6d. (12½ p) In 1914, a balance in hand was reported for the first time in four years. In one of these, 1910, the Vicar (the Revd H. E, Robson) had personally wiped off the deficit. Nevertheless, by the time the War came and the Club had to close down, it had been experiencing some successful seasons. It was in this year that another great servant of cricket in Kidmore End, Mr. George Harris, took office as Secretary. Both in this role and also that of Captain and Treasurer he was to serve cricket here energetically and well for 25 years.

1919 – 1939

But when the stumps were drawn in the August of 1914, it was to be nearly five years before they were pitched again. It was at a meeting held in May 1919 that the threads were again picked up and a cricket club returned to the village under the chairmanship of the Vicar (the Revd B. H. Bird), the captaincy of Mr. F. W. Woodward (who annually awarded a prize for the best fielder), the secretaryship of Mr. Sidney Paddick and the treasurership of Mr.Ernest Callis, who had first been elected Vice-Captain of the Club in 1908 and Captain in 1909 and who, all told, served it as player and member of the Committee for nearly 30 years.

By 1920, so well had local interest in cricket revived that the Club was running two Xis and continued to do so for a few seasons. However, the War had had its effects on costs and in this year the subscription was raised to 5s (25 p) at which figure it stood until the early 1930s when the economic difficulties of the times necessitated a reduction to 3s. 6d. (17½ p) A feature of the 1922 season was the dismissal of Shiplake (Coppid Hall) for 

This club was to wait 28 years for its revenge, dismissing Kidmore End in 1950 for 16. It was in 1923 that the first century in the history of the Club was made at Kidmore End by Mr. Marry Cook, Captain of the Club between 1923 and 1929 and Groundsmanbetween 1919 and 1935. His 106 against Harpsden on 11th August was made by the tea interval, Such being the delightful uncertainty of the game, he was out first ball after the resumption. It was 1961 before a bowler (Mr. David Basleigh) first took more than 100 wickets in a season.

Whatever the length of the season in the 19th century, there is no evidence to show that by the 1920s it was any kinder to cricketers from the weather point of view than it is today and that “rain stopped play” was any less frequent a visitor to the score book. June of 1910 saw 7.59 inches of rain in Kidmore End in 12 days, July in 1920 had 7.95 inches in 17 days, May 1924 had 4.17 inches of rain in 24 days and, in August 1925, there were 6.32 inches in 19 days. This much has not changed!

The first and only attempt by the Club to change its original name and constitutiontook place in 1928 when an effort was made, sponsored by the British Legion, to amalgamate both the local cricket and football clubs into one athletic club. This venture had to be discontinued in 1929 for financial reasons.M These reasons were very hard to deny just then. It was in 1930 that Mr. George Harrismtook over the regular captaincy of the Club and upon him and his Secretary between 1931 and 1935, Mr. Ron Burgess (Chairman of the Club between 1954 and 1967), fell the main task of piloting the Club through difficult financial times. But the storm was weathered, cricket survived and by the end of the 1939 season the Club had enjoyed another 20 years of uninterrupted play. Then came other nuisances!

1948 – 1962

Nearly ten years were to elapse before bat and ball were again to become a feature of the village in summer months. It was on 5th October, 1948 that a meeting was held to re- establish the Club under the presidency of Mr. Harry Cook, the chairmanship of the Vicar (the Revd A. E. Long), the secretaryship of Mr. W. E. Townsend and the captaincy of Mr. Len Carter. Appointed to the office of Treasurer was Mr. Jack Saunders, who had first served on the Committee as long ago as 1912 and had had many years of active interest in it as a player between the two Wars.

A public recreation ground had been secured for the Parish of Kidmore End at Gallows Tree Common in 1946 and the Club decided to make this its new ground at an annual rental of £5. Some 20 matches were played in the first season of 1949 and, for the first time in the history of the Club, the luxury of transportation to all away matches was indulged in. Subscriptions were fixed at the 5s figure (£0.25) of 1920 and a charge of 2s. (raised to 2s. 6d. in 1953) (10 p raised to 12½ p) was made per match to cover the cost of teas at home matches and of a coach to away games.

In 1950, other innovations were introduced. Insurance policies were taken out to cover injury to players and third parties (coverage against fire and theft of property was introduced in 1953), a sight screen was purchased (another was erected in 1952) and Club Colours and caps in bottle green and old gold were introduced.

By 1951, cricket in Kidmore End was well into its stride again and the membershipof the Club topped the 50 mark. In the spring, a concrete “Sir Donald Bradman” wicket was laid by The People newspaper through the co-operation of the National Playing Fields Association and the Club purchased the practice nets and matting necessary to go with this to ensure practice under ideal conditions. But there was still a problem to be faced, familiar tothe history of the Club, that of providing a decent wicket. On taking over the ground in 1948 (this was then but a rough meadow), it had been realised that the laying of a proper pitch would be essential as soon as possible. The price for the job to be done by skilled labour was formidable and the Club was not able to expect financial assistance from any other organisation. Rather than rush into an inferior job or flirt with the uncertainties of voluntary labour, it was decided to be patient and wait until funds were available to have the work done to the best possible effect. The wait was a long one but in the autumn of 1952 the Club was in a position to open negotiations for the complete re-laying of the wicket at a cost of £210 5s. (£0.25) Thus far had costs travelled since 1885! 

The work was completed in the early weeks of 1953 and paid for that year and the pitch was ready for use at the beginning of the season. Its subsequent performance and the class of fixture that it was later able to attract would not, however, have been possible but for the unsparing devotion and skill of Mr. Len Carter. He was a former Captain who, without payment of any kind, served the Club faithfully first as Assistant Groundsman and then (1956) as Groundsman for the 18 years between 1948 and 1966.

In 1952, a gang mower had been purchased by the local Playing Fields Committee, thus ending another formidable problem, that of keeping a large outfield in continuous playworthy condition during the summer months. 1953 saw further advances made. Surrounds for the new wicket were purchased and, by means of voluntary labour, the Club laid on a water supply to the cricket square. Hosing and sprinkler equipment was bought to enable adequate watering in dry weather. In 1957 and 1958, the whole of the outfield was sprayed with a selective weed killer.

June of 1953 also saw festivities held on the ground in connection with the coronation of HM Queen Elizabeth II. Members contributed to the village jollifications of the day by organising the children’s and adults’ sports. Another highlight of an eventful year belonged to a bowler, Mr. Ray Hughes, who took all 10 Greys Green wickets for 7 runs on 15th September, Formidable though bowling figures must often have been in the Club’s early days, no record exists of any member ever having equalled this performance. All 10 wickets for 15 runs had previously been taken by Mr. Harry Cook against Peppard in 1922 and by Mr. G. S. (Tommy) Harris for 27 runs against Tylehurst St. George’s in 1937.

But if 1953 was eventful, 1954 was to be equally so. Until now the Club had used the small summer-house purchased in the 1930s and the loan of the Football Club’s hut for dressing accommodation. The local Coronation Committee under the chairmanship of Mr. Fred Paddick had, at its inception, resolved to include in their celebrations the erection of a permanent memorial of the occasion for which it had been set up. This was to take the shape of the central part of a sports pavilion and the necessary drainage. Early in 1954, the Club decided to make a contribution towards this by the erection of an east wing containing both and dressing room and a storage equipment room, as did the Football Club who added a west wing containing another dressing room and a shower bath, Much of the work involved in the building of the Club wing was done by the voluntary labour of members. Started in early April, the buildings were erected and roofed within five weeks and were in use with adequate room for players and the serving of teas by the first home match of the season against Old Blues on 15th May. By the end of 1955, the pavilion had been completed in its entirety.In 1957, it was handed over to Parish Council administration, the Club being given a right in perpetuity to its use. This year also saw the purchase by the Club of deckchairs, a pennant in Club Colours and of crockery sufficient to serve 60 teas. On 28th September, the traditional end of season supper was held in the pavilion, the first time in the history of the Club that it had been held on the ground on which the Club played. Warm tribute was paid to Mr. Fred Paddick for the foresight and energy which had made possible the speedy completion of this project. Before the end of the following year (1955) payment of £186 2s. 7d. (£186.13) had been made, in full and final settlement of the cost of the materials and work undertaken for the Club.

By 1955, over 30 matches were being played in a season. Since 1949 some £250 had been raised and spent on playing equipment and a further £400 on the re-laying of a pitch and in building part of the new pavilion,

Within a few years the annual fixture list had extended to 40 matches, whilst further additions had been made to the amenities which the Club was able to offer. In 1958, a licensed bar was set up in the pavilion (this was re-sited and refurnished in 1965) and, in 1959, the purchase was made of a gang-mower to further assist in the cutting of wicket surrounds. Movable sight screens were erected by Club labour in 1963 and 1966, as was a scoreboard in 1965.

By 1961, however, the rapid fall in monetary values had made it essential to raise the playing subscription to 10s. (50p) This was again raised to £1 in 1964. Despite these increases it was still necessary for the Club to rely (as it has always relied) for its progress on the vigorous financial support of non-playing members, as well as on the annual running of whist drives, jumble sales and football competition cards.

1963 – 1987

In 1963, the Club reached its centenary. In the year previous, its Committee had considered possible ways of celebrating the occasion and had decided that by far the most appropriate would be to honour its Founder and his two sons by arranging for an appearance on the ground of the Somerset County Cricket Club. To the great joy (and surprise) of all concerned, the County executive generously agreed that the full county side should be sent to Kidmore End on Saturday, 22nd June. Club officials were cordially welcomed at Taunton in the April and extensive arrangements were afterwards made for staging the match and its coverage by the Press and by BBC sound and television programmes. These arrangements were well justified. The occasion proved both memorable and successful, so much so that it was possible to send the sum of £50  towards the fund set up for Mr. Peter Wight, a Somerset batting star for many seasons, who was that year taking his testimonial.

Friendship between the two clubs, both on and off the field, was instant and lasting, perhaps in some way magically aided by the distant prompting of those who had linked the two Clubs a hundred years previously. On Sunday, 24th May, 1964 there was a further visit by the County team, As a result of another pleasant and successful day, the Club was able to donate £80 to that year’s beneficiary, Mr. Harold Stephenson, the Somerset captain and wicketkeeper. County representatives were present at the traditional end of the season gathering in that and subsequent years and thereafter Somerset players were to “guest” for the local side on occasion.

On Sunday, 30th May, 1965 the County side again returned to the village, this time at the behest of its committee who had decided that the proceeds of the day should be donated to the local Club. On Sunday, 28th August, 1966 yet another visit took place before a large crowd of spectators, This time the Club was able to pay into a beneficiary fund of Mr. Brian Langford, the Somerset spin bowler, a cheque for £85.

Despite the difficulties encountered in arranging games as a result of the introduction of Sunday County Cricket, these testimonial games with the County side have continued. In 1968, £80 was raised for the beneficiary Ken Palmer; in 1973, £150 for Mervyn Kitchen; in 1975, £250 for Tom Cartwright; in 1977, £315 for Graham Burgess; in 1978, £500 for Derek Taylor, in 1979, £675 for Hallam Moseley; in 1983, £1,300 for Brian Rose; in 1987, £1,126 for Colin Dredge; in1989, £1,216 for Dennis Breakwell and Trevor Gard; in 1991 and 1992, £1,500 for Somerset Youth Development. A village club has been greatly honoured by officials and players of the Somerset County Cricket Club in making possible the continuation of this attractive connection with its origins.

Considerable expansion of the Club took place in the years following its centenary. Playing facilities were improved by the purchase of new grass cutting machinery and wicket preparation accessories. A motorised roller was purchased in 1979 and wicket covers in1982. In 1981, an all-weather practice wicket and nets were installed at a cost of £750. Other amenities have also been improved. In 1978, the pavilion kitchen and dressing rooms were redesigned, towards the cost of which the Club contributed £800. A further £450 was spent in re siting its bar. Telephone facilities were installed and, in 1983, the pavilion was re- furnished, carpeted and curtained and a sunken roof and new electrical wiring put in at a cost to the Club of £4000.

The period witnessed a considerable increase in the size of membership and Club playing strength. In 1974, a 2nd XI was formed. By 1976, a return had been made to Saturday League cricket, first in an East Berkshire League and, in 1978, in a newly formed Berkshire County League, in which both Ist XI and 2nd Xl were given senior status. In the previous year, a Colts section was started and coaching given and matches arranged for boys under 16 cars of age. By 1979, the Club’s youngsters were also taking part in League cricket and a future generation of local cricketers was emerging. Further increases in the number of senior playing members prompted the founding in 1979 of a 3rd XI which played its home matches on the Borocourt Hospital ground and, from 1986, at Chiltern Edge School. By 1981, this XI was also playing League cricket. In 1990, the club gained admittance to the Three Counties League and, in 1993, to the Thames Valley League. As in the early 1900s, honours in competitive cricket were not long in coming. In 1979, the 1st XI were runners-up and in 1982 winners of the Premier Division of the Berkshire County League. In the following year both 2nd XI and 3rd XI gained championships of their Divisions and these successes were repeated between 1984 and 1986.

Participation in knockout cricket was started in 1972 when the Club entered annually for a National Village competition, the Oxgordshire  group of which it won in 1980. By 1982 it was taking part in a National Cup competition for town and senior clubs, a number ofwhich began to appear in its future Sunday friendly fixtures list as a result.

Yet another return to ancient customs took place in 1976 with the reintroduction of mid-week games, Noteworthy among these was a visit by the Helsinki Club of Finland in 1980 and, two years later, by a touring side from British Columbia. But ancient customs had little to do with the 1983 entry of an Xl into a winter indoor cricket League, followed two years later by a 2nd XI and by a colts’ side. Nor was there precedent for the staging of New Year’s Day matches, which took place in 1979 and 1980.

This expansion of the Club was to call for a new approach to its administration. Sub- committees to deal with its financial structure, social activities, publicity and bar running were set up in 1973 and, by 1974, a complete recast of its rules had become necessary.  The task of rising finance, however, particularly in years of acute monetary inflation, continued to be an ever present need which was met in various ways, including a weekly Double Century draw started in 1969 and run throughout the year thereafter, by raffles, whist drives, jumble sales, advertising on ground hoardings and in the annual fixture card and even by farm baling. 

By the early 1980s the insignificant annual playing membership subscription of 6 old pence in the 1860s had risen to £20, or £40 for those foolish enough not to have paidup by 1st June,

Expansion was also reflected in the Club’s greater awareness of its part in club cricket generally. Its affiliation to the Somerset County Cricket Club was followed in 1974 by affiliation to the Club Cricket Conference and to the Berkshire County Cricket Club and the Berkshire Cricket Association. Expert assistance each winter in the upkeep of its wicket was begun in 1972. In addition, the devoted and skilled work on wicket and ground by Mr. John Sheldon (who had been elected Chairman in 1981 following the resignation of Mr. John Dire after 14 years in office) played a significant part in the acceptance in 1981 of the Club’s ground and amenities as worthy of Minor County cricket. In that year, the Club successfully staged a Berkshire two-day match against Cornwall, to be followed in 1982 by a game against Dorset, in I984 against Somerset, in 1985 against Cheshire, in 1986 again a Somerset XI and in 1987 against Shropshire. Catering at these matches (as at Somerset testimonial games) was a formidable undertaking, competently carried out by the Club’s tea ladies, of whom there was never an absence in its long history, and to whom a tremendous debt is owed throughout the years.

An annual tour by the Kidmore Beasts was inaugurated in the early 1930s, continuing uninterrupted to the compilation of this history of the Club, Early tours were organised by Colin Elvy, after which Martin New and then Mark New assumed that responsibility. The tour took place in late July, after the end of school term so that school teachers were available as well as older students. The destination was always Gloucestershire, with accommodation found in and around Tewksbury. Fixtures for earlier tours extended trot Monday to Friday, but the number was reduced in the 21st century, party due to difficulty in finding opponents. Down Hatherly hospitality provided a fixture throughout the year while other opponents included Arcadians, Bibury, Colwall, Corse Lawn, Frampton-on-Severn (on reputedly the longest village green in England), Frocester, Llanarth, Lydney, Red Marley, Tewksbury and Winterbourne Bassett. Tour fixtures also included matches against touring sides from Whalley Range in Lancashire and Winnipeg in Canada.

1988 – 2003

The Club’s expansion continued, as did its ties with the Somerset County Cricket Club. In 1991, £1,500 was sent to the County towards a fund raised for its century of county cricket. In 1994, a further £1,500 was raised for the county player, Neil Mallender. In 1995, a county visit raised £1,000 for a school of excellence, built on the county ground at Taunton. In 1997, £1,000 was raised for the benefit fund of county player, Graham Rose.

This was also a period of considerable success for the Club on the field of play. In 1993, the 1st XI headed Division 2 of the Thames Valley League and gained promotion to senior Thames Valley cricket. In 1996, both the 2nd XI and the 3rd XI won their leagues and in 1997 the Club had all three teams playing in local senior cricket. A Saturday 4th XI had also made a start in 1904. A thriving Colts section continued to grow in strength, By 1998 the 1st XI had won the Henley Standard Evening Knockout Cup for the fourth time. 

Higher grade cricket raised the challenge of improved playing amenities, This the Club met by the acquisition in 1998 of additional sightscreens and grass cutting equipment. The possibility of improved practice facilities, particularly for young cricketers, had first been raised in 1996. This was to be the beginning of a long and arduous journey, and ending until 29th June, 2000 when a representative of the England and Wales Cricket Board publicly opened a two-lane practice net of County specification, With attendant landscaping the cost was in excess of £13,000, funded by National Lottery, the Local Authority and other charitable grants, coupled with Club fund raising This achievement was the result of a. tenacious partnership between the club and Kidmore End Parish Council, who together had pursued long and difficult financial negotiations and other local difficulties.

The success of this project offered the Club, at the beginning of the 21st Century, the prospect of embarking upon a programme of youth recruitment and development. It furthermprovided a local opportunity through which all youthful parishioners, both male and female attending nearby schools, could have cricket coaching in ideal and safe surroundings. By the 2002 cricket season, 235 children were registered for coaching with the Club. Five sides participated in the Berkshire Colts League and the Southern Counties Girls League and the Under 9 team won its division. The Club was among the First in the Tames Valley to cater for cricket for girls in the 2001 season. In 2003, the original practice nets in the north-west corner of the ground were refurbished with the purchase of new netting at a cost of £1, 150.

On the senior playing side, the Thames Valley League was restructured prior to the 2000 season and Kidmore End Ist XI was placed in Division 2a. A successful summer saw the Club finish in second place, a feat which was repeated in 2002. Unfortunately, only one side was promoted from Division 2a at the end of those two seasons and so the Club had to continue to strive for promotion to Division 1. The other Saturday XIs met with mixed results. The 2nd XI was champion of Division 4a in 2001 but was relegated from Division 3b at the conclusion of the 2002 season. Meanwhile, the 3rd XI won promotion from Division 6a after a successful campaign in 2002. The 2002 season witnessed the introduction of the Club’s own website.

During the 1990s, the Club found that friendly fixtures on Sundays were deteriorating

in quality and, in striving for a solution to this problem, it was instrumental in establishing

the Thames and Chiltern Sunday Competition in 1998, sponsored at the outset by Morlands of Abingdon, Kidmore End shared the Division 1 championship with Aston Rowant in the first  season. By 2002, this competition had become the Maidenhead Advertiser Sunday League with 11 clubs participating from Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. Two more clubs joined the league for the 2003 season. Kidmore End 2nd XI won Division 2 of the Sunday League in 1998 and again in 2001.

The club has been fortunate in having had many fine officers and none more so than Mr. W. E. Townsend. By 2000, Bill Townsend had served the Club as its Secretary for 52 years, a remarkable achievement by any standards. In that year, he was succeeded as Secretary by Mr. G. Butler and, coinciding with his retirement, he was elected to Honorary Life Membership of Somerset County Cricket Club in recognition of his long service to the great game, and especially for forging the link between the Club and Somerset CC and in doing so much to support the testimonials of Somerset players. Bill Townsend continued to be a very active President of the club and was assiduous in maintaining the highest standards, on and off the field, until his death in 2005.

Mr. A. K. Pigden is another club stalwart. A former Captain of the Club, Alan had accumulated 25,000 rums for Kidmore End by 2001. As well as becoming Treasurer in 1996, he continued to add to that incredible run aggregate in the early years of the 21st century, usually by then in the Saturday 2nd XI. Mr. R. Bathgate was a member of the Club for half a century before his retirement to Devon in 2002. Richard was a wicketkeeper/batsman, and then umpire, who was involved in the establishment of Colts cricket in the Club. In later years, he devoted much of his time to maintaining the beautiful ground at Gallows Tree Common. Richard Bathgate died in 2011.

The Club celebrated its 140th anniversary in 2003 with a cricket week in August and by publishing a revised edition of this history of the Club, enhanced by a Foreword written by Sir Tim Rice, at that time President of MCC. One of the outstanding achievements on the field was recorded in a Thames Valley League match in which Martin New returned figures of 9 for 69 in a Bagshot total of 178 for 9.

2004 – 2013

The early years of the 21st century were dominated by the consequences of the decision by Kidmore End Parish Council to replace the pavilion which had been completedmin 1955 at Gallowstree Common. Members of the Cricket Club had to devote enormous efforts to raising funds towards this end and this edition of the Club’s history concludes with a summary of an achievement which saw the new pavilion used for the first time on 18th June, 2011 when Kidmore End beat Bagshot by 9 wickets in a Morrant Thames Valley League Division 2b match. These nine years under review were a stable period, both with respect to playing and personnel, Mr. F. R. E. Curzon succeeded Bill Townsend as Club President in 2005. Fred Curzon made a great contribution to youth cricket, both at Kidmore End and within the Berkshire Youth Cricket League (of which he is also President). Mr. J. D. Sheldon became Chairman of the club in 1981, a position which he was still holding 32 years later. This baldmstatement hides the devotion to the Club which John displays at all times and the innumerable hours which he has spent in ensuring that cricket at Kidmore End maintains the highest standards of which the Club is capable. Mr. A. K. Pigden continued to foster the Club finances while Mr. G. Butler remained as Secretary until 2011 when he was succeeded by Mr. D. R. New,

A sample of Club finances is worth a paragraph for posterity so that those who come after may compare values and prices. In 2012, the Club spent £5,251 on new practice nets and £2,580 on a (second-hand) tractor. Cricket balls for senior matches alone cost £928.  In 2013, senior playing members paid a subscription of £45 plus £12 for each match fee. Family membership for junior players was £65 plus £20 for each additional child after the first. Expenditure on equipment for ground maintenance was much reduced thanks to the work of Mr. L. Tingle. Two of Larry Tingle’s grandsons play for the Club and his engineering skills must have saved the Club a tidy sum. The ground was also enhanced by the addition of several memorial seats, thanks to the generosity of families and friends. Spectators have more comfortable viewing at matches than is often the case elsewhere.

On the field of play, in common with many clubs, the attractions of Sunday cricket had waned to the extent that Kidmore End now enters only one XI in the Thames and Chiltern Sunday League.  It also proved difficult to bridge the gap between junior and senior cricket. In 2012, Kidmore End fielded six junior teams across the age groups as well as a girl’s team, but the transition from U15 (or even U13) to Saturday 3rd X1 does not happen as smoothly or as often as it should. The problem of finding a home venue for the Saturday 3rd XI was solved by establishing cordial relations with Highmoor CC, a local club which only plays Sunday friendly matches.

Junior cricket has continued to flourish. Highlights have included the U13 girls winning two Berkshire cups in 2007. The U9 team won the Berkshire Youth Cricket League in 2002 and 2003 and that group of boys continued to enjoy success as they represented Kidmore End at U11, U13 and U1S. The U13 XI won the League in 2008 and in 2010 the U13 XI did the League and Cup double. In 2011, the U15 XI won the Berkshire Youth Cricket League Division 2 and, in 2012, the U15 XT was the defeated finalist in the Berkshire Youth Cricket League. Throughout the period, a Kwik Cricket festival for local primary schools was organised each year and held in early July.

With the exception of the 2006 season, Kidmore End 1st XI played in Division 2 of the Morrant Thames Valley League from the re-organisation of the league structure in 1998. Relegation from Division 2a to Division 3a in 2005 was followed immediately by promotion as champions to Division 2b in 2006. In the same period, the 2nd XI were champions ofDivision 5b in 2005 but were then relegated from Division 4a in 2006. The 2nd XI were ychampions of Division 6b in 2008 but were relegated from Division 5a in 2011. Individual performances included Jeff Sheldon’s 9 for 23 against Aldershot in 2005. In that same season, Martin New took 9 for 38 against Fleet 2nd XI while Jamildar Farshan set club records with 178 for the 2nd XI against Chalfont St. Peter and 164 not out for the 3rd XI against Stoke Green 3rd XI. In 2008 Mark New received the Division 6 Batting Award for his aggregate 778 runs and in 2011, James Frost took 50 wickets in Thames Valley League Division 2b matches for the 1st XI.

An attractive addition to the fixture list was the annual August Bank Holiday Sunday match between the President’s XI and the Chairman’s XI. By 2012, this had become a major social occasion, attracting a considerable crowd as well as providing an opportunity for several former players to return and participate.

Between 1981 and 1996, Berkshire CC made regular visits to play home matches at Gallowstree Common. In 2013, the County side returned to play Buckinghamshire CC on 26th May in a Minor County Trophy match.

The Pavilion at Gallowstree Common

The Sports Pavilion at Gallowstree Common is the responsibility of Kidmore End Parish Council and it is administered through the Playing Fields Committee. This committee is chaired by a member of the Parish Council and comprises two other members of the Council plus two representatives each from Kidmore End Football Club and Kidmore End Cricket Club. The Secretary is the Clerk to the Parish Council. This committee is charged with looking after all the recreation areas in the civil parish of Kidmore End. The largest part of their remit is the playing field and pavilion at Gallowstree Common.

Towards the end of the 20th century, the Committee was aware that the facilities no longer met health and safety requirements, particularly with regard to those who are disabled. Added to these concerns was disquiet voiced by the Thames Valley Cricket League about facilities for umpires. In July 2002, Roddy Young, who was Chairman of the Playing Fields Committee and Vice-Chairman of the Parish Council, put together plans and proposals regarding the future of the pavilion. Initial plans and sketches were drawn up and in March 2003 submitted to the Parish Council for consideration. Mr. Young reported that there was no apparent opposition and the principle of a replacement pavilion was endorsed. The Parish Council made provision in its budget for 2004 – 2005 to meet architect’s fees and Mr. Richard James was appointed to draw up more specific plans and also to obtain a rough estimate of the cost of adapting the existing premises to meet all requirements. The cost of the latter was considered to be hardly less than replacement and it was agreed by all concerned that a new pavilion was required. Between September 2004 and January 2005 drawings were circulated and revised to be sanctioned by the Parish Council for adoption for the purposes of pre-planning. By March 2005, the Parish Council agreed that Mr. James should now air proposals with the appropriate department at South Oxfordshire District Council. One important issue was the need to consider “renewable energy”. Following these discussions, which were onerous, revised drawings were submitted to the Parish Council for adoption and use in public consultation and, in June 2006, some 35 residents attended a presentation in the pavilion when most appeared to be in favour.

It was then agreed that an application for planning permission should go forward to South Oxfordshire District Council, which was granted on 17th May, 2007. The project went out for tender and it soon became apparent that a sum of about €600,000 would need to be found.

Now came the major issue of fund raising. Kidmore End Parish Council, South Oxfordshire District Council and the England and Wales Cricket Board all made significant contributions. Kidmore End Cricket Club worked really hard to contribute a sum in the region of £85,000. Autumn Balls held in Reading Town Hall in 2008 and 2009 raised a combined total of £13,400. In 2008, 246 attended which filled the hall to capacity. In addition the generosity of members and friends of the Club helped with the cost of fitting out the new premises. Many others came forward with varying amounts and their contributions are acknowledged on boards displayed in the pavilion.

In the end the target was reached and Hale Builders of Abingdon, who had won the contract, started work on 27th September, 2010. It was hoped that everything would be completed in time for the start of the 2011 cricket season but, due to a severe winter among other issues, the pavilion was not handed over to the Parish Council until 17th June, 2011 and the first match took place the following day. The official opening, attended by local dignitaries, was held on 29th July. There is no doubt that the pavilion has every facility that a cricket club could want and we are fortunate to be able to play at such a venue.

A project such as this takes a long time in its gestation and it involves many people. It is worth stating that, without the enthusiasm and commitment of Roddy Young, Giles Martin (Chairman of the Parish Council), Roger Penfold (Parish Clerk) and John Sheldon (Chairman of Kidmore End Cricket Club and Chairman of the Joint Fund Raising Committee incorporating both the Parish Council and the Cricket Club), this brand new building would still be a pipe dream. It is a wonderful asset for the parish of Kidmore End.

And so, apart from two interruptions brought about by the Kaiser and Hitler (neitherof whom had any interest in the game), cricket has continued and flourished in Kidmore End. While it is true that the present setting and conditions in which the game is played are such that those who first introduced bat and ball here would never have envisaged, even in their wildest dreams, there is good reason to suggest that the progress that the Club has made and its continued healthy existence would please them well. Evidence for this is to be found in a report of the Committee submitted at its first Annual General Meeting held on 26th October,1863.

The aims and ideals expressed in this are as appropriate today as they were then. “The Committee trust that a Club started under such favourable auspices, may continue to progress in the practice of that truly noble and truly English game, which is beyond all others calculated to promote the well being of a neighbourhood by bringing together all classes of parishioners on terms of unity and friendship.

Our story continues!