A Review of the 1969 Season
At the 1969 AGM Tom Shepherd stated that he hoped to provide finance for improved facilities by running a 100 Club, with two monthly prizes of £15 and £10 and a final prize of £500. The roadway around the ground was completed and a table tennis club was set up under the leadership of Terry Cole.
1969 was a particularly good season for the Saturday First XI under Ron Lynch finishing the season with just three defeat from 30 games. Twelve games were won and fourteen drawn as a powerful side had four main batsmen regularly in the runs.
Top of the averages was Doug Insole, with 401 runs at an average of 44, whilst as usual Geoff Sandrock was top run scorer with 540. Not far behind were the ever reliable David Rafis (487) and Graham Lord (447). Skipper Ron Lynch led the way with the ball with 52 wickets including 2 six wicket hauls against local rivals Wanstead home and away. Pacemen Peter Brown with 40 wickets at 11 apiece and Bryan Hart with 33 wickets at 16 also performed consistently well.
The Cup runs were disappointing with Old Latymerians and Barkingside easily beaten before we succumbed to Westcliff in the Kemp Cup. Tougher draws in the Cricketer Cup saw Alexandra Park and Enfield beaten before we comprehensively lost to Hampstead, the eventual winners.
In the 2nd eleven campaign there were 11 wins, and Steve Jenkins hit 109no in the match against Highgate, while Ken Dowding cracked 106 v Buckhurst Hill.
In the Sunday As, Geoff Sandrock hit some big scores with 108 and 93* v Barnet, 94 v Highams Park and 83* v Northampton Exiles - and 9 games were won.
The only other book which survives is the Sunday B, where the playing record was won 9 drawn 5 lost 8. Highlight of the year was a 188 run opening partnership against Sudbury Court between Peter Hall (106) and Bill Jeffrey (100), who both recorded centuries. Moby Lalani took an amazing 7-7 in the game v Northampton Exiles with Steven Cooke claiming the other three, all ten Exiles wickets being bowled. Meanwhile Ted Alston had a great all-round game against Old Parkonians following up 5-33 with a knock of 53. Overall top run scorers were Jeff Runciman with 248 and Mick Carr (234)whilst Steven Cooke took 20 wickets at 7.4 apiece in just 7 appearances.
Bunny Swinfen had a six wicket haul in the Veterans’ match with Winchmore Hill.
The Secretary’s Report stated:
The Club Supper was also held in October in the pavilion and was voted one of the best for a very long time. Alec Bedser was kind enough to be present giving a resume of some of his Australian tours with the MCC and answering many questions which were fired at him in his capacity as Chairman of the England Selection Committee. Doug Insole was of course sitting beside him and some of his stage whispers at various junctures in the speech were outrageous, but it did not appear to worry Mr Bedser, who no doubt was quite used to it. Yet another first class evening.
The bell for the Club Pavilion was kindly donated by Ted Lord and was duly christened when the New Year was rung in in no uncertain manner by Bar Chairman Bert Brown!