21. The Case of Errol Holmes and the Friendly Antipodeans

Errol Reginald Thorold Holmes (21 August 1905 – 16 August 1960) was an Oxford University, Surrey, England and, most importantly, Oxted CC Cricketer grew up in the Godstone and Tandridge area in the early part of the last Century. He is buried in St Peter’s Churchyard, Tandridge.

Known as a dashing Cricketer of the Gentlemanly persuasion, Holmes became an important figure in restoring the reputation of English cricket after the Bodyline controversy of the early 1930s when he captained the "goodwill" MCC non-Test tour to Australia and New Zealand in 1935–36.

He was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1936 at which time the Almanack noted “A marked characteristic about the batting of Holmes is the ease and certainty of his strokes”.

As late as 1955, at the age of 49, he came back to captain Surrey in a first class match and … obviously….. scored 49 runs.

The first match London New Zealand CC ever played was on 11th May 1952 vs Oxted CC at Oxted - LNZCC founders Trevor Campbell & Errol Holmes were also members at Oxted.

https://www.lnzcc.org/notable-games.html

LNZ captain Roger Blunt won the toss and put Oxted in to bat, as he knew that many of the LNZ supporters would come to the Surrey club ground in the afternoon and it would be nice to have them watch the LNZ innings.

At lunch Oxted were 108 for 1. Over 100 guests attended lunch including President of Surrey CCC Lord Tedder (Marshall of the RAF and one of the strategic masterminds behind the Battle of Britain in WW2) and Field Marshall Sir William Slim (General Slim of Burma, WW2 – his ties to New Zealand date back to the Gallipoli campaign, where he was severely wounded in action with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment.) “Fine speeches were made with toasts proposed and taken with much noise and gusto.”

After lunch Oxted’s innings collapsed with 8 wickets falling for 37 runs with Blunt taking 3 in one over. The innings total was 164. In reply LNZ were progressing steadily and with 60 runs required and six wickets in hand Holmes who had earlier made a commendable 27 excused himself in order to prepare the champagne party at his home Tandridge Hall. Unfortunately, as with Oxted, five wickets fell for 20 runs and LNZ were left 19 runs short at the end. How was Blunt to explain to Holmes the club president how the club came to lose their inaugural match from such a commanding position? Holmes took it in his stride and kept the champagne and beer flowing for many hours into the night.

We are grateful here for the kind words of Peter Bellamy, 2022 Chair of London New Zealand CC, acknowledging the contribution of Errol Holmes to the founding of their team and the opening match at Oxted.

https://www.pitchero.com/admin/club/48445/site-content/videos/view?video_id=179808