[Typed version of a written letter from JOHN DAVIES, PRESIDENT OF LIMPSFIELD CC, dated 19th July 2004]

“I played my first game for Limpsfield Cricket Club in 1946 while still at school. In those days the standard of cricket at the Club was low. We played all the local club sides with the exception of Sevenoaks Vine, we played their “A” team.

Tony Lock, later of Surrey and England, played for the club in those days, sadly he left us for Oxted as they played on Sundays. In those days we were not allowed to play cricket on Sundays, the Squire thought we ought to be at Church!
Roy Kennedy, who taught at Whitgift school was Captain. He and his brother Tony were good cricketers, as were the Martin’s, the Brazier’s and the Davies’s (my father, in his sixties, played for the 2nd X1 and indeed hit Walter Ashby from Oxted for six over the British Legion in his 70th year.

I left the district to manage a farm on the other side of Surrey in the early 50’s. I returned in 1955. Gavin Bell, a fine all round cricketer, captained the side then and standard of cricket had improved greatly. Ted Rose started his Limpsfield career as a schoolboy at Rugby at that time, he later played much first class cricket for Cambridge University and was most unlucky to not get a Blue, being 12th man twice at the Varsity match.

I became captain in 1958 and was fortunate enough to inherit a reasonable side. Bob Neve, a fine opening bowler, became Team Secretary. thanks to his efforts and enthusiasm we encouraged many good players to join the club.

We soon became a very strong side and had a much stronger fixture list and by this time the Squire had allowed us to play all day cricket on Sundays! Between August 1959 and June 1962 the Saturday X1 were unbeaten.

The Club was at its strongest during the middle Sixties. Apart from Ted Rose, Nicholas Heroys, who also played first class cricket for Cambridge University. Colin Smith (kept out of the Oxford University side by A.C. Smith of England), an excellent opening bat and wicket keeper. Jack Seward, probably the best club cricketer I played with, was over 40 years old at that time had scored over 100 centuries in club cricket and was a superb cover point fielder.

Brian Harmer (Tony Cable’s father in law) was a splendid bat and played frequently for Surrey 2nd X1. David Reynolds, a fine left arm bowler, took over 50 wickets three years running in the late Sixties. Ian Chapman, a useful opening bowler and tremendous late order hitter. Richard Musson, another Tonbridgian, opening the bowling for a few years before moving to Southgate. John Sykes in his first full season for the Club after leaving Repton, scored a century.

These players and many others helped make Limpsfield one of the strongest clubs in the County. Indeed, we got to the South East Regional Final of the Club Cricket Out Knock Out Competition. Sadly I’ve forgotten the year, Ted Rose will remember. I think I resigned as Captain in 1967. Ted Rose took over with continued success.

In 1961 Peggy Cheatle (Mother of Giles|) asked if I could arrange some Cricket for Juniors.. Charlie (Davies) was about seven at the time and a keen Cricketer, so I was pleased to give it a go. Peggy introduced many of Giles’ friends and I sent circulars out to the likely Cricketing families and the schools. The net result was that within a few years I had 60 plus Juniors. We played local Clubs various age groups.

The Hill School at Westerham Hazelwood and Street Court were our main source of Juniors and later Tonbridge School produced many outstanding juniors for the Club.

Giles Cheatle ((Sussex & England) David Fursdon (Oxford Blue) Charlie Davies (England Young Cricketers) Chris Cowdrey (Kent & England), Graham Cowdrey (Kent), Nick Kemp (Kent & Middlesex), Geoff McLeod-Smith, John Piper, Stephen Edlmann and Tim Chandler all played representative Schools Cricket at high level.

In the match - Southern Schools v The Rest (Eastbourne Festival 1973) - Geoff McLeod-Smith and Giles Cheatle played for The Rest against Chris Cowdrey, Charlie Davies and John Piper (all Southern Schools) – all of whom had been Limpsfield Juniors.

Others who progressed from Junior Cricket to represent the Club with distinction were Christopher Belton , a fine left handed opening bat, still playing for the Club, as well as Trevor Rudd, another opening bat, who captained the Club for two years.
John McKenzie only played two years as a Junior, but has played for the Club for many years and been the leading wicket taker many times. Other Juniors who now play for the Club, Andrew and James Davis are both fine Cricketers. Hugo Tudor, Jonathan and Michael Glover all went on to play for other Clubs against Limpsfield.

Jono Arscott (Cambridge Blue) played his Junior Cricket for the Club but sadly left for Wimbledon when he came down from Cambridge. Simon Pugh, a fine all-round Cricketer, played for the Juniors and now playing for the Club. There are many others no doubt that you will remember all of whom made Limpsfield successful and fun to play for.

Starting in the early 1950’s, Limpsfield had a very successful Cricket week., beginning on the Saturday before the August Bank Holiday and finishing on the Bank Holiday Monday. Ten days continuous Cricket ! We played Lloyds, Grasshoppers, Buccaneers, The Privateers, Bluemantles, Whitgift Staff, Monty Garland-Wells’ XI, The Strollers (Brasenose College before they toured the West Country), Malden Wanderers and Oxted on the last Saturday.

Many well known first class Cricketers played against the Club at that time. Peter May (Captain of England and Surrey) came down from Lloyds on two occasions. Colin Cowdrey played for Old Tonbridgians in an evening game and commented that our wicket was as good as many county wickets he had played on. Eddie Watts who played for many years for Surrey with great success, always came down with the Whitgift side.

Chris and Graham Cowdrey, much later, played many times for the Club. Monty Garland-Wells (Captain of Surrey before the War) brought down his XI for many years.

David Halfyard (Surrey and Kent) played for the Club for two seasons when recovering from a car accident. He later went on the 1st Class Umpires pool. Eddie Slingsby, who opened the batting for Yorkshire when Len Hutton was playing for England, was later Hazelwood’s Sports Master. He played for the Club on Sundays during term time and both days during the holidays. He was a fine opening bat and a crafty leg spinner.

I could go on and on – names such as Colin Walker, highly successful opening bowler. Pat Goodson, left arm bowler. Pat and Kit Wright (Ronnie Wright of the Hill School sons) . Richard Gracey, a fine all round Cricketer (I forgot to mention him in the side of the 60’s), all of whom were fine Club Cricketers and are friends to this day”

Oxted and Limpsfield Cricket Club

5. 5th XI Player of the Year