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GRANDSTAND – FESTIVAL
OF CRICKET |
The
Festival of Cricket is one of the oldest and firmest of sporting fixtures in the
Bank’s calendar. This particular event
takes place over three days in May 1962.
It seems that there was never a shortage of willing participants in
the various sporting events staged or taken part in by Martins Bank’s staff
members, and in order to fit everything to the short timescale, players
representing every district of Martins Bank are placed in mixed-district
teams. (As if Cricket isn’t difficult enough for the non-cricketers amongst
us to understand!) This article from Martins Bank Magazine’s Autumn 1962
edition takes up the story, and luckily names the team members shown in the
photograph – a luxury not provided in earlier editions of the publication… The Festival of Cricket… This
year's Festival of Cricket was held at Catford Bridge, with London District
acting as hosts, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, May 21st, 22nd and 23rd. The weather was cold and windy but in spite of these
handicaps some good cricket was played. On
the first day the combined North-Eastern and Leeds Districts team played the
combined London and South-Western Districts team. The North-Easterners batted
first and were dismissed for 121, of which D. Smurthwaite scored 51 and D. M.
Douglas 30. London seemed to have an excellent chance to win, but failed to
do so by one run,: being all out for 120, of which R. M. Owen made
30. T. Jones took 4 of the Newcastle wickets for 55 and A. Crowder took 5 for
44. Liverpool Midland Northern and Craven Districts Combined Team Standing (left to
right) A L Taylor (Umpire) P N Walker R I Kerr B S Beam; A G Wilson L S Beany N B
Whittingham G Wiseman P J H Constable Seated: B E Johnson J H Murray T B
Daniels (Captain) I Harnden B E Constable R. Wilkie took 5 of the London wickets
for 37. On the other pitch the
combined Liverpool, Midland, Northern and Craven Districts team played the
team from the Manchester District. Liverpool scored 210 for 4 before
declaring, of which J. H. Murray made 76, T. Harnden 40 and B. Whittingham
46. Manchester scored 121 for 7 to force a draw, L. Warburton scoring 52 not
out and J. F. Cowburn 37. Bowling against Manchester, T. B. Daniels took 4
wickets for 19 runs and B. E. Johnson 3 for 19. On the second day the combined North-Eastern team played
the combined Liverpool team. The North-Easterners batted first and scored
131, D. Douglas making 68 not out. Liverpool went on to win at 133 for 6, J.
H. Murray making 34 and B. Whittingham 38. Bowling for Liverpool, T. B.
Daniels took 3 wickets for 46 and L. Beatty 4 for 23. Manchester District Team Standing (left to
right) R W Payne M Bent J Hough A R Roberts I Wilkinson A Ashworth D B M Earles A L
Taylor (Umpire) Seated: J F Cowburn M Skidmore D M Pollard
(Captain) L Warburton P H Taylor On the other ground London and
Manchester were the contestants. London batted first and scored 177, of which
B. J. Gautrey made 47, D. R. Ebenezer 47 and C. Dash 46. Manchester scored a
win with a score of 178 for 3, T. Thornton carrying his bat for 95 and D.
Pollard doing the same for 32. The Manchester bowlers A. Roberts and I.
Wilkinson each took 3 wickets for 30 and 33 respectively. On the last day the North-Eastern team played Manchester
on one ground and Liverpool played London on the other. The North-Easterners batted first and were all out for
147, D. Douglas scoring 74. Manchester were the winners at 208 for 4, J.
Hough contributing 86 and T. Thornton 42 not out. The Manchester bowlers I.
Wilkinson, J. F. Cowburn and A. R. Roberts each took three wickets for 65, 23
and 28 respectively. North Eastern and Leeds Districts Combined Team Standing (left to
right) P V Richard W E Wilkinson W E Dove G I Reavley D Smurthwaite J B Amos P Gray A
C Tarsey A Foster (Umpire) Seated: R Thompson G B Sugden D M Douglas
(Captain) C Heap R H Wilkie The North-Eastern bowler J. B. Amos took 2 wickets for 42 runs. In the other match London batted first and declared at 184
for 9. J. R. Knowles made 46 and N. Turner 42. Liverpool were the winners at
185 for 4, of which J. H. Murray scored 72 and B. Whittingham 71 not out. The
Liverpool bowler L. Beatty took 5 wickets for 51 runs. Thus the Liverpool combined team, holders of the
McKendrick Trophy, tied with Manchester District. Mr. D. C. Bardsley (London District General Manager)
presided at lunch on the first day and welcomed the visitors. Mr. F. C.
Hardman (London Assistant District Manager) did the honours on the second day
and on the third day Mr. C. Whiteley (Joint General Manager) was to have
presided but a slight indisposition prevented him from attending and in the
evening Mr. L. J. Walton (Assistant General Manager) attended to present the
trophy in his place. A telegram was received
from Mr. James McKendrick, former Chief General Manager and the donor of the
trophy, conveying good wishes for a happy and successful Festival. Mr.
McKendrick is now residing in the Wirral. Combined London and South Western Districts Team Standing (left to
right) R M Owen J D Stewart B J Gautrey J R Knowles P Rowswell C Dash W Broadbent A
Foster (Umpire) Seated: A F Crowder D R Ebenezer A W Sheldrick
(Captain) R L Charlesworth and T E Jones Analysis
of Games Played Postscript: N. Barrie Whittingham, who represented the Craven
District in the combined Liverpool team, has since resigned from the Bank to
take up a post on the staff of Nottingham County Cricket Club. Mr. L. J. Walton (Assistant General Manager) presents the 'James
McKendrick' Cup to Mr. T. E. Daniels, the
Liverpool captain whose combined team tied with the Manchester District team M x |