The Twelfth Man 2013

16 Anderson’s Darfield were formidable contenders. One semi-final we thought we had beaten the Legal Eagles… and this was announced... only for a marking error to be discovered after most people had gone home. “We have been given out caught without getting an edge,” Keith exclaimed. The announcement at the next meeting made history: Tony ruled that the Legal Eagles must be called back from the pavilion, and for the first and only time the Final would be three-way. And the Leeds Odd Bods won! Friends teased Keith with the observation that he bore more than a passing resemblance to Arthur Lowe in Dad’s Army . “Stupid boy”, would be the classic retort. Yet Keith was a taller, more strongly built, man, who would have looked far better in the famous episode where Mainwaring has to take guard to Freddie Trueman. The resemblance was ironic, given Keith’s disdain for the officer class. He told a lovely story of how – like all young men a few years older than me – he was called up for his National Service. There must have been something of the barrack-room lawyer in him, and it was not long before he got up the noses of higher authority. He was duly sent for by the camp commandant, and Keith told with an excellent impersonation of the Montgomery lisp what happened next: “You have been a fwightful bore. We are thinking of stopping your next leave. Can you think of any good reason why we shouldn’t?” “Why, yes,” replied the barely contrite Keith. “I am getting married next Saturday.” Needing to change tack, the officer looked for the grand way out while still needing to make his mark: “Well, we don’t want to mess up that, do we? By the way, we have been looking at the new recruits to see who might make the next officer material. Frankly, we do not think you are that sort of chap.”Keith could not have cared less. Yet the story had not quite ended. A little later the recruits’ CVs must have caught them up, and the officer eventually reached Keith’s file. He was summoned again. “Ah, Round,” the officer began, as though the previous discourse had never existed, “I see from your file that you are a solicitor. Now, we are looking at the new recruits to see who might make the next officer material. Fwankly, we think that you might be that sort of chap.” Keith still could not have cared less. Keith took no prisoners when it came to those he believed were to blame for their own troubles. “You should work harder,” I once heard him bluntly tell a man who was consulting him. Yet he understood those whose activities had become unacceptable for reasons of poverty beyond their control. We remember you, Keith, for your style, your learning, your sense of compassion and your enduring good humour. You were Chairman in 25 great years. James M.Greenfield Register of other past WCLS visitors and guests that we mourn the loss of in 2012/13 • Tony Greig (Sussex and England) – visited the Society in 1976. Tony died on 29 December 2012, aged 66. • Christopher Martin-Jenkins (cricket writer/broadcaster) – visited WCLS on four occasions: 1970, 1976, 1980 and 1995. Christopher died on 1 January 2013, aged 67. (from left to right) Peter Rothwell, Keith Round and Albert Gaskell show Wombwell guest, Bert Rhodes, where to sign in the WCLS visitor’s book.