The Twelfth Man 2019

Bill Bowes, Mr. Clifford Hesketh. Chairman of the Yorkshire C.C. Committee, the Rev Pickles, Mr. E.H, Umbers, M.B.E., J.P., Mr. E. Burnett, Mrs. L. Taylor, Mr. Denzil Batchelor, Dr. L. Taylor (President) and Trevor Bailey. South Yorkshire Times, November 23, 1957 Tom Hudson* reviews our speaker programme of 2018/19 * - except for Farokh Engineer, Robin Hobbs and Alan Hill, compiled from notes by Chris Barron and Andy Jones The 2018/19 season got off to a whirlwind start with the visit of Farokh Engineer, India’s ‘Brylcreem Boy’ The 2018/19 season got off to a whirlwind start with the visit of Farokh Engineer, India’s ‘Brylcreem Boy’ who as wicket-keeper batsman played in 46 Tests and five ODIs before nine years playing with Lancashire between 1968 and 1976. Cutting into James’ carefully crafted introduction he declared that he wanted us to have fun, launching into a string of anecdotes and joshing with Dickie Bird who was in the au - dience. The pair had shared the experience of play being stopped by snow in a match at Buxton in June 1975. There were many refer- ences to Fred Trueman who had taken to call- ing him ‘Rooky’, as well as several imitations of the great man. We heard about his time living as a neighbour to George Best and cruising round Manchester in his Red Rose-sponsored Ford Escort; about being introduced to Her Majesty the Queen at Lord’s, who informed him that he had been blessed with a baby girl, a telegram having ar- rived that morning and handed to her just as the players lined up; about his introduction to Lancashire at Southport after John Arlott had tried to take him to Hampshire and Don Kenyon similarly with Worcestershire. There were observations on the modern game where too many players are motivated only by money and not by the joy of playing. He made ref- erence to Adil Rashid’s decision to play only white-ball cricket last season and said that in his time loyalty counted for a lot more. And then he was away….saying that he had to attend a medical appointment later in Wigan. In all, it had been yes, a whirlwind. Wombwell Cricket Lovers’ Society Dinner at the Three Cranes, Barns- ley, on Friday Nov 23, 1957 20 21 FAROKH ENGINEER 15 October 2018