A Review of the 1962 Season
The Triple Top Society was born in 1962 to replace the Square Cut Society and this was again to take the form of a football lottery, run by West Essex CC, Chingford RFC and the Cricket Club. The proceeds were divided on the basis of the number of tickets sold by members of each Club. It was hoped that with the increase in prize money the total number of tickets sold each month would increase. Two significant organisational changes took place, Joe Jessop retired after 23 years of service on Committee as Secretary, Treasurer, Trustee, Chairman and finally 12 years as President. Frank Cheeswright retired as Hon. Auditor after 20 years in post. According to the Club Rules, bar closing time was 10pm which I don’t think would go down to well in this day and age!
The first eleven played 21, won eight, drew eight and lost three, with two abandoned. Throughout the season there were some superb individual performances. Harry Davis hit 110* v Loughton and 115* v Highgate and Robin Hobbs with 100 v Loughton were amongst the runs. Meanwhile, Tony Vann hit two centuries in the same weekend – 16 and 17 June with 113 for the 1sts v Loughton and 111* for the As v Old Libertians. Tony then made a further century 3 weeks later with 109* v Alexandra Park and another in September v Finchley (101*)
With the ball the best bowling we know about was Robin Hobbs with 6-32 v Brentwood and two 5fers in the home and away games v Highgate
The seconds had a ten wicket win over local rivals Ilford, with Les Warner bagging 6-36.
The third eleven celebrated their final season at the London Co-operative Ground by winning 15 games.
In the Sunday As Peter Brown took a hat-trick in the drawn match with Old Brentwoods. Ken Dowding made 104* against Highams Park, Graham Saville made 109 v Barnet and Robin Hobbs hit 110 v Enfield. With the ball Robin Hobbs took 5-38 v Highams Park, 5-67 v The Mote and 6-46 v Walthamstow, and Buddy Jessop returned 6-49 from 22 overs v Essex Wanderers.
For the Sunday Bs the guile of David Jones with 8-44 helped earn his side a narrow win against Walthamstow.
George Chapman played his last game for the Club having (according to his own records) scored 22,502 runs since 1932.
The proposal to build a new scorebox was causing controversy with planning permission refused “because the proposal is injurious to the amenities of adjoining properties”, despite the Club’s offer to plant quick growing evergreen shrubs to screen the box.
Ted Sandrock did a magnificent piece of work in attracting over 300 guests including the Mayor and Mayoress of Chingford to the Club’s Annual Dance at the Assembly Hall.