The Twelfth Man 2020

Former Yorkshire cricketer Brian Bolus sadly fell victim to Covid-19 when he died at the age of 86 in early May. Born in Whitkirk, Leeds in 1934, a right-hand- ed batsman, he made his first-class debut for Yorkshire in 1956 but moved to Nottinghamshire in 1963 after los- ing his regular opening place to Geof- frey Boycott. He went on to play seven Tests for England but ended his career at Derbyshire in 1975 where, once as captain, he famously sent one of his players, Alan Ward from the field after the latter declined to bowl. His final career average was 34.03, but includ- ed 14 seasons where he scored more than 1,000 runs. He had a brief spell as England selector under Ray Illing- worth and served on the committee at Nottinghamshire. Brian Bolus visited Wombwell Cricket Lovers’ Society once in 1965 when The Twelfth Man quoted him as saying, ‘There is a great differ- ence in the approach to cricket in teams outside Yorkshire.’ BRIAN BOLUS Ken Merchant was born in June 1938 in Magull, Lancashire and grew up mainly in New Brighton on the Mersey. He spent his whole career in the shipping industry rising from mail room to company direc- tor, moving his family to Essex in the mid- 1970’s where he remained for the rest of his life, apart from 23 years in Rotterdam. Despite being a Lancastrian he fell in love with Yorkshire CCC when the great Len Hutton visited Wallasey Grammar School for a coaching session. Not be- ing a player outside of the park with his friends and later son, his love for cricket was boundless. He travelled the world watching cricket wherever he could with the West Indies his favourite destination. Back home, he was a member of York- shire CCC, Scarborough CC, Essex CCC and the MCC but travelled the length and breadth of the country during the sum- mer to watch the hallowed game. In par- ticular he loved the Scarborough festival, not missing a year there for over 30 years. Ken was a pillar of The Cricket Society Trust having been appointed as a found- ing trustee in 1992 when The Cricket So- ciety agreed to turn the Society’s Welfare Fund into a charitable trust. For the next 27 years, until his retirement as Secre- tary last year, he was at the centre of the Trust’s administration and of their charita- ble giving, a role he loved. His work at the Trust put him in touch with the Wombwell Cricket Lovers’ Society where he throughly enjoyed his membership and, whenever possible, his attendance at meetings Both Ken and his wife of 59 years, Joan, passed away on 2 April due to Covid-19 at Southend Hospital, a fitting place as he ran the hospital radio for many years after retiring from business. Ernest Wignill, a WCLS member from Braithwell, better known as”Ernie”, who passed away in 2019, aged 87 was a true supporter and member of Yorkshire CCC since 1947. He started following cricket with one of his first matches watching Don Bradman and the Aussies at Bramall Lane. This stirred his love of autograph hunting and he had amassed over 30,000, other sports included, which his son has now inherited. He has the signature of every post-war cricketer, who represent- ed Yorkshire, apart from J D H Blackburn (1956) and J A Richardson (1936-47) - a remarkable feat. His son is hoping to seek out those elusive two from other collectors. Another tale of his zeal for autograph hunting was when he heard an ex-snooker player was working on a Welsh building site and Ernie sought him out for his signature! Ernie and his family attended every Scarborough festival and then joined a local cricket supporter group that went to every Sunday League fixture by coach. He often told me he would work Saturday nights to ensure he could go. He was a family man and this was sorely tested dur- ing the 1966 football World Cup when he worked down south. He had a ticket for the Final but chose to be with his family instead back home in Yorkshire. True devotion!! He was also an avid Sheffield Wednesday supporter. In his final years, I often took him and his wife, Joan, to the Wombwell meetings and although he found it difficult to hear the speakers, he enjoyed the cameraderie of the Society. I met him and Joan through the Wombwell at the Ardsley Working Men’s Club when he told me it had taken them three hours to get there by public transport. He only lived a short distance from myself and I had the privilege to be in his company while he told me of his life, his love of cricket and other sports and how he sought out his autographs. I shall miss his chats; he was a genuinely lovely man and feel sure all who knew him will think the same. ERNIE WIGNILL BY ALI SAAD KEN MERCHANT 46 47