Our October Speaker
Stephen Green, curator of the museum at Lords and a veritable walking encyclopaedia of cricket history and memorabilia, entertained members and guests after lunch with an enchanting and at times hysterical ramble through his memories of over 30 years at the MCC.
He immediately expressed his pleasure at having been introduced correctly, which was in great contrast to the occasion when a young member of staff had introduced him as the Lord’s Creator. More recently, when speaking in Warsaw to a bemused audience of Poles with a limited knowledge of cricket, he had been catapulted to the rank of Professor Green. Stephen suggested to anyone charged with the task of introducing him in future that such an exulted academic rank would suit very well. Alternatively a knighthood would be perfectly acceptable, especially since many of the letters received at Lords were addressed to him as Sir Stephen Green.
He reminded us of the two contrasting description of Lords, both of which held an element of the truth – the cathedral of cricket, or the only lunatic asylum in the world run by the inmates. Mind you, he was at times worried about the sanity of some of his correspondents.
One letter was addressed to him as O.F. Time, Esq, while another was sent to Mr WG Grace. When he explained that the great man had died in 1915 his Australian correspondent wrote back to say how sorry he was to hear of the death of his cousin. Stephen commented "I felt reluctant to tell him of the passing of Queen Victoria, as too much news all at once might have been too much for him".
And staying on that theme Stephen also pointed out that he always got the last word at Lords, since he wrote the obituary notices.
Closer to home, and on a serious note, Stephen told members that the minute books of the Hambledon Cricket Club covering the early years of the 19th century had recently been deposited at Lords on long-term loan and for safe-keeping. Whilst they were of some interest, and important in the context of the game’s history, he had found little in them so far to create any great excitement. But he was still looking.
Finally, Stephen encouraged members to visit the museum at Lords if they had not already done so especially to see the magnificent portrait of the Earl of Winchilsea. He was president of the Hambledon Club in 1787, the year in which he and others formed the MCC and started the demise of the original Hambledon club. "He was a naughty boy, but his portrait is thought to be the finest in our collection at Lords".
Support for Hambledon CC's Colts
Members will be delighted to hear that the Hambledon Cricket Club's Colts now have their own bowling machine, in part as a result of our fund-raising efforts on their behalf.
