Bowerchalke CC and Somerset CCC

Yes, you did read the title correctly! Somerset CCC did bring a team to Wiltshire to play against Bowerchalke CC sometime during the 1950s, although the exact date is not clear.

The chap wearing the suit in the front row is Mr. Richardson and he had connections with Somerset CCC although in what capacity is not 100% clear. A relative of Mr. Richardson (his sister we believe) lived in the village of Bowerchalke and it is through this family connection that Somerset CCC visited to play this (presumably) one-off match.

This photograph used to be hung on the wall in Holly Close (home of Granny and Grandad Gulliver). Following Granny Gulliver's death in the 1990s the photograph, along with some others, were passed to our Uncle David Gulliver who arranged for them to be copied and shared with other members of the family. Russell Emm from Ebbesbourne Wake created the copies (ref 6/96).

There are three Somerset CCC players' names listed on the photograph: Gimblett, Wellard and Tremlett, the first three on the left hand side of the front-row. We believe a Somerset CCC player called Bertie Buse is also in the photograph, middle-row second from the left with a moustache. Why do we think that? Well, somewhere KeithG has a copy of the matchday programme from Bertie Buse's Testimonial Match! He recognised him from that! We'll see if that can be dug-out and shared on this blog at some point too.

We've asked Dad (Brian Gulliver) to see how many Bowerchalke CC names he can recall from this picture...here you go:

Back Row: not 100% clear but Arthur Butler is believed to be one of the players.

Middle Row: Herbie Stevens, Harold Gulliver, Jack Cook, a schoolmaster from Winterslow, John Williams (who also played for regular opponents Agrarians and was a farmer from Fovant), David Gulliver.

Front Row: not 100% clear but as stated above 3 of the 4 Somerset players in this row are believed to be Gimblett, Wellard and Tremlett, Mr. Richardson, John Beckley, George Tate, the wicket-keeper is a Mr. Eckersley believed to be from Winterbourne.

We cannot believe this match didn't grab some attention locally so we suspect there is still a lot more to find out about it. It was interesting to note that Bowerchalke 'called-in' a few players especially for the game from other villages, presumably to bolster the team.

Do you know anymore about this match? When it was played? Do you know the identity of the players we've not been able to put names to, especially those from Somerset CCC? If you do please let us know we'd love to hear from you.

Send an e-mail to: bowerccmem@btinternet.com

KeithG and StuartG