Thanks For The Memories

On the face of it, with the last blog posting appearing on March 5th, it looks like it's been quiet. However, behind the scenes we've started to make some progress. It's early days but here are a few snippets about Bowerchalke CC that were passed our way during March.

LOCAL RULES
Because the actual playing area of the Bowerchalke cricket field was quite small there were some local rules regarding boundaries.

As you may recall from an earlier blog entry the cricket field itself was surrounded by wire fencing, apparently there were two wires. That fact is quite significant as it happens!

If the ball was hit over the top wire then the umpire would signal a six.

If the ball went over the boundary in the air but between the top and bottom wires then the umpire signalled a four.

If the ball went to the boundary as byes then instead of four byes being signalled the umpire would signal two byes (it's not clear how this was signalled, if at all, maybe the scorer would just know).

We assume that this all had to be explained to the opposition before each game although these local rules were probably well known by regular visitors.

Does anyone remember when these local rules were introduced? Or was that the way it always was! We'd love to hear from you. Perhaps you may recall similar local rules at other village grounds. Let us know!

TRINITY TOMTITS
Trinity Tomtits was the touring cricket side of Trinity College Cambridge. They made a number of visits to Bowerchalke in the 1960s with Bowerchalke making at least two visits to Cambridge which must have been quite a trek in those days (it still is today and that's with decent motorway connections).

Listening to some of the stories, some of which are unrepeatable(!), it's probably fair to say that there was an awful lot of fun had by all.

Post-match entertainment 'Wiltshire style' appears to have involved a rather dangerous sounding combination of beer, darts and bell ringing at The Bell Inn in the village. It was during the visits of the Trinity Tomtits that The Bell Inn's bell got its annual ring! It sounds like this involved someone scaling the post probably with lots of 'help and encouragement'. Attempts to steal the bell one year clearly were not successful, but attempted nonetheless.

Of the players from that University team we know that one of the Trinity Tomtits actually lives locally today. We've also been told that another was the tutor of Prince Charles and a third is a Lord (or similar) who in a recent conversation with someone he met from the village asked after a very good cricketer called David Gulliver, one of his opponents! What a small world it is! These stories may have been embellished a little but we'd like to think there's a modicum of truth in all of them!

Do you remember the Trinity Tomtits? Perhaps there are some other stories you'd like to share? Let us know!

Finally, on Trinity Tomtits, we do know that our parents have a B&W photograph which may be of that team. As soon as they can find it and we can get hold of it we'll scan a copy on to this blog.

PLAYERS AND CHARACTERS
We've had a few comments about players.

Malcolm and Chris Downs were two that got a mention. Mrs Downs did the teas of course.

Dorien Petch, Tim Barter and Reggie Clough were three others. Tim of course has played for Broadchalke and Chalke Valley for many years, an elegant batsman if we recall.

George Tate was described as a very good spin bowler. Of course David Tate also played for Bowerchalke. George is in the Bowerchalke CC picture on the RHS of this blog page.

Morris Lampert, the wicket-keeper, who still lives in the village today, used to stop the ball come what may, with his chest if need be. Morris is in the Bowerchalke CC picture on the RHS of this blog page. If Morris was unavailable, perhaps because of harvest, then Malcolm Downs also used to keep wicket, a more than able substitute.

Albie King used to work for The Forestry Commission, he was the scorer and a very good darts player! Albie is also in the Bowerchalke CC picture on the RHS of this blog page.

One person commented that he played against a Bowerchalke team containing seven Gullivers, which is quite something if correct. Not sure who the seven were but as a guess: Harold, Arthur (H's brother), David, Robin, Richard, Brian and Geoff. Of course there was also Derek, Terry...more of Terry and Richard in particular another time.

Do you remember any of these players? Or is there someone else you remember? If so let us know! We'd love to hear from you.

CUP VICTORIES
We have come across two winners trophies from the 1960s given to the players of the winning Bowerchalke CC teams.

The first is for The Morrison Cup in 1966 (a Salisbury and District Cricket League competition).

The second is for The Knapman Cup in 1969 (this has traditionally been organised by Farley CC where the final is normally played). KeithG won The Knapman Cup with South Wilts CC in the 1980s!

It would be good to find a photograph of the winning team or a match report and of course a list of the players and the opponents.

Do you have anything relating to these two trophy wins? If so please let us know.

A HORSE?
Finally, in our research we've come across a horse called Bowerchalke, it sounds like quite a good one too! It was trained by Toby Balding and in 1957 it won The Buckingham Palace Handicap at Ascot, a flat race.

Who owned this horse, someone connected with the village perhaps? Do you know who?

KeithG and StuartG