The Twelfth Man 2011

16 magazine that same year and on 7 November 1992 ‘The Barnacle’ (as he was well known for his obdurate batting) attended a special dinner to receive Wombwell’s award in person. That evening Lt.Col.J.R.Stephenson offered a Toast to Cricket and Sir Lawrence Byford toasted our special guests. Trevor was always keen to support the Society and although his visit in 1992 would be the last time we saw him at Wombwell he remained a keen contributor to the Society magazine whenever approached to provide his memories of those he played with or against. Mick Pope Nico Craven – 16 April 2010, aged 84 Sadly missed from the 2010 Twelfth Man magazine, Nico Craven was a long-standing supporter of the Wombwell Society who passed away at the early stages of the 2010 season. A guest speaker in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s, this Cumbrian-based cricket lover also contributed regularly to the WCLS magazine over the years, usually via extracts from his delightful self- published books (34 in total), that recorded his annual jaunts around many of the country’s more picturesque grounds (many now sadly lost to the first-class circuit). His spiritual home was of course the Cheltenham Festival. It was the West Country cricket writer David Foot who best summed up Nico’s popularity, “It took him three hours to stroll round the boundary – he knew everyone .” Mick Pope Keith Andrew – 27 December 2010, aged 81 Northamptonshire and England (just two Test caps!) wicket-keeper Keith Andrew was for many years celebrated by the Society when they presented their annual local cricket awards to young players. As well as trophies for batting, bowling and fielding, WCLS dedicated its wicket-keeping award to this outstanding post-war gloveman. Keith visited the Wombwell Society for the first time back in 1956. There would be six further visits down the years, the last in October 1995. Keith Goodall, in his winter programme review in The Twelfth Man , recorded: “Many controversial points were posed by our speaker, and in all cases he offered candid and sincere opinions.” Mick Pope Kenneth Ablack – 15 December 2010, aged 91 Trinidadian slow left-arm bowler Kenneth Ablack, who played three matches for Northamptonshire (he took six first-class wickets), visited the Society just once (1961), but his name lived on at Wombwell long afterwards via the bowling award presented annually, and until recently, for performances with the ball in local cricket. Described as “the Caribbean voice” on the BBC radio commentary during the West Indian tours of England in 1950 and 1957, Ablack returned to his native island shortly after his visit to Wombwell and later became chairman of Trinidad and Tobago’s National Broadcasting Service. Mick Pope Theresa Hall This much loved, long-time member of the Society who, with her husband Aiden served on the Committee through the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s showing the utmost devotion to their duties. It therefore came as no surprise when they were both honoured in becoming the first couple to be elected to the position of Vice President. Committee lady Theresa presents Cricketer of the month award to Robert Croft (Glamorgan) –1992