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Hillingdon Cricket Club: A History
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The Early Years (1834-1939)
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This brief history of the club is based on the notes of the late Harold Hughes (Club Secretary for many years) who did research into the history of the club in the 1960's. This was used as the basis for a Club History written in 1984 to celebrate the clubs 150th Anniversary by the then President John Price. These notes are based on that booklet and on further research done in Uxbridge Library.
It is not exactly certain when Hillingdon Cricket Club was formed but from the old records it is evident that there were various claims from 1823 to 1836. The Minutes of the AGM on 3rd May 1907 were recorded as the "70th" Annual meeting, which would put 1836 as the first year. It was clear, however, that informal meetings were held and games played before that time and it was generally agreed that 1834 was a good date for the founding of the Club and the Club has been in active existence since then apart from the periods of the two world wars. This puts Hillingdon amongst the oldest of clubs in the area although Uxbridge (1789) and Hayes (1797) predate them. It is put into perspective when it is realised that Middlesex Cricket Club was not established until 1863 and the Oval was first used in 1845. Test Matches were not held in this country until 1880 and the County Championship was first held in 1873.
Whilst Coney Green is often taken to refer to rabbits, in one old history of Hillingdon "Coney" is given as a meeting place of Kings and there seems to be strong evidence to show that the Anglo Saxon village of Hillingdon was on the site of Coney Green. The earthen work embankment still in existence on part of the edge of the green is said to be the old village wall and is designated as a site of historic interest. When the new pavilion was built it had to be sited so that the embankment was not affected.
It was always thought that Parishioners had rights and privileges on the green although there appears to be evidence that the ownership went with Bishopshalt. In fact in the mid 1920's Sir Alfred Button, a local industrialist, gave the green to the parish council with a proviso that it was to be kept as a public recreation ground. The deed did provide that there were to be no buildings erected other than a cricket pavilion. The club had played at Coney Green since its earliest days and records show that a Groundsman was employed as early as the 1890's. In 1894, a Mr Martin was paid 3s 0d a week (15p) and an extra 1s 0d (5p) for match days. His successor, Mr Teddy Cowdrey also umpired for the same rate in 1895.
There is no record if the Club had a badge of colour at the start but between 1899 to 1914, the Club Cap and Coat were of Chocolate Brown but when reformed in 1920 the Cap was Black with a Red Monogram HCC and these colours remain until today. In 1959 Harold Hughes and David Price produced a design for the Club Badge which has remained consistent since then. The badge is quartered and shows a Church tower (a feature of the ground,) a rabbit or "coney" (Coney Green being the name of the ground,) an open score book (giving the year of our foundation 1834) and the monogram HCC.
The old records contain many references to financial matters including numerous donations from Lord Hillingdon in the early days. There appears to have been some re-organisation in 1894 and the Officers and Committee included The Hon. Sidney Herbert MP, W F Thomas of Bishopshalt, S.Tyrrell, the Rev'd H J Burrell, W W Heard (Schoolmaster), M Newman (Baker), E Millard (Shoemaker), W Buttrum (Builder and sometime Clerk to the Parish and overseers of the Poor), W Borton (Plumber), F Bunce (Farmer), J F Stilwell (JP and owner of Moorcroft House a private mental asylum), S Weedon (Butcher), M Newman. J Selby, A Scott, and G Youens. Apart from Lord Hillingdon other early supporters were The Hon Mrs Gray (The Grove), Mr Worsley (Evelyns), C F De Salis (later Sir Cecil De Salis) (Dawley Court.) The Hon S Herbert MP was President until 1894 although it is not known when he was first elected. Mr W F Thomas 1895-1899, Lord Hillingdon 1900-1914, Sir Gilfred Craig 1918-1953, Mr Arthur Thornley 1954-1966 followed in turn by Mr Tom Morgan. Mr Alf Buttrum, Mr Terry McMahon, Mr Jack Lane, Mr John Price, Mr. John Buckingham and currently Mr. Phil Williams and the majority of them were playing members in their time and also served as committee members, chairmen, club captains etc. As well as close ties with the local dignitaries and village tradesmen there was, until 1957 close ties between the St. John's Church and the Club. The Rev'd J H Thomas, The Rev'd H J E Burrell (Secretary and Captain), The Rev'd C M Harvey and the Rev'd Bashford are all shown as active members, both as players and committee members.
The Club's balance sheets Notices of Meetings and reports of matches were at one time reported in the Parish magazine. Prior to 1914, the Club played only on Saturdays, Bank Holidays and occasional Wednesdays, matches averaging about 20 a season. Although it is thought there was some Sunday cricket between the wars it was not until the Lease of 1947 that it was actually permitted and then it was provided that play "should not commence until after morning service had ended and must finish before evening service commenced" However, all-day games were played starting at 11.30 am and play did continue until 7.30 p.m. Finally in the mid 1970's the Church wardens were approached and agreed to remove the covenant that restricted Sunday playing hours.
In 1896 it was recorded that the Club's financial affairs were causing concern and were very serious. Two donations of one guinea reduced the deficit to £3-14s-6d and it was decided "to run for another season on more economical lines". Fixtures with Ealing, Norwood Green and Stoke were cancelled on accounts of travelling expenses. Reference is made to cost of transport (by horse drawn vehicle) as 15 shillings to all matches except Acton, for which the cost was £1. These steps proved to work as there was a surplus of 17s 6d in 1897. In 1920 there is record of a payment of £6.Os Od for travelling by Bakers Motor, probably the first time a motor vehicle had been used. In 1899, the minutes record a decision to pay railway fares for the Hedges to enable them to play for the Club. H Hedges played 5 innings scoring a total of 42 runs, highest score 22. E Hedges played 10 innings, scoring a total of 69, highest score 40 not out. They did not appear in the bowling averages and the captain, F Bunce, totalled 429 runs, highest score 165 not out and he was second in the bowling averages. The expenditure for the Hedges was one guinea and the arrangement was not continued. Subscriptions for playing members were fixed in 1893. as 5s 0d (2s 6d for under 18 years). This was increased in 1918 to 7s 6d (5s 0d for juniors). In 1920, total subscriptions amounted to £8.10s 0d. In 1922 a Mr Mackenzie was congratulated in the minutes "for taking all 10 wickets for 18 runs at Ickenham on 2nd July." Since then Steve Lynch (three times,) Ted Newbury (mid.1930's) and Gary Smith (1992) have taken all ten wickets in an innings.
In 1894 Whiteleys CC were lent the ground for a fixture and this led to problems the following year as they decided to play their matches on the green (on the other side of the path.) As the green was a public place there was no way of stopping them. There were a number of meetings between the two clubs but nothing was decided so Hillingdon then moved to the Cedars on the other side of the Uxbridge Road to Coney Green. In 1898, the committee members met Lord Hillingdon, who agreed to take a lease of the field from Mr Radford and to pay £16 per annum for 7 years and to have it levelled and a pitch 40 x 30 yards properly laid out and then to hand it over to the Club for cricket. There were a number of initial difficulties and a number of fields were inspected with Lord Hillingdon and his bailiff and at one time he seemed to be withdrawing his offer but matters were finally resolved but Mr Radford required a fence or hedge on his garden side and he required that balls going over into his garden be fetched after the match. Mr Weedon agreed to do the work for £30 but this was increased to £40 to allow the ground to be better finished off. Lord Hillingdon paid the money in April 1899 and the first game was fixed for the new ground on Whit Monday 22 May 1899.
Alf Maines was chosen as groundsman from a number of applicants and his wages were fixed at 16s 0d per week hours 9 till dusk. The appointment was short lived for in June the Hon. Secretary was instructed to caution him and warn him that unless his work improved he would not be kept on. Maines asked for a wage increase to £1 per week. The committee considered he was well paid especially as he was "entitled to the grass". He was sacked in July and two part timers were taken on for the remainder of the season. A Mr Marshall paid for the grazing rights and paid £3 10s 0d, this did not seem very satisfactory as someone else was asked to cut the grass. He asked for a payment of £1 but was told he could have the grass but no payment. Mr F Bunce was then let the grazing but had to keep the field clean and employ a boy to keep the cattle off the pitch, although it seems that subsequently a chain was erected to keep the cattle off.
Lord Hillingdon agreed in 1905 to continue taking the Lease for the Cedars ground for the benefit of the Club but on a yearly basis and there were a number of groundsmen employed and works done to the ground up until the first war. The tenancy was finally terminated 29th September 1915 after the club had disbanded for the First World War and it was recorded that Lord Hillingdon had paid all the rent since 1898 and he was given a letter of thanks. After the end of the war the Club again played on the Cedars Ground but there were numerous problems about the fences, grazing and difficult landlords and in 1926/27 negotiations were commenced with Uxbridge RDC and Hillingdon CC returned to Coney Green in 1927. The council refused permission for the erection of a pavilion and a marquee was purchased from Gerrards Cross CC for £12-10 0d and erected on each match day. The Club's tools and equipment were stored in an outhouse of the vicarage. At this time the club ran two sides on Saturdays
In March 1935 the first formal written agreement from the then Uxbridge RDC was entered which lasted until 1963. This allowed the building of a wooden hut to be used as a pavilion on the Royal lane side of the ground. The old wooden hut was enlarged and altered many times but had no toilets, water, gas or electricity. The records are scarce for the pre Second World War years but there have been many outstanding performances over the years.
As mentioned earlier Coney Green is subject to certain rights. Until the late 1940's the local farmer. F Bunce kept his cows on the Green and they were only taken away on match days being returned once the games were over. The Bunce's were stalwarts of the Club and Fred was club captain for some years as was his father before him. An ancient charter ensures an annual fair comes each year, on or around 16th May. For many years the fair was erected in the road and on the grass verge between the church and the Red Lion but for some years has been erected on part of Coney Green. One stall each year has to be erected outside in the road to preserve the status of a statutory fair. It is said there is an old curse on the fair and it invariably rains when the fair is on the Green. It has always been the practice to rope or fence off the cricket table after matches much to the annoyance of some old parishioners. Until the 1970's there was a local lady who made a point of cutting the rope or taking down the fence each week to preserve her "rights." Now it tends to be the local youth! Even though the footpath was diverted some years ago, some residents still insist on walking right across the playing area during matches but most people now respect the square and the playing area and interruptions are now much fewer.
The accompanying picture shows HCC in 1896, the earliest known picture of the club.
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The Post War Years (1946-1975)
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Although the Club managed to run one team during the early years of the Second World War. Matches eventually ceased until hostilities were ended. In August 1946 the Club was reformed and old members were contacted through circulars and the local press. Fixtures commenced the next year and in 1948 the Club decided to run two teams on Saturday and one on Sunday. In 1947 the Licence was brought up to date and for the first time the Council took over responsibility for maintaining the ground including the cricket table which up to then had been the responsibility of the Club. In 1954 approval was obtained and a small bar was added to the pavilion and this was the start of many improvements leading up to the new pavilion.
The rules of the Club do not appear to have been revised very often and in 1948, Reg Wintle (the then secretary) took on the job of revising the rules that had not been changed since 1927. Since then changes in the Licensing Laws and other factors have entailed many variations every few years. Even in the early days coaching of younger players seems to have been of primary importance and the Club has tried on many occasions to employ coaches and the most well known to help were Sid Brown of Middlesex Cricket Club and Sam Pothecary of Hampshire Cricket Club. In recent years, the vogue has to been to include overseas players to strengthen the club and to coach both senior and colts members. The club employed its first overseas player in 1998 who came from New Zealand.
Practice nets were obtained in the 1950's and a concrete strip laid, sightscreens built by Bill Boasley to replace the old canvas screens and improvements made to the pitches. These improvements did not stop with the new pavilion. It was necessary to turn the cricket table from an east-west to a north-south direction and the footpath across the green was diverted after a public enquiry and at a cost to the club of £100, trees were planted, the football pitch repositioned and money spent in both the table and outfield and a score box added. The Council had erected a park-keepers house in 1962, and was lived in until 1998 by John Payne. Around the early 1960's, there was a great improvement in the playing conditions on the Green and this was reflected in the standard of players and the teams which came to play against the Club. Negotiations for the proposed pavilion started in 1957, the plans were originally drawn up by, the then club secretary Laurie Taylor and were a small building with just dressing rooms kitchen and small tearoom. When the Club agreed to contribute towards the cost further plans were prepared and these were finalised by the Uxbridge UDC's Architect with Mr Vic Kite of the Club and included a bar with cellar, showers and ladies toilet. The Pavilion was opened in 1963 and has been extensively altered since that time.
About this time the Club Captain was John Walpole an all-rounder of great strength. The first team contained a nucleus of competent mature players plus one or two young players who could play straight and field well. The 2nd XI was captained by Alf Buttrum and was a very youthful team. In 1952 the Club boasted forty playing members and consideration was given to running a 3rd XI but due to difficulties in finding a further ground the idea was not pursued. Jack Lane followed Walpole as Captain and some of the Club stalwarts at that time included: Ken Herbert, Peter Hill, Les Boncey, Ron Phelps, Dennis Houghton, Harvey Bristow, Laurie Taylor. Reg Wintle, Nic Stacey. John Pady, Tony George, Terry McMahon, Cyril Marsh, Tim Gray, Reg Goss, Joe Kelly, Paddy Coxhead, and three youngsters bearing the names of Eric Vanderpump, Terry Western and John Price. The last named became Club Captain at the age of twenty-one and several of the younger players emerged as first team, players. Players like "Bill" Catchpole and Bill Boasley brought maturity to the side and both were to become Club Captains in future years while Billy Hill, Dave Tyrell, Peter Samuels, John Barker, Fred Rosser, Dennis Houghton, George Barton, Vic Kite, Tom Marsh, Derek Barker, Joe Friend and others were to make their mark both on and off the field. In the latter part of the 1950's two West Indian brothers made their impact at the Club. Benjamin Skeete proved to be a magnificent fast bowler, while his brother Macdonald turned in many brilliant all-round performances.
When one reads the old minutes and score books it is clear that there are other strong family connections within the Club. The Buttrums, Tyrells, Bunces. Ayres. Emery's, Limbrey's, Emerson's, Tompkins', Price's, Dunton's, Lance's, Lane's, Hitchcock's, Farnon's, Seymour's, Barton's and Carter's are all families where father and sons and brothers and in some cases grandfather, father and son, have all played for Hillingdon and in many cases they also served on the committee in various positions.
In 1960 Mac Skeete did the double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets by mid August which was some two weeks before the first County Player achieved the double that year. Steve Lynch beat his record in 1975 when he did the double by the 8th August. Steve Lynch actually completed the double on no less than eleven occasions. The Price family also deserve a special mention as there have been six brothers; John. Barry, Gordon, David, Leslie and Colin who have all played for the club. Another large family connection is the Lances, brothers John and Alan and their sons Andrew, Robert, David, Michael and Jonathon all playing members between 1953 to date. The Dunton's too made their mark through Robin and Barry and also their late father Jim who contributed so much as a non-playing member. Alf Buttrum helped reform the Club after the last war. He was 2nd XI captain, Umpire, Chairman and President over the years and was one of the driving forces behind the new pavilion, diversions of the footpath and many club improvements. Over the years there has been a strong connection between the Club and the local RAF stations. Many good players joined the Club even though in most cases they were only around for a year or two.
The early sixties saw the emergence of a batch of young players who were to play a considerable part in the performance of the Club both on and off the field - Mick Howcroft (the most consistent of opening bats) Alan Bewers (a fine all-rounder,) David Price (a brilliant wicket-keeper,) Neil Eames (bowler,) Bob Delany (opening bowl,) Mick Hill, Tony Jenkins, Robin Dunton and Barry Dunton, Terry Turner, John and Alan Lance and others. In the late 1960's Steve Lynch, a youthful but raw left-hand bowler arrived on the scene. At that time no one could forecast the considerable part he was to play in the Club's achievements over the next fifteen years or so. He developed into the Club's most successful all-rounder in recent times and he has made several centuries and collected all ten wickets on no less than three occasions. In the years that he was Club Captain he led the Club, through example and enthusiasm, to many notable victories. In 1983 he left to join Beaconsfield to enhance his chances of playing Minor Counties Cricket which he duly did for Buckinghamshire.
In recent years, Coney Green has played host to representative Cricket; in 1974 Hillingdon were hosts to a game between the Association of Middlesex Cricket Clubs and the Israel National Team. This game was quite memorable as it was at a time of high security risk and there were nearly as many police in attendance and on patrol in the area as there were players on the field. Since that time the club have also hosted fixtures against the Italian National XI. In 1968, the Club was given a game against the Club Cricket Conference Presidents XI and although they lost they were not disgraced, Alan Bewers being one of the first club players to score a hundred against the Conference. He subsequently played for the Conference and other Hillingdon players to play for the Conference in games were David Price, Mick Howcroft, Steve Lynch, Roy Lincoln, Andrew Lance, Mark Randall, Barry Seymour, Andrew Lance and Bernie Maher (formerly of Derbyshire CC.) John Lance, the Club Secretary for many years between the late 1950's and the 1970's was elected to the Conference Council in 1967 and was appointed Hon Assistant Secretary to the Conference in 1975. He was appointed an Active Vice President of the Conference in 1980 and was President of the CCC in 1989.
The accompanying picture shows the 1st XI in 1963 on the occasion of the opening of the new pavilion.
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League Cricket (1976-1999)
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Whilst it is thought that League cricket is a modern invention, the records show that Hillingdon joined the West Middlesex League in 1897 and shared the Championship with Harefield after a game on the Uxbridge Ground to decide the Championship had ended a draw. Teams in the League included Harefield, Ruislip and West Drayton. The records show that Hillingdon won the League on a number of occasions but withdrew from the League in the early 1900's and subsequently declined an offer to join another league in 1911.
Around the early 1970's saw the start of various mid week competitions that Club entered. Whilst they did not have a great deal of success in the bigger competitions they were soon reckoned to one of the best exponents of the 20 over games. The Uxbridge Competition attracted all local clubs and Hillingdon reached the semi-finals and the final on a number of occasions and in 1972 they won the competition for the first time and winning the Uxbridge Competition gave them a place in the Middlesex 'Red Cross' Competition. In the semi-finals Hillingdon beat the Jackdaws but lost to Ealing in the final. In 1975 Hillingdon again won the Uxbridge and again reached the semi-finals of the Middlesex Competition but lost to South Hampstead. In 1981 Hillingdon again won the Uxbridge Competition. About the same time Farnham Royal CC started a 15-8 ball over competition which Hillingdon took part in and the Club have also won that competition on numerous occasions. There is now a 2nd XI competition organised by Harefield CC and a 3rd XI cup run also by Farnham Royal. The club also enters the national knockout cup and the Middlesex federation cup, organised for clubs with colts sections.
League cricket came to Club Cricket at the end of the 1960's and Hillingdon joined the League organised by the Association of Middlesex Cricket Clubs Senior Division in 1976. That year they won the League and also the League Senior Cup beating Wycombe House in the final. Hillingdon remained in the AMCC League for only a few years and were winners or runners up in most years. In 1980 Hillingdon were invited to join the 1975 League and again in their first year they won the League. The 2nd and 3rd XI's too, were successful and finished as winners or runners up on numerous occasions.
In 1993, the club as a part of the 1975 League was invited to join the Thames Valley League and make up a second division, with a third division added with clubs from other leagues. By this time the club was in decline; from the heady days of the late 1980's when 4 or even 5 sides where fielded regularly the playing membership had dwindled and the 3rd XI was scrapped by the mid 90's. In 1996, the 2nd XI were relegated to Division Three followed by the 1st XI a year later. The 1st XI were quickly promoted the season after and the 2nd XI in 1998.In 2000, the league was restructured following ECB directives and 11 clubs left to form the Home Counties Premier league as a result the 1st XI were promoted to a 10 team first division along with a number of old rivals such as Farnham Royal and Lensbury. The second team will be playing in the 4th Division.
TOURS AND CRICKET WEEKS
The first Club Tour took place in 1954 and was arranged by Peter Hill. A full week of 6 fixtures on the Isle of Wight was arranged and the touring party consisted of 11 players, Alf Buttrum (umpire) and two wives. The coach broke down on the way home and the team arrived back at Hillingdon five hours before they were due to start an all day game on the Sunday. The Tour, however, was a great success and in the following years the tour to the Isle of Wight was repeated and the touring party grew in numbers, many family members accompanying the players. After a few years interest declined and the 1958 tour was cancelled. In the early 1960's a tour to Dorset was arranged but was not a success. In the 1970's following a phone call from Henfield CC, a tour of Sussex was arranged and this tour was still a part of the Club's annual fixture list until the early 1990's, when the club arranged tours, in firstly Somerset and then Devon. In the late 1960's whilst there were no tours the Club ran a cricket week for a year or so and these two proved very successful but when the Sussex Tours started, the cricket weeks were discontinued. In 1984, when the club celebrated its 150th anniversary, the cricket week was revived and this has continued more or less continuously since in August.
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