Chingford Hall of Fame
Number 1
Doug Insole
DJ Insole CBE, was the first Chingford player to play for England. He played in 9 Test Matches between 1950-57, scoring 408 runs at an average of 27.2. In 1956 he scored 110* for England v South Africa in Durban. He played for Essex from 1948-63, captaining them from 1950-60. In the summer of 1955 he scored 2,427 runs. After he retired he became an England Test selector, Chairman of the TCCB and England Manager on two tours of Australia. Doug's services to Chingford Cricket Club were rewarded with the Club Presidency from 1965-71. Doug can still be seen at Chingford matches and his Grandsons are the Shawyer brothers.
Number 2
Robin Hobbs
RNS Hobbs was the second Chingford player to play for England. He played in 7 Test Matches between 1967-71, scoring 34 runs at an average of 6.8 and taking 12 wickets at an average of 40.08. He played for Essex from 1961-1975 and for Glamorgan from 1979-81. In 1975 he scored a 100 in just 44 minutes for Essex v Australia at Chelmsford. He made his Chingford debut as a 16 year old in 1959 making a name for himself as a leg-spin bowler. Although he now lives in Ingatestone, Robin still vists the club occasionally to watch matches and chat with old friends.
Number 3
Ron Lynch
RV Lynch played 3 matches for Essex in 1954. Ron was a slow left arm bowler who had a best bowling performance of 4-64 in one innings. He averaged 7 with the bat and 26.75 with the ball. Ron was Club Captain from 1967-70 and from 1974-75. He was Club President from 1992-94. Ron's services to cricket were immense - three examples being Chairman of the Essex League at the time of its founding, being the 68th President of the Club Cricket Conference and President of the Chinghoppers Cricket Club twice.
Number 4
Len Parslow
Islington born LF Parslow played just 1 match for Essex in 1946. He scored 5 and 4 and did not bowl. He came to the fore as a batsman for Chingford in the late 1920s and was a major batting force throughout the 1930s. His career highlight were his appearances for the British Empire XI during the 1939-45 war when he played with many Test cricketers.
Number 5
Rodney Cass
GR Cass played 155 matches for Essex, Worcestershire and Tasmania between 1964-75. Rodney was a wicket keeper and left hand batsman who had a highest score of 172*. He took 213 catches and 28 stumpings and averaged 21.84 with the bat. He extended his career playing for Shropshire before making an impact as a cricket coach.
Number 6
Graham Saville
GJ Saville played 126 matches for Essex between 1963-74. Leytonstone born Graham was a Right Hand bat with a highest score of 126*. He averaged 23.67 with the bat and picked up 3 wickets. He emerged as a prolific young bat for Chingford in 1961 and continued with the club in 1975 when his Essex career ended.
Number 7
Ken Biddulph
KD Biddulph played 91 matches for Somerset between 1955-61. Chingford born Ken was a Right Arm Fast Medium bowler with a best bowling performance of 6-30. He averaged 26.71 with the ball and 6.78 with the bat. He first appeared for Chingford as a young bowler in 1948. He extended his career playing minor counties cricket for Durham, featuring in One Day cricket against the 1st Class Counties until 1972. Ken died in 2003.
Number 8
Paul Fisher
PB Fisher played 57 matches for Middlesex and Worcestershire between 1974-81. Paul was a wicket keeper with a highest batting score of 42. He took 92 catches and 12 stumpings and averaged 9.21 with the bat. In 1974, batting for Oxford University v Warwickshire, he was hit on the head by a ball from Bob Willis.
Number 9
Alec Meston
Leyton born, AH Meston played 12 matches for Essex between 1926-27. He was a Right Hand bat with a Highest Score of 41. He averaged 11.0 with the bat and picked up 4 wickets. For Chingford in 1933 against Finchley he clean bowled six batsmen for 15 runs in five overs.
Number 10
Don Spencer
WG Spencer played 3 matches for Essex between 1938-48. Chingford born Don averaged 13.0 with the bat and picked up a wicket. He came to prominence at Chingford as a batsman in 1932, featuring regularly in the next 5 seasons. He was a regular player for Essex 2nd XI and captained the side in the 1950s. He died in 1971.
Number 11
Stephen Dinsdale
SC Dinsdale played 15 matches for Rhodesia, Essex and Transvaal between 1969-76. Buckhurst Hill born Stephen was a Left Hand bat and Left Arm Medium pace bowler. He had a highest score of 88 and a best bowling of 4-24. He averaged 24.2 with the bat and 20.0 with the ball.
Number 12
Bob Cooke
RMO Cooke played 42 matches for Essex between 1972-76. Bob was a Left Hand bat with a highest score of 139. He averaged 22.3 with the bat and took 4 wickets with his leg breaks. He continued his career playing for minor counties Cheshire.
Number 13
Steve Plumb
SG Plumb played 5 matches for Essex between 1975-86. He was a Right Hand bat with a highest score of 69. He averaged 30.85 with the bat and took 3 wickets. Steve also played for Lincolnshire and Norfolk and played One Day cricket against 1st Class Counties until 2000.
Number 14
Bill Riding
HW Riding played 1 match for Essex in 1921. He scored 16 and 7 and did not bowl. Later that summer, he died at Forest Side, Chingford at the age of 24. He was Club Captain from 1922-3.
& Finally .......
Number 15
Morris Nichols
MS Nichols played 14 Test Matches for England between 1930-39. He had a highest score of 78* with the bat and a best bowling analysis of 6-35 with the ball. He scored 355 runs at an average of 29.58 and took 41 wickets at an average of 28.09. He had a long career with Essex, but never played for Chingford. However, his grandson, Richard Alston did and does.
Who's Next?
Chingford are overdue when it comes to club members playing County Cricket. Watch this space.