Twenty-One Years of the ACS

could be run on a sound, commercial basis and in an efficient manner. The committee decided that £1,000 worth of shares should be purchased in Sport-in-Print and this was approved by the 1988 AGM at Oxford.Several of the committee had previously bought shares privately and after declaring their interest, they took no part in the voting at any stage as the negotiations had proceeded.Peter Wynne-Thomas,as the reader must have gleaned by now,has been the fulcrum for the ACS throughout its existence and this is thejuncture to attempt to pay tribute to him. Wynne-Thomas's extraordinary capacity for work,together with his remarkable mental and physical stamina, have always been his greatest assets and the ACS would probably not havesurvived without him. In addition to a full quota of the planning, research, writing and typesetting, Wynne- Thomas has also checked, sub-edited and done the art-work for every publication in some degree or other. As secretary since July, 1974, he has taken the minutes for every committee and annual meeting, handled all the correspondence and has also contributed countless ideas to the ACS's development.Amid these heavy demands on time and patience, he has stayed the same calm, courteous person - irrespective of the many stressful situations that have arisen. Wynne-Thomas (born 1934) trained as an architectural consultant and was a respected researcher long before the ACS started. In 1971 he won the Cricket Society's literary award with his Nottinghamshire Cricketers 1821-1914 and he has written numerous other books outside the ACS sphere. It is not generally known that Wynne- Thomas was chosen by Rowland Bowen to succeed him as editor of The Cricket Quarterly.Bowen changed his thinking later because he could not bear to think of anyone else in charge and the quarterly ceased to publish. After 13 consecutive AGMs at Edgbaston, the ACS held its 1987 meeting at the Oxford Moat House hotel and a record attendance enjoyed a new format which was introduced. Clive Porter, editor of the Cricket Society's Journal, several years earlier had first suggested that the rigid business agenda should beseparated and that thereshould be greater opportunity for members to debate cricket issues and research. Basically this idea was followed, with official business completed before lunch and a guest speaker in the afternoon. Following asecond visit to Oxford,it was decided the AGM should be taken to a different county ground every year. Trent Bridge was the venue in 1989 followed by Southampton, Old Trafford, Worcester and Chelmsford. Having set up headquarters in Nottingham,it was felt appropriate to return there for the 21st AGM in 1994.Sadly the cost offood and room hire always seem likely to prohibit an AGM at Lord's or The Oval,both of which would be so appropriate as a meeting place for the ACS. There were 85 members present at the first 35