Hampshire Cricket History

Holt’s Colts 1967. The young men either side of Arthur are Bill Le Breton and Richard McIlwaine, school pals of mine at Portsmouth Grammar. They will both be at the lunch on 8 April. Bill’s dad ‘Ginger’ is standing far right – as the landlord of the Dolphin in the High Street he was often host to visiting umpires in the days of county cricket in Portsmouth. There’s a particularly famous face in the back row – early days for a future Test star!

PS – for a larger on-screen image, just click on the photo

I took this photo at the Rose Bowl yesterday (25 March). It shows the parking hut opposite the West Stand turnstile entrance – next to it, fenced in, a pile of earth moved from the new golf course. This area, which provided parking last year will be levelled with a tarmac surface and the hope is that it will be done in time for the Test Match in June. For the Holt Lunch (and start of season) a fortnight today we will probably hear more at the AGM (Monday week). Watch this space, I’ll keep you updated

Arthur took a Colts tour to Denmark in the summer of 1966 – a number of these cricketers are expected at the lunch including Richard McIlwaine, Bill Hughes and Bill Le Breton

A shot from the early 1950s – the Coach with wicket-keeper Ralph Prouton (centre) and Vic Cannings. Ralph will be at our lunch on 8 April

Lunch update – we have about 100 people attending so far. We need to confirm numbers with the Rose Bowl by Monday 4 April so if you wish to attend please let us know as soon as possible. Information on the hampshire and Southern League websites. We don’t yet have an update on Rose Bowl parking in the early weeks of the season but when we do, it will be here.

1958 and Arthur as Coach with Ingleby-Mackenzie’s first side. They finished runners-up to Surrey, which to that point was the best in Hampshire’s history

The Hampshire side at the start of the 1947 season (‘Compton & Edrich’). Arthur is seated far left and the man behind him is Sam Staples who Arthur replaced as Coach. The front row includes ‘Lofty’ Herman, John Arnold and Gerry Hill who are with Arthur in the 1937 team photo.

Arthur standing far left in the Hampshire side of 1937. The captain is Dick Moore and at the other end of the line from Arthur is Neil McCorkell, the only man in that side still living and the oldest of Hampshire’s cricketers.

The Taunton scorecard from Arthur’s first-class and Championship debut in 1955 (click on it for a larger version or go to Cricket Archive for the full card). The batting order is as printed on day one but in fact Arthur batted at number 9, below Gerry Hill (53). Arthur came in at 166-7 and scored three of the six runs added. Hampshire followed on but the match was drawn. Somerset (typically) fielded six amateurs – they had no money for more professionals. One of their ‘pros’ was Bill Andrews whose brother Jack kept wicket a few times for Hampshire. Walter Lancashire made his debut in this same match.

8 April Lunch update: There are about 150 places of which about 100 have gone. The main course will be beef – Vegetarians should email or contact me (dave.allen@port.ac.uk) prior to the event.