The Twelfth Man 2015

13 A SAD EASTER DUTY Farewells to Yorkshire’s Ted Lester and Bob Appleyard by Norman Hazell MBE On Tuesday, 31 March I drove down to pick up ‘Dickie’ Bird, President of both Wombwell and Yorkshire CCC, then up the M1 and along the A65 to Bolton Abbey, arriving with plenty of time to spare. Wombwell Patron Mike Cowan and his partner, Sheila, joined us in a local café, before driving up to the Priory Church, where a few years ago, the funeral of Fred Trueman took place. Of course we had arrived with more than an hour to spare, allowing me to wander around the beautiful grounds, before taking my place in the Priory, with our Chairman James Greenfield, Society Patron Sir Lawrence Byford, Robin Smith, Bob Platt, Bryan Stott, Ray Illingworth, Richard Hutton and many other cricketers as the Church filled. The Service lasted well over an hour. Sidney Fielden reading one of the lessons from the Bible which had been carried everywhere by Hedley Verity. Afterwards, while Bob’s family took his coffin to Skipton Crematorium, the congregation went along to Ilkley Golf Club for refreshments. An interesting feature of that day for me, was that many years ago at an I.M.I. staff re-union party a man rose and across a crowded room, after calling for silence said, “You know Norman how I never ‘got on’ with you at work, in fact I disliked you. Well, I’m going to make you an offer. If you die before me, I’ll come to your funeral”. Rising to my feet, I replied, “Well Donald, I have to confess that I never liked you, but I will take you up on your offer and promise to come to your funeral, but since you are younger than me it is more likely you will be driving to Sandal”. In the event, Donald had died on the same day as Bob. His funeral was fixed for 3.40 pm at Rawdon Crematorium, so fitting in well with the one at Bolton Abbey. Leaving Ilkley Golf Club, with what I thought was plenty of time to spare, I was horrified at the amount of traffic on the A65, accompanied by driving rain. I was only just able to fulfill my promise to my former colleague. It had been a long, weary day when I finally reached home, well after 7 o’clock. Yet two days later, I had another ‘far away funeral’ to attend, for I had always had the greatest affection for Ted Lester. Sometimes, if at Scarborough cricket ground, I would see him slowly making his way home at the tea interval. I’d hop down and walk part of the way along North Marine Road with him, chatting and always getting him to sign his autograph in one of my books. I couldn’t face driving again, so got my son Christopher to give me a lift to Leeds, where I met two my grandsons, treated them to breakfast in a restaurant before joining Sir Lawrence and Lady Byford on the cross-Pennine train to Scarborough. It was a short walk then to the magnificent Queen Street Methodist Hall, which was packed for the Service. Robin Smith had saved me a seat and I saw Bryan Stott, John Hampshire, Peter Chadwick, Bill Foord, Colin Johnson and Bill Holdsworth (wonder if he is our senior old player?). After the Service, while the coffin was taken to a fine Cemetery, overlooking the South Bay, we were invited to gather at Plaxton Court, near Scarborough hospital for refreshments. It was a lovely, sunny day so I declined the offer of a lift and set off walking, although passing the railway station, when I checked that I was heading in the right direction, the man told me, “Yes, but it is several miles away. You should catch a number 10 bus”. Providentially, along came that bus (lucky, for it is an half-hour service). Plaxton Court was a delight, a Senior Citizens Community, where I saw many old friends. Robin Smith, very kindly offered me a lift, dropping me off at York Station, from where I took my weary, old body home. The next day, Good Friday, I thought I hope I never again have to attend three funerals in three days. AMEN