Kidmore End Cricket Club and its unique relationship with Somerset County Cricket Club

The distinction of leading the first Kidmore End cricket 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. Fortunately for the cricket public of the country, he extended his love of cricket 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.

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.

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.

Perhaps you can identify some of the players in the pictures below

Photographs and Programmes by courtesy of Mr. R. New Kidmore End Cricket Club