15. Reverend Marten’s Catch

The following appears as Appendix V in WF Mumford's Pages From The Past (Pub. 1949): “A Memorable Catch” and quotes the local Vicar’s recollections of HDG Leveson-Gower’s then annual “Giants” matches at Limpsfield Common in 1906 and then 1907.

Archdeacon GH Marten was, in 1906-07, curate at St Peters, Limpsfield and secretary of Limpsfield Cricket club:-

".....I well remember both the matches. In 1906 my chief exploit was to miss J. T. Douglas (on the square leg boundary”

[Johnny Douglas was an England Test Captain and Olympic Boxer. In 1924 he produced perhaps the most remarkable all-round performance in English first-class cricket history. After taking nine for 47, Douglas stopped a batting collapse with an unbeaten 210 that tired him so much he did not bowl until the end of Derbyshire's second innings. He then took two for none]

“I remember, too, the Hobbs episode which was rather curious. He had batted beautifully for his 88 when he tried to drive a fast ball from Loveland and got underneath it. It spun high up in the air towards deep third man, where I was fielding. As I got underneath it, the captain, Mr Lifton Wynne, of Hazelwood School, called out, 'Martin !'

Simultaneously with my getting the ball in my hands I was bowled over by the violent impact of Stanley Martin, fielding at backward cover, who thought he had been named. Fortunately, I hung on to the ball, but the incident caused much amusement. Those were good days with village cricket at its best, and we looked forward to this finishing game of the season."

[Jack Hobbs played for Surrey from 1905 to 1934 and for England in 61 Test matches between 1908 and 1930. Known as "The Master", Hobbs is universally regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket.]

The bowler “Loveland” referred to was a member of a Limpsfield family who played for the Village through a number of generations. Loveland’s Cottage in the High Street exists to this day, as do other properties that carry family names of former players.