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Year
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Month
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Day
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Speaker
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Topic
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2026
|
Oct |
8th
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Dave Merrington
|
 |
The new season began with a venture into football, as former Southampton
FC manager Dave Merrington came to speak to us. Dave was born in Newcastle
and was invited to join Burnley at the age of 15. They were a big 1st Division club
in those days with a large professional staff. Dave remarked that there were 56 professionals
on the books at one time, with some of the old pros only able to get in the ‘A’ team. He
was without a professional contract at the time and training for the youth players
was only two evenings a week, so he decided to do an apprenticeship as an electrician,
which often meant scaling rooves to install tv aerials. Half way through the apprenticeship
he had the offer of a professional contract with Burnley which he accepted. The pay
for 1st teamwork was £20 a week with a £4 win bonus and £2 for
the draw. Burnley were a club ahead of their time, they had their own trading ground
which the chairman had bought. At the age of 19 he fought his way into the Burnley
1st team as a centre half and remained there until he was 27. During this time Burnley
played in Europe in the old Fairs Cup with some fairly frightening tales of foreign
fans and the ways taken to avoid them after matches, particularly in Naples. Dave
made sure he would have a future in the game by taking his coaching badges when he
was just 23, which helped him out when his achillies tendon snapped at the age of
27 very soon after he had transferred to Bristol City. He coached at Bristol for
a time but his wife was unhappy down south and he eventually returned to Burnley
on the coaching staff. When Jimmy Adamson was sacked, Dave followed him to Sunderland.
Jimmy didn’t have a contract with Sunderland, so when Leeds came calling they upped
sticks and went to Leeds. Unfortunately the board at Leeds was split three ways which
led to instability and the club missing some good potential signings. The inevitable
happens and Dave is out of a job. After a prolonged period he had an offer to join
the probation service, where he worked for three years. He commented on the difference
between working with highly motivated footballers and ex-prisoners with very little
motivation at all. In 1985 Lawrie McMenemy approached Dave to take on a job
at Southampton where Dave introduced the idea of a chaplin and also involved the
players in interacting with the city’s homeless. Amongst the players Dave was involved
with included Alan Shearer, Matt Le Tissier and Francis Benali. By now Dave had become
manager and kept Southampton in the Premier League on the last day of the season,
only to lose his job the next day. As that door closed, so another one opened into
radio commentary, which extended Dave’s football career to over 60 years one way
and another, as he explained the nuances that are needed to keep a listener glued
to the radio, often whilst undertaking other tasks. Throughout his career Dave had
been a man of strong faith, he explained how Christianity had been a very important
bulwark to his life and how he first came across Jesus. There was just time
for a couple of questions revolving around the current Southampton situation and
whether Matt Le Tissier should have played more than 8 times for England. Many
thanks to Dave and to Derek for hosting the afternoon. |
|
|
|
15th
|
Jeremy Lonsdale
|
|
Jeremy Lonsdale returned to the Society to tell the story of Patsy
Hendren, who is third in the all-time list of first-class run scoring with 57000.
Born in 1889 he played county cricket for Middlesex before the 1st World War starting
in 1907. He had limited success in those early years, acquiring a reputation as a
bit of ‘flat-track bully’. Good against the weaker sides but not very successful
against the likes of Yorkshire. Of course in those days cricket was only a summer
time employment and Patsy had another winter occupation as a professional footballer.
His career in football spanned 20 years and was mainly played with Brentford where
he was a speedy winger and was inducted in their hall of fame in 2015. Back though
to cricket. All county cricket ceased during the war and Hendren enlisted in the
Sportsman’s Brigade, however he never served in France. as a youngster he had worked
in engineering and as a result spent the war working in a munitions factory. This
enabled him to play in charity football and cricket matches and kept him fit. So
when the war ended and cricket resumed in 1919, he was all ready to go. Pre-war his
average was around twenty to thirty, but in the 1920’s with Hendren now aged over
30 he score hundreds of runs. He was selected to play for England and went on the
MCC tour of Australia 1920-21, but wasn’t very successful and after the return series
back home was dropped and didn’t play for England again until 1924. He went to Australia
again in 1924-5, but turned down some future tours so that he could continue playing
football with Brentford. Hendren was know as a cheeky chappie, with his family having
some Irish roots, he had a number of extra sources of income, advertising all sorts
of products, running an indoor cricket school and was even invited to host a radio
show on the BBC showcasing his taste in music. On the same day he had scored 4 goals
for Brentford against one of his former sides, Coventry. His earnings were said to
be second only to Jack Hobbs. In 1927 he retired from football,
with a benefit match against Watford Reserves and a charity concert which caused
consternation as it was scheduled for a Sunday. He went coaching to South Australia
and nearly died en-route being hospitalised in Columbo. He went to the West Indies
in 1929-30 on the back of a dip of form, but had the most incredible tour with 1600
runs scored in 12 matches. He came back into the England team, but was always on
the fringe of the team, one or two poor scores away from being dropped, which he
was after the 1934-5 tour of the West Indies. In total he played 51 times for England.
He was part of an MCC team to play the Australians at Lords and was the only professional
along with ten amateurs. The snobbishness that prevailed at the time meant that while
the rest of the team emerged from the front of the pavilion, he had to come out of
a side gate. In the end Percy Chapman, the captain, invited him to come out with
all the other players, but it caused a social stir at the time. Finally he retired
in 1937 at the age of 48. He then went as coach at Harrow School, remaining there
throughout the war. He and his wife moved to Hove in 1948 and he coached Sussex until
1951, when financial difficulties at the county saw him leave. In 1952 the Middlesex
scorer died and Patsy took over these duties until 1959 when he retired. He died
in 1962 and Jeremy lamented that there is no memorial of him at Lords (possibly because
Middlesex don’t own the ground) and his gravestone in East Finchley in sorely neglected.
A lively Q&A session then followed Jeremy’s talk. In conclusion Jeremy managed
to bring to life someone who’s career was 80 to 119 years ago, quite a feat! Many
thanks to Jeremy and to Huw for hosting the meeting. |
|
|
|
22nd
|
Tom Hicks
|
|
Tom's talk was an entertaining reflection on his lifelong passion
for cricket, spanning his childhood in North Dorset, his time playing first-class
cricket for Oxford University, 18 years with Dorset, and his experiences captaining
teams and touring internationally. Through humour, personal anecdotes and memories
of fellow players, he offers an insight into the culture of cricket, particularly
during the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. He grew up in Child Okeford, inspired
by cricketing heroes such as Ian Botham, Graham Gooch and the West Indies fast bowlers.
He and his brother recreated matches using teddy bears, while their father played
village cricket. These early experiences established his love for the game and introduced
him to the characters and camaraderie of local cricket. At Clayesmore School, he
discovered that off-spin bowling suited him better than fast bowling. He progressed
through Dorset’s junior teams, taking his first county wicket at eight years old,
before earning a place at Oxford University.
At Oxford, Tom played first-class cricket from 1999 and experienced the excitement
of competing against established professionals. He recalled bowling to famous
players such as Robin Smith and Marcus Trescothick, learning that top-class batsmen
would respect accurate bowling, but punish even small mistakes. He scored a
first-class half-century at Lord’s during his first Varsity season and captained
Oxford in a memorable experience at the home of cricket. Although he came close to
higher representative opportunities, his ambitions were never realised. Tom subsequently
enjoyed a long career with Dorset, captaining the side for seven years and contributing
to championship-winning teams. He described minor-county cricket as demanding
but rewarding, combining competitive cricket with strong friendships and a distinctive
amateur spirit. He highlighted the importance of banter, practical jokes and
shared experiences in maintaining team morale during long matches and rainy afternoons.
Examples included silent overs, unusual wicket celebrations, humorous nicknames
and elaborate dressing-room pranks.
Touring was another major highlight. He travelled to Pakistan, the West Indies,
South Africa, Denmark, Sweden, Croatia and India. These journeys offered opportunities
to experience different cricketing cultures, from the enthusiasm of local players
in Pakistan to the extraordinary atmosphere of Mumbai’s cricket grounds and the Indian
Premier League. He also recounted mishaps, including a school-tour bus catching
fire in South Africa, illustrating the unpredictable nature of cricketing adventures.
The talk also contrasted amateur cricket of the past with the increasingly professional
modern game. Tom recalled an era when players smoked, enjoyed drinks after
matches and relied on humour rather than sophisticated fitness regimes. He recognised that
the sport has changed but remains passionate about its traditions and community.
Beyond playing, he has worked in education, including teaching and headship
in Hong Kong, and captained Hong Kong Cricket Club. He published Bowler’s Name? in
2021, drawing on his experiences and the characters he encountered throughout cricket.
He is also working on a project to visit cricket-themed pubs across the UK. Ultimately,
Tom's talk celebrated cricket as more than a sport. It is a source of friendship,
travel, personal development and enduring memories. His stories demonstrate that,
while professional achievements matter, the humour, characters and shared experiences
of the game are often what players treasure most.
Many thanks Tom for a most enjoyable afternoon and to Julian for arranging the talk. |
|
|
|
29th
|
|
 |
On Thursday Simon Wilde was unable to visit, but his replacement Peter
Hellawell had a fascinating story to tell about carrying the Olympic Flame in 2012.
Told with a great sense of humour and aided by a sideshow which he had tailored to
our cricket society in under two days, this is his story. His talk described his
memorable experience of carrying the Olympic flame through Bridport on 12 July 2012,
sharing the personal story behind his selection, the preparations involved and the
excitement of being part of the London Olympic Games. Peter began by recalling the
build-up to the 2012 Olympics, when Olympic symbols appeared throughout the country,
including the rings at Tower Bridge and Weymouth, which hosted sailing events. He
highlighted memorable moments from the opening ceremony, particularly the forging
of the Olympic rings and the Queen’s skydive alongside James Bond. He also explained
some interesting facts about the Olympic torch relay. The flame originated in Greece,
was transported to Britain by plane in specially adapted safety lamps and was carried
by 8,000 torchbearers across the country. The torch itself contained 8,000 holes,
representing both the torchbearers and the 8,000-mile journey. These holes were cleverly
placed on the internal and external skin of the flame so they appeared to form the
5 Olympic rings Peter explained that his successful nomination reflected a lifetime
of charitable and community involvement. He had run 17 marathons, raising money for
charity, worked extensively in HIV prevention and support, promoted equality and
diversity, helped organise the Anne Frank exhibition in Bournemouth and supported
vulnerable people during the digital television switchover. He had also been living
with HIV since 1984 and had spoken openly about his experience to challenge stigma.
His friend Gordon brought these achievements together in a nomination, which was
ultimately successful. Receiving the confirmation in December 2011 was particularly
emotional because his mother, who had dementia, died shortly afterwards. Peter was
grateful that she had learned of his selection before her death. He also recalls
his mother's philosophy: if something can be done, do it; if it cannot, there is
no point worrying. This helped him through a difficult period. In preparation, Peter
researched the torch's weight and design and constructed a homemade practice version
using a cardboard tube and a jar of marmalade. He even practised carrying it while
doing everyday activities. He received his official torchbearer outfit, designed
by Stella McCartney, and organised an open-top bus trip so that family and friends
could travel together to Bridport. His fellow torchbearer was Katie, a talented 13-year-old
Bournemouth footballer.
Despite heavy rain, the day was filled with excitement. After registration and briefing,
Peter was assigned number 077 and prepared for his turn. He had hoped to meet tennis
legend Roger Federer, who had originally been expected to carry the flame through
Bridport. Unfortunately, Federer did not attend, and another torchbearer, Laura,
brought the flame to him instead. The two torches were brought together in the ceremonial
moment known as the kiss. Peter's torch was lit, and a police officer announced that
he was now the custodian of the Olympic flame. He ran approximately a quarter to
a third of a mile through cheering crowds, describing the experience as extraordinary
and almost impossible to compare with anything else in his life. Afterwards, he travelled
with the other torchbearers, received his own decommissioned torch which was free
for him as he had been sponsored by Samsung while others had to pay £200 and
reflected on the significance of the experience. His torch became a lasting reminder
of an extraordinary day. He subsequently visited schools and community groups, raising
approximately £5,000 for various charities through presentations and fundraising
activities. Peter concludeed by reflecting on the Olympic flame as a symbol of unity,
shared achievement and being part of something much bigger than oneself. Although
his own involvement lasted only a few minutes, it remains one of the greatest privileges
of his life.
A really excellent afternoon's entertainment with many thanks to Peter and to David
Swindells for organising it at such short notice. |
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Nov |
5th
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12th
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19th
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26th
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Dec |
3rd
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10th
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17th
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2027
|
Jan |
7th
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14th
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21st
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28th
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Feb |
4th
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11th
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18th
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25th
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March |
4th
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11th
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18th
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25th
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