The Twelfth Man 2013

30 Neil then continued by discussing England’s present tour and prospects, saying what a great treat it was to see two England spinners working so well together as it had seemed so long since we had achieved that. Neil also added that it would have been interesting to see how Pietersen and Botham had got on in the same dressing room! Neil talked about emigrating to Australia with his family as a young boy, where he began to play cricket regularly, and where he remembered bowling at a student-teacher called Rod Marsh. He returned to England in 1969 where he continued his cricket, getting into the Yorkshire boys side and eventually playing for Young England. Whilst in that side he played against a Young West Indies team including a very fast Wayne Daniel. Neil faced him with a bat he had won for a Man of the Match one-day game, and after hitting Wayne for a lucky single he realised he was only holding the bat handle! Neil went on to give us a very interesting overview of his Yorkshire CCC career, up to being captain in 1981 and, with many amusing anecdotes from his captaincy days, we were well entertained. This was followed by a very lively Q and A session with lots of stories developing from his role as the present day organiser of the former Yorkshire Cricketers Association, which ensured plenty of golf social events and even more good stories! 2 December (Christmas Sunday lunch) – Dennis Amiss MBE Our speaker at the Christmas Lunch was former Warwickshire and England opener Dennis Amiss, but we made him work for his lunch as he presented two Society awards. First he presented retiring committee member, Jean Auty, with a bouquet of flowers in recognition of her 14 years service on the Committee. Chairman, James Greenfield, said: “I shall never forget the iron resolve that Jean showed in the New Year of 2007 for all she said and did, Jean and we hope to see you at our events often.” Secondly, Dennis presented the E.H.Umbers Award for Services to Yorkshire Cricket, the Society’s highest honour, to Howard Clayton. Howard has just stood down after 26 years as the Secretary to Pathways to Excellence. He was Secretary of the Airedale-Wharfedale League, 12 years as Secretary of the Joe Lumb competition and for eight years he was the Assistant Secretary to the Yorkshire Cricket Board. He has been the England U19s scorer for 22 years, travelling on nine overseas tours at his own expense. The 2012 season saw Howard as Yorkshire’s Second Eleven scorer and in his spare time he is the Secretary of the Yorkshire Cricket Archives Committee. Dennis spoke of his debut in first-class cricket against Surrey at The Oval in 1960; he didn’t bat as Warwickshire made 377 for none declared. Surrey then batted for more than two days reaching 396 for six. He bowled 19 overs and took the wicket of Eric Bedser. He also remembered who the bowler and wicket-keeper were when he made his 100th hundred, after John Abrahams had told us to ask Dennis on his recent visit. The answers are John Abrahams and Graeme Fowler. Neil Hartley picks up his Wombwell glass from Norman Firth Retiring committee member, Jean Auty, with Dennis Amiss at the Society’s 2012 Christmas lunch