Twenty-One Years of the ACS

Oct.1981: *So far as we are aware this is the first match between these two countries and the ACS immediately requested its expert on Czech cricket,Antonin Novotny,as to the status ... Moscow has not given a ruling but naturally we will keep members informed.'(A newspaper misprint lists Czechoslovakia v Wales in the cricket fixtures). Dec.1981: 'It is hard to prevent a middle-aged and backward-looking image, when most of the contributors are middle-aged and backward-looking people.'(More articles fromjunior members are sought). Jun.1982: 'Iconoclastic we may be but were it not for the iconoclasts of history, a flat earth would still be the centre of the universe, with the sun and stars fixed in revolving spheres.'(Reaction to accurate ACS research being deemed unacceptable). Oct.1983: 'An organisation whose committee becomes remote from its membership is a failed organisation. It is the committee's duty to keep in touch with the membership; it is also the membership's duty to keep in touch with the committee.'(Members are urged to attend the London meeting). Oct.1989: 'A reminder that one should search one's own backyard before hurling well merited abuse at Romania.'(The Hastings ground is lost for development at a time when civil strife erupts in eastern Europe). Aug.1991:'Strangely one's memory suggests it was not a boring innings; rather was it similar to one of the Tom Dollery restaurant's rock cakes - hard, solid, rock like, heavy going but somehow fascinating.'(Recollections ofa lengthy97notoutat Edgbaston by Derbyshire's John Kelly). Oct.1991: 'We are human, like you Peter: if you prick us, we bleed.'(Peter Roebuck is rebuked for belittling left-handers). Mar.1993:'The hysterical animosity directed against the tobacco industry and the users of its products is sickening to the reviewer - a life long non-smoker and asthmatic to boot. After fags - what next?' (Support for Benson &Hedges to continue their sponsorship). Brooke's resignation was accompanied in the 1985 Winter Journal, the last he edited, by a dignified, valedictory statement in which he admitted that for some time there had been disagreement on the Journal's content and editorial policy. He said there had doubtless been faults on all sides ... 'Commercial considerations, and therefore a more popular approach I had deliberately ignored throughout my editorship: they are now to be given importance and I no longer feel part ofthe set-up...'As Brooke vacated the editor's chair,he was 27