A Review of the 1953 Season
At the 1953 AGM it was decided to remove chocolate from the Club’s colours and change to blue and white.
A cold shower had been installed in the dressing room in preparation for the season by courtesy of Harry Speight, it is doubtful if the present day members could bear to use it but at the time it was a welcome step forward from trying to wash feet in high washbasins!
It was decided to abandon the traditional Cricket Week in August and it was replaced by three midweek fixtures against Essex Club and Ground, Old Parkonians and Phoenix.
On June 27 an important milestone was reached when four Chingford XIs played four Buckhurst Hill XIs for the first time in the Club’s history.
The First XI won 7, drew 7 and lost 10 – with Bunny Swinfen turning in 7-45 in the derby with Wanstead. Top run scorers were Ken Dowding and Norman Griffiths, while Rex Vickers turned in many good bowling performances.
Frank Vigar’s Benefit Match in May saw Chingford total 156-9. In reply by stumps Essex had scored 253-6 with Derek Tonge taking 4-69. Also in the Sunday As, centuries were scored by Cliff Crafer v Essex Wanderers and Bill Jeffrey v West Essex
In the 2s an amazing game at North Middlesex saw only 3 wickets fall all day as Chingford scored 217-2 courtesy of Derek Harwood (114*) and Ted Sandrock (60) only for North Mid to get it for 1! Ted followed up his good form with an unbeaten century in the home win v Ilford
Third eleven fixtures were played at the Lea Valley Playing Field, although the 3rd XIs were also to have three evening games at Forest Side.
Roy Gilbert had some big wicket hauls at the end of the season with in the 3rds, 7-44 v Sewardstone and 8-33 v Xylonite and in the 2nds, 7-45 v North Middlesex.
1953 saw Doug Insole appointed Captain of the Essex County side, and Don Spencer, a player for many years before he moved to Chelmsford, appointed Captain of Essex II. It was a unique feat for a Club to have provided the County with Captains for both County XIs in the same year.
Coronation Day must have been an interesting sight, as a radiogram played music for a dance on the grass in front of the pavilion.