16. Leonard Moulding : Headmaster and Cricketer

Some years ago, when I was researching the stories of local Cricketers from the 1920's and 1930's, I regularly found mention of Leonard Moulding on the Internet and in local historical publications.

Sadly, his name sems to have disappeared for some reason from all but the most exhaustive searches, but it strikes me that Leonard Moulding would be exactly the type of person who should be celebrated in local records.

Headmaster of Limpsfield Infant School, he would famously lead children across the Cricket field during Air Raids in WWII to the shelters and keep their spirits up during difficult times. He was a Sergeant in the Home Guard and a Cricket Club stalwart, instrumental in the formation of the Limpsfield Strollers Cricket team in 1923 after a particularly dismal rained off match on the Common.

Tony Lock (more of whom on other pages) was one of Wisden's Cricketers of the Year in 1954 and it is instructive that much of the article refers to Lock's mentor and Headmaster at Limpsfield school - Leonard Augustus Moulding (buried St Peter's Limpsfield)

"Tony Lock used to watch and play cricket on the pretty village green, and at 14 he captained the Limpsfield Church of England school. The headmaster, Mr. L. A. Moulding, was an enthusiastic cricketer and a splendid coach. Like most boys, young Lock craved for speed and he used to bowl as fast as he could and hit the ball with all his might. Being captain, he exercised his right to open the batting and the bowling, and once he began an innings by hitting the first three balls for six. He would have continued, but Moulding, his partner, advised a little discretion.

Leaving school, Lock became apprenticed to a cabinet maker (the family of our very own Robin Whitner, no less). He never entertained the idea of climbing the dizzy heights of a professional cricketer, but Moulding saw his potential talent and brought it to the notice of a local resident--none other than Sir Henry Leveson Gower, a man who devoted almost his whole life to the interests of Surrey cricket."

Mr Moulding is buries in St Peter's Churchyard, Limpsfield. There is a small Cricket bat leaning on his Grave. Should you be cutting through the Churchyard then please check to see that it is upright. I think Mr Moulding would approve.