The Worcestershire Cricket Society have just published their monthly newsletter for January 2016 and here are its contents.
FORMER ENGLAND STAR STEELE RECALLS GOLDEN SUMMER
Former England batsman David Steele gave an entertaining and sometimes amusing talk when the guest of the Worcestershire Cricket Society in the 1865 Lounge.
Steele, whose father was a miner, spoke about his humble upbringings through to when he became the BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1975 after his heroics against Australia that summer.
He described how he was almost timed out after struggling to find his way out onto the Lord's outfield from the dressing room on his Test debut.
There were plenty of anecdotes and observations relating to Worcestershire players past and present to keep the high turn-out well entertained.
Steele was a big fan of former Worcestershire captain Norman Gifford – and current spin bowling coach – from an early age.
He said: "He was bowling against the 1960-61 Australians and I watched it on TV and loved it. What a bowler, marvellous, on the spot, strong.
"For 15 years he bowled at me and never stopped moaning!
"But what a bowler and, if it hadn't have been for Derek Underwod, he would have played 100 Tests."
Steele also described the late Worcestershire legend Tom Graveney as his "favourite player" with his quality of stroke play.
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SOCIETY STONE ON WORCESTERSHIRE WAY
The Worcestershire Cricket Society will soon be set in stone – literally!
For the WCS have invested in one of the engraved bricks on the Worcestershire Way (WW) as part of the 150th Anniversary Walk.
Visitors to New Road would have seen the impressive array of bricks already in place on the WW which runs parallel to New Road itself and leads up to the entrance of The View.
The first block of bricks were in place for the opening match of the 2015 season against Yorkshire.
It is hoped the next batch will be ready to be laid in the near future – including the £500 one purchased by the WCS.
This is one of the top of the range bricks made of emerald green pearl granite with room for four lines of gold engraving.
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PLANS COMING TO FRUITION FOR TRIP TO MANCHESTER-OLD TRAFFORD CRICKET GROUND
Worcestershire Cricket Society Society Mike Hitchings is continuing to finalise details for the two-day trip to Manchester on April 5-6.
Mike has worked wonders in keeping the cost – including an overnight hotel stay – below three figures for a trip incorporating a tour of Old Trafford Cricket Ground (or Emirates Old Trafford as it is now known).
Based on 40 people making the trip, it should cost each person £95.
The price includes an executive 53 seater coach ( with toilet ) , bed-breakfast and evening meal at the hotel, cost of the cricket tour with tea or coffee, cost of hiring a local tour guide and a tip for the driver subject to everything being satisfactory.
Not included is lunch at Salford Quays and the optional tour of Manchester United's Old Trafford Stadium which costs around £10.
Members, guests and friends are most welcome to join our trip but it is important that anyone interested shows their commitment by paying a £20 deposit as soon as possible.
Cheques should be made payable to Worcestershire Cricket Society or a receipt will be given for cash. It is hoped that Mike can collect as many of these deposits as soon as possible.
Mike will then be able to go ahead with some concrete planning and give an update on numbers and details of the hotel at the February meeting.
As things stand at present, the itinerary for the trip will be as follows
Tuesday April 5
9.00 meet at New Road to leave at 9.10
11.00 comfort stop at service station on M6
12.45 arrive at Salford Quays for lunch and a look around the Quays area
3.00 meet back at the coach where a local tour guide will join the coach to take us on a tour around the Manchester area for about 2 hours
5.00 depart for hotel
6.30 evening meal at the hotel
Wednesday April 6 8.00 – 8.30 breakfast
9.15 leave for Old Trafford Cricket Ground
10.00 guided tour of Old Trafford followed by tea or coffee
12.00 there are now 2 options ( 1 ) the coach will take anyone interested to do a stadium tour of the other Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.
( 2 ) for anyone not doing the Man.Utd tour. the coach will drop everyone else in the centre of Manchester. The coach will then take people doing the Man.Utd tour back into Manchester.
3.00 we will all meet at a point in Manchester to be agreed with the driver and return to Worcester via the scenic Peak District making a stop at Buxton on the way
7.00 return to New Road
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PETER-WYNNE-THOMAS SOCIETY GUEST SPEAKER FOR FEBRUARY
Cricket writer, historian and statistician Peter Wynne-Thomas will entertain the Society at next month's meeting on February 9.
Peter, who is now aged 81, has been the librarian and archivist at Trent Bridge for Nottinghamshire CCC for many years.
The library at Trent Bridge is named The Wynne-Thomas Library in his honour. Wynne-Thomas was involved in the foundation of the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians (ACS).
He was the original treasurer until 1974 and then secretary until he retired in 2006.
Wynne-Thomas managed the Sport-in-Print bookshop (opposite the Trent Bridge Inn by Trent Bridge Cricket Ground in Nottingham) from December 1987 before the ACS purchased the premises in 1993 as its headquarters.
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HISTORY OF CRICKET SOCIETY INFO REQUIRED
The Society is drawing up plans to compile a feature on the history of the Worcestershire Cricket Society.
We would be grateful for anyone who is able to volunteer any information about the Society – particularly if they were a member in its earliest days.
Alternatively, if anyone feels they have sufficient knowledge to put together such an article, then please feel free to liase with secretary Ann Mullen.
Anyone who wants to contribute any interesting annecdotes should email Ann at annmullen1935@gmail.com
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CHANGE OF VENUE FOR NEXT MONTH
A reminder that there is a change of venue for the February meeting with Peter Wynne-Thomas as guest speaker.
It will take place in the 1865 Lounge and NOT the Graeme Hick Pavilion, beginning at the normal time of 7.30pm.
Non members, as always, are welcome to attend for an admission fee of £3.
