The Twelfth Man 2013

10 Wombwell Cricket Lovers’ Society J.M.Kilburn – Cricket Writer of the Year Award List of Recipients 1965 Ian Peebles 1966 Ian Wooldridge 1967 Michael Parkinson 1968 Jim Swanton 1969 John Arlott 1970 Alan Gibson 1971 Alan Gibson 1972 Jack Fingleton 1973 Robin Marlar 1974 Michael Melford 1975 Tony Lewis 1976 Tony Lewis 1977 Tony Lewis 1978 Wilf Wooller 1979 Peter Snape 1980 John Woodcock 1981 Brian O’Sullivan 1982 Frank Keating 1983 Richard Streeton & Iain Sproat 1984 David Frith 1985 Martin Searby 1986 Alan Hill 1987 Tony Lewis 1988 Derek Hodgson 1989 Don Mosey 1990 Brian Bearshaw 1991 Peter Roebuck 1992 Matthew Engel 1993 Bill Frindall * 1994 Christopher Martin- Jenkins & David Lemmon 1995 Vic Marks 1996 David Foot 1997 Mick Pope 1998 Mark Nicholas 1999 Paul Dyson 2000 Stephen Chalke 2001 Rev Malcolm Lorimer 2002 Robert Mills 2003 not presented 2004 Derek Hodgson & Stephen Chalke 2005 James Greenfield 2006 Peter Walker 2007 David Warner 2008 John Major 2009 Duncan Hamilton 2010 Andrew Collomosse 2011 Steve James 2012 Dr Peter Davies * Dedicated to JM Kilburn from 1993 onwards As the award broadened to include cricket authors other names have been added. These include Alan Hill, Paul Dyson, Stephen Chalke, Malcolm Lorimer and the 2012 winner, Dr Peter Davies. Two current serving WCLS officials have been flattered to receive the award in recent years: Mick Pope (1997) and James Greenfield (2005). Among Yorkshire writers and journalists mention should be made of Peter Snape (1979), Brian O’Sullivan (1981), Martin Searby (1985), Robert Mills, Andrew Collomosse and the present Editor of the YCCC Yearbook, David Warner. Alongside former first-class and Test cricketer Ian Peebles, others to have made the transition from playing to writing, and recognized by the Society, have been Jack Fingleton (WCLS remember him through the Cricket Commentator of the Year Award), Robin Marlar (1973), Wilf Wooller, Peter Roebuck, Vic Marks, Mark Nicholas, Peter Walker, and the 2011 winner, Steve James. In the 48 years that the Society has named a winner of this award only once has it not been presented: in 2003. Ten years on I cannot think why that might have been, for we are blessed with plenty of options and many excellent cricket writers, journalists and authors to select from. Looking down the full list of those to have received the award, amidst the many cricket journalists, writers, historians, former players and local newspaper scribes, I note just one former Prime Minister, The Rt.Hon.Sir John Major KG CH, in 2008, for his outstanding book, More Than a Game: The Story of Cricket’s Early Years . Hope remains that he might yet be tempted to Wombwell to formerly receive the award that remembers the artistry of JM Kilburn.