Lives in Cricket No 18 - FR Foster

one cannot countenance a worse end to his connections with the County Club. 73 Foster did not linger long in London – possibly he was running short of landlords to take him on. Perhaps credit-worthiness, or lack of it, militated against him. In any event 1950 finds him living at 8 Nelson Road, Leigh-on-Sea, an undistinguished end-of-terrace house near Chalkwell Park cricket ground, where Essex played an annual festival. Warwicks did not appear there until 1954 however, when Foster was long gone. Whatever Foster’s situation, he was up to his old tricks, as a letter to Rego Clothing Company of Oxford Street, Marble Arch shows. It was dated 26 June 1950, an important date, as will be seen, and which makes the contents almost beyond belief: Sirs, Yes, alright I’ll try a few of your grey sports shirts. It certainly looks a very good idea, and I know what I’m talking about as I am the retired boss of Foster Brothers Clothing Co. Ltd, Birmingham. 150 branches. I will take half a dozen, collar size 17 and a half, Light grey, medium grey, 2 gold, light Blue, Saxe Blue. You may also send me three silk mufflers to match up. And your latest catalogue please. Yours Truly, Frank R.Foster, Warwickshire and England Cricketer The grammar is erratic and one is surprised Rego allowed his order apparently without checking. Days later Rego replied they had nothing large enough in the line but one of their directors, Mr Spragg, was procuring enough of the material to make the shirts up. The mufflers were in stock and would be reserved until the shirts were finished. The letter finishes ‘May I, an ardent cricket fan express the hope that you are in the best of health, and remain, yours faithfully.’ On 17 July the firm informed Foster that the specially made shirts would be delivered in a day or two and asked if he would prefer them and the mufflers to be sent C.O.D. The details were six shirts at £1 7s 6d, three mufflers at 17s 11d, and their total value £10 18s 9d. Three days later: ‘Goods herewith as arranged over phone, together with statement. Trusting you are soon recovered from your indisposition.’ Finally on 1 August: ‘I am pleased to hear that the goods supplied met with your approval, and am very interested to learn you have such a promising protégé. An outstanding man is sorely needed at the present time.’ Then, ominously, ‘We are enclosing a statement for the goods supplied and your cheque will oblige.’ It is surely a rhetorical question to ask whether it was paid. The cloudy days of autumn and of winter 110 73 However it helps not at all to read in Wikipedia that he ‘continued to watch the game until his death’. It will shortly emerge that this was not just untrue, but impossible. Just where does such ‘information’ emanate?