Chingford Cricket Club

The buildings in these days were pretty primitive, and the 1930 AGM was held at the Royal Forest Hotel while selection committees and socialising were performed at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel conveniently situated next to the ground. The Club’s main structure was in front of the current stables and a tea hut was located half way along the south side of the ground. Tea would be carried from the tea hut to the pavilion, to be eaten under an awning attached to the side of the pavilion. The groundsman carried the left overs back to the tea hut at the end of the interval. In addition there was also a tennis pavilion which was about twenty yards to the south of where the Cricket School Foyer now is.

The General Committee Minutes of 4 July 1930 reported:

The Tennis Secretary reported that the Tennis Section is of opinion that 2d is too much to pay for as cup of tea and required to have it reduced to 1d a cup

In 1930 the results we know about were:

On May 24 the 1^st XI were away to Cheshunt and totalled 190-3 with Len Parslow giving no hint of what was to come as he played his way to 64. In reply Cheshunt were hit by the whirlwind of Gordon Downes (5-10) and Bill Adamson (4-4) as they crashed to just 19 all out.

Syd Spicer was the leading run scorer with 540 and Gordon Downes led the wickets with 77 – he took 6 wickets against each of Old Bancroftians, Lloyds Register, Cheshunt and Buckhurst Hill.

Centuries were scored by J Rogers who hit 134 v Old Christchurchians. Reg Taylor made 107 v Highams Park and William Sandrock 101 v Cheshunt. R. Norrish also made 109 v Ranlagh for the 2B eleven, but completed a personally great day with 6 wickets with the ball too.

Stan Kitchener captured 7 wickets for the Thursday XI in the away defeat at Woodford Thursday while H.Snelling took 7-34 for the 2A eleven in their match with Romford

The Club played its part in raising money for good causes -the public paid to watch a game in aid of Forest Hospital (v Mr AC Russell’s XI) and the takings of £26 on the day suggested that a large crowd was present. Cricket Week ended with a concert in aid of the blind.

Reporting on the Club Supper, the Express and Independent stated:

There was a good gathering of members of the Chingford Cricket Club at the end of season dinner held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel, Chingford on Tuesday evening.

Mr GJS Underhill presided and the guest of the evening was Mr AC “Jack” Russell, the Essex and England cricketer.

Mr Underhill in calling upon the company to drink the health of Mr Russell, said they were very much indebted to him for bringing an eleven to Chingford to play the Club in aid of the Forest Hospital. They were glad to have him with them that evening. An excellent repast was followed by a musical evening, songs being rendered by Mr AE Lupton, Mrs Lupton, Mr Blake, Mr SC Spicer, Mr JJ Church, Mr AE Adamson and Mr LW Loe. Humorous items were contributed by Mr HA Shaw. A very enjoyable evening concluded with the singing of Auld Lang Syne.