Timsbury Cricket Club

The first documented evidence of the Timsbury Cricket Club was June 30th 1894 when the team defeated neighbours Clutton by 45 runs. Significantly, it was also the first year of the ‘Somerset Guardian’ and the local Parish Council.

 

cricket-team-1920s
Timsbury Cricket Club in the late 1920′s.

Back Row: Albert Lewis, Albert Bridges, George Ford, Bob Short, Wilfred Tucker,
Harry Barnes, Alec Tucker Fred Short.
Front Row: Len Pickford, Bill Fear, Jim Hucker, Bernard Adams Louis Watts.

On August 20th 1938, George Fear achieved every bowlers dream with a ten wicket haul! The figures for George on that day were 10 for 30 in 6.4 overs, including 4 wickets in one over. Timsbury lost the match against Purnell’s at Paulton, but that was unlikely to have spoilt the day for George!

cricket-team-1935

Timsbury Cricket Club in 1935 (above)

Back Row: Albert Lewis, Fred Maule, W E Latchem, Albert Bridges, Francis Sambourne, Wilfred Tucker,
Middle Row: Ernie Fricker, Len Pickford, Louis Watts, Alec Tucker, Bernard Adams.
Front Row: Ern Robins, Bryan Adams, Jim Bridges.

1979 was the year of “the match” – the visit of the all conquering Somerset side to the Recreation Ground for the first time ever. It was an opportune moment for Timsbury to organise the benefit match for Somerset’s long serving West Indian Hallam Moseley. The county side were at their peak. In Ian Botham, Viv Richards and Joel Garner, they possessed players of true world class. The match was a tremendous thrill for all those associated with the club. Generous sponsorship from the Chelsea Building Society and Gillette ensured that Hallam Moseley would enjoy a lucrative day and Somerset for their part fielded ten of the side that was later to contest the Gillette Cup Final.

Viv Richards was clean bowled by club chairman Eric Nott for just 27, but Ian Botham delighted a large enthusiastic crowd with a typically swashbuckling century that included eight sixes and ten fours. It was not the hottest July day on record, but the residents of Timsbury had seen the cream of world cricket in action on their local village green.

1983 was the ‘year of the helicopter!’ Following the success of the first Somerset benefit match, Brian Rose was only too pleased to accept an invitation to pay a return visit. As the most successful Captain in Somerset’s history, Brian had been granted a well deserved Testimonial and Tuesday 24th May was agreed upon. Preparations for the match however, were severely hampered by some of the worst early season weather on record. The Chairman, Eric Nott, made the facetious comment that perhaps we should hire a helicopter to dry out the pitch. Surely he wasn’t serious? Probably not. But, the seed had been sown and with the backing of our sponsors, Bath Toyota, it was decided to persue the scheme and what a publicity stunt it proved to be! Timsbury Cricket Club was about to enter cricket’s history books. We were the first cricket club in Britain to use a helicopter to dry out a pitch. On the following morning, such reputable papers as the Daily Telegraph carried the news to its throng of readers throughout Britain and the World.

1995 was the glory year for the club when they won the Bristol & District K.O. Cup, beating Claverham on the very last ball of the match.

Such well known national figures as Lady Isobel Barnett, Patrick Moore and Peter West have all been guests at club dinners. The England rugby manager Jack Rowell was with us not so very long ago.

 

Reproduced from ‘The Timsbury Book’ by kind permission of Timsbury Parish Council


Page published on: 14th February, 2009
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