Interesting Anecdotes

Memories of Farnham Royal Cricket Club 1927 - 1951
(from the memoires of Bernard Hamilton')

Claude Lawford (Bernard's brother-in-law) remembered playing with Farnham Royal and had some amusing stories to tell, having played farily regularly until the early 1950's. He recalls playing under his first captain, Major Coad, who occupied 'Lawlands', the large house adjacent to the War Memorial overlooking the cricket ground. He was a very good wicket-keeper, and a strict disciplinarian on the field. Claude recounts that , on one occasion, the opening bat for Farnham Royal, hooked a very fast short rising ball, which sailed over the square leg boundary, breaking a windor in the Major's house. When 'Pudding Dean' was eventually dismissed, the captain called him aside and asked him to replace the glass.

At the time, the outfield was cut by horse-drawn gang mowers. About 1930, he acquired a Bull Nosed Morris Cowley and after some experiments, found that the mowers could be pulled by the car. From then on the field was cut every Saturday morning, completing the job before time.

Sunday cricket was not always allowed on the ground, as was common to most pre-war clubs. Joe Shave had discussions with the Rector, The Rev. Charles Warner, and it was eventually agreed that matches could be played on Sundays provided they finished at 6.30pm. The first every Sunday game played at Farnham Royal took place on 21st May 1951 against the Fiddlers Cricket Club.

A Typical Drinking Licence                       

The Fiddlers Patent Pint Pot               (Click on photo to print)          

Sporting Versatility "First Club to play on the Moon"(from an article in the local press, Winter 1959)

The sporting nomads of the Fiddlers Cricket club went down on Sunday morning to Slough Hocket Club by 6 goals to 4 in a game of soccer! But this curious mixture of versatile sports talents is not by any means the strangest of Fiddler's activities. They are unique by the virtue of several novel club rules. They have no home ground of their own and consequently play every match away. Each member has a drinking licence and failure to produce this has the members facing two alternatives. He can either pay a 2s 6d. 'fine' to the club funds or stand drinks all round.

On Sunday, club captain Bernard Hamilton told me: We have another aim now. "We have to look to the future of course and we want to be the first club to play cricket on the moon!" And knowing the Fiddlers I have no doubt but they would go all out for such a distinction.

Midland Bank Letters

Jones the Spaghetti Telegram

Rent an Umpire

The Fiddlers Song (Written by Peter Hamilton, and sung to the tune of 'Wild Rover')

Verse

I've been a Wild Fiddler for many a year
And I spent all my money on cricket and beer.
But now I'm determined, with bat and with ball
To win the Fiddlers medal for once and for all

Chorus

And it's No Nay Never, No Nay Never No More,
And I'll be the Wild Fiddler 'till there's cricket no more.

Verse

I walked up to the skipper and asked his advice
As to whether to change the beer kitty price.
I said all that we charge is one 50p bit
To which he replied "Christ we're all in the s**t"

Chorus

I went into the club house they used to frequent
And I told the landlady the kitty was spent
I asked her for credit, she answered me "Nay,
But the Fiddlers green jug I will fill any day"

Chorus

I went up to the President, confessed what I'd done
And asked him to pardon his prodigal son
He said "You've fiddled on commons, you've fiddled on greens
But never have a fiddle after eating baked beans"

Chorus

I took from my pocket two balls red and bright
And the skipper's wife's eyes opened wide with delight
"I've seen you no ball, and I've seen you bowl wides,
But those balls you've got have got seams round their sides"

Chorus

To be a true cricketer as many do know
Is to try to play cricket and put on a show
We lost before lunch, we lost before tea
But the Fiddlers CC is the right one for me

Chorus