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Articles 1998
Clayesmore Cricket in the Sixties
In the sixties Clayesmore cricket was played on what is now the Prep School field. The wicket, being on greensand, had a tendency to break up in dry weather and therefore, in those days, it was kept well grassed. The facilities of the pavilion were simple and basic, and a welcome and memorable feature of every match was the sight of Manuals trundling the tea across from the Main House. Nevertheless, the magnificent trees and the views from all parts of the ground made it a most agreeable place to be on a fine summer's day.
There were several good sides in this period. From '62 to '64 we were fortunate enough to have opening bowlers of exceptionable ability. Bill Buck in his three years in the 1s XI took 129 wickets for 7.8 runs apiece. His 50 wickets in '64 were slightly more expensive than his 49 in '63. His fellow opening bowler in '62, David Cook, took 30 wickets at 11.1, and his partner in '63 and '64, Alan Hayden, took 66 wickets for 11.5 a piece. Bill had games for Somerset and Hampshire, and Alan played for Bournemouth Sports Club with great success. The '64 XI, of which Bill was Captain, must have a fair claim to be the best team in this period. In addition to Hayden, the other members were Hamlyn, Fangen, Barter, Dennett, Fletcher, Atkinson, French, Sussman, Cockayne, Wallrock and Withers. It was in '64 that the fixture with Bryanston 1st XI was revived.
George Hamlyn became Captain in '65; in his four years in the 1st XI he scored 850 runs and this was no mean feat in those days. The highlight of his season was undoubtedly the all-day match with Dauntsey's on Ascension Day, which then was always taken as a full School holiday after an early service in Chapel. Clayesmore made 197 at West Lavington and then dismissed the opposition for 62.
David Fangen, who made 76 in that match, was Captain in '66, and it was a season when the bowlers, Wallrock, Goumas, Gregory and Fangen himself, made more impact on the game than did our batsmen. The '67 side, captained by Nick Wallrock, was a well-balanced team and gained pleasing wins over Milton Abbey, King's Bruton and Bryanston, and also the distinction of appearing in a fine photograph in the Winter Annual of the Cricketer.
Under Glyn Pole-Evans, Captain '68 and '69, the school cricket reached a standard from which it sadly fell away in the early seventies. In '68, Sherborne 2nds were put out for 38, principally by Colquhoun who took 7 for 25, Bryanston for 77 (Noman 5-34 and Beaton 3-17), and King's Bruton for 25. Anwar Noman, nephew of a Pakistani Test Selector, took 8 for 8 and helped by good fielding close to the bat, was virtually unplayable. His total for the season was 24 wickets at 6.1 while Colquhoun took 27 wickets for 11 apiece. In '69, two dramatic collapses against Bryanston and Dauntsey's were an omen of things to come, but there were still good wins over Milton Abbey and Bruton whom Noman again bemused with his spin. Andrew Beaton had a good spell with the bat and in three consecutive innings he made 79 against Dorset Rangers, 67 not out against Milton Abbey, and 66 not out against a touring side, Kenilworth Wardens.
No account of Clayesmore cricket in the Sixties would be complete without some reference to the Cormorants which began its existence when C. P. Wilkinson (Capt. in '60), J. F. Bates, J. Hardie, C. R. Swatton, C.W. Matthews, P.A. Sabine, G.B. Swatton, M.B. Keystone, N.G. Waters, D.F. Cook, A.N. Drapkin, and C.D.C. Price ended their season with a tour in Cornwall. They were accompanied by Hugh and Margaret Glazebrook, David Watkins, and Mr Wilkinson. In '65 several matches were played in Holland, and since then an annual cricket week has been held at School in July. It is gratifying that several Clayesmore cricketers of the Sixties, Andrew Beaton, Nick Goumas, David Fangen and Piers Sabine are still very much involved in its organisation. Furthermore, each year sees the return of Frank Stones who was such a formidable performer and great contributor to Cormorant successes in their earlier days. the Millennium year will be the Cormorants 40th; perhaps the management will contrive some special celebration.
David J. Watkins