Oak doors dedicated to the memory of Harold Gimblett

Harold’s entry onto the first class cricket scene is the stuff of cricket legends- he had a two week trial at the end of which he was told he wasn’t quite what Somerset wanted. He was about to set off home when he was called back and told that Somerset were a player short for their game against Essex the next morning and he was playing.

Next day he missed the 6 am bus to Bridgwater but got a lift from a lorry driver and eventually reached Frome where going in with the score 107 for 6 he proceeded to hit what turned out to be a match winning innings of 123.

The farmer’s son became a hero overnight and went onto play three Test matches for England and but for the Second World War would no doubt have played more.

Harold quickly became the mainstay of a fragile batting line up and resumed playing for Somerset after the war. In 1948 he was the first Somerset player to score a triple century when he hit 310 against Sussex at Eastbourne.

He continued to play for Somerset until 1954 when he retired. During his career Harold scored a total of 21,142 first class runs, including 49 centuries at an average of 39.96.

Twelve years ago a service took place at St George’s to celebrate the centenary of Harold’s birth, since when the Trustees of the Somerset Cricket Museum and the Bicknoller Parochial Church Council (PCC) have been working together to create a memorial to him in the church. 

Various ideas for the nature of the memorial were investigated, before the final decision was made to install new church doors with a discrete cricket motif and a dedication to Harold, which on Thursday were officially opened.

Originally the ceremony was due to take place outside, but heavy showers led to a change of plan and the 70 or so who were present , moved inside the church.

David Knight , a member of the St George’s PCC, who had been a leading light in driving the project forward, led the proceedings and welcomed everyone.

Among those present were several members of the Gimblett family, representatives from Somerset County Cricket Club, the Somerset Cricket Museum, and Watchet CC where Harold played his local cricket along with the two craftsmen from Nether Stowey based “Grandfields” who had made and fitted the doors.

David Knight introduced Dr Peter January the chair of the Somerset Cricket Museum who spoke of Harold’s experiences and compared them to that of his contemporary Len Hutton, who was stepping into a highly successful Yorkshire side with a strong batting line up. Harold on the other hand was joining an unsuccessful Somerset team and carried the burden of the batting from early on, all of which created unwanted pressure on him, despite which his  batting delighted and gave joy to all who watched him play

Nigel Stock the former Bishop of Southwark and now a member of the St Georges Church community, and Somerset member reflected on the life and career of Harold and read John Arlott’s poem ‘Harold Gimblett’s Hundred.’

Fortunately by this time the rain had ceased and everyone moved outside where Reverend Nicky Morgan the rector of St Georges said a prayer of dedication before the ribbon to officially open the doors was cut by Marcus Trescothick- Somerset’s second highest first class run scorer.

David Knight concluded the formal part of the afternoon by thanking everyone for their attendance, and thanking the Somerset Cricket Museum Trustees for generously funding the Harold Gimblett Doors- a fitting memorial to a local hero.

Those present then repaired to Bicknoller Village Hall to enjoy a special cricket tea and look at some of the exhibits relating to Harold that had been loaned by the Cricket Museum.

This was indeed a special cricketing occasion to honour Harold Gimblett- ‘The Finest Apple to grow in a Somerset Orchard.’

Photographs courtesy of Mr Alain Lockyer, Article courtesy of Mr Richard Walsh