Lives in Cricket No 17 - Fuller Pilch

I think it is safe to say that, whatever Fuller thought of the productions, he would certainly have appreciated the prologue before the first performance of the week, written and performed by the dramatist Tom Taylor wearing cricket clothes and addressed to the cricketers in the audience: Cricket’s the only thing I know a bit about; Ten years my shins and knuckles have been hit about! But, hello! Who are those I see down there? Pilch, Lillywhite, and Fenner - I declare! How are ye all? Where men like you assemble, It’s not a little that shall make me tremble, While I stand here as champion of cricket You mind your fielding - I’ll keep up my wicket. You will stand by me, never mind your County; Cricketers are all brothers; such I count ye. Your cricketer no cogging practice knows, No trick to favour friends or cripple foes; His motto still is ‘May the best man win’, Let Sussex boast her Taylor, Kent her Mynn, Your Cricketer, right English to the core, Still loves the man best he has licked before. The evening performances in the Orange Theatre would become a regular feature during all Canterbury’s Cricket Weeks in the future and the amateur acting company would eventually become known as the famous ‘Old Stagers’. The Week ended on Saturday, 6 August and, encouraged by its outstanding success, both on and off the field, the powers behind Kent cricket held a meeting at the Fountain Hotel under the chairmanship of the Kent MP, William Deedes, to discuss the future. A resolution was taken to establish ‘upon a more extensive scale, a Kent Cricket Club.’ The first steps were taken towards achieving that objective by making arrangements for Fuller Pilch to leave Town Malling and transfer his residence to Canterbury, the third cathedral city he had lived in, to take charge of the Beverley ground. A copy of his contract remains within the archives at the St Lawrence ground and as it has never been published before, I include it here in full: 1 This agreement is to be understood according to its most apparent meaning. 2 The Beverley Club shall pay Fuller Pilch £100 for his services for the year 1843, commencing on the 1st of January and ending December 31st. 3 The same to be paid quarterly the first payment (£25) to be made March 31st 1843. 4 When Pilch plays from home he is to receive the same as other players when at home, £2 each match. 5 The ground to be in Cricket order by the 1st of May and to be kept so during the season (Rolled, mowed, beaten, watered, holes filled, turf The birth of Canterbury Cricket Week 78