Lives in Cricket No 21 - Walter Read

27 The 1883 week seems to have been a success in terms of the quality of cricket and of the spectator interest it attracted, and the extensive local press coverage includes fulsome praise of Read in his first summer back at Surrey and Reigate after the 1882/83 Bligh tour of Australia. However the half promises given by club officials about bringing a county match to Reigate turned out to be hollow, arising from the hot air generated in the mutually congratulatory atmosphere of the club dinner. In summarising the ‘week’ of 1883 we may say irrespective of the weather that it was a great success. The interest throughout was keen, the cricket was of the highest class and the contests were witnessed by a more appreciative and numerous assembly than in previous years. The prospect of a county match being arranged to take place at Reigate will, as a matter of course, bring the game prominently before the public and when the Priory Club are able to secure the advocacy of the President, Treasurer and Secretary of the County Club to such a fixture we have no doubt it will come off. It never did. In conclusion we can only trust that the Priory Club may continue to prosper and receive the support it deserves and that we may record the future doings of “the week” as more successful, and increasing in importance year-by-year. The press report reflected the hyperbole which permeated the dinner. Arthur Read was unable to be present because of a serious illness, but his younger brother was eulogised. Dr Jones, a Surrey committee heavyweight, asked – optimistically perhaps – why Reigate should not emulate and be as successful as Canterbury, then continued… Dr Jones proposed “The health of Mr W.W.Read”. There was no man in the cricket field more esteemed, more liked, more honoured, and more loved than him. MR READ who was warmly received spoke of the kind reception he had met when in Australia and thanked them heartily for the way they received his name. Lord Monson, President of Surrey, continued in the same vein. That town of Reigate, with very few intervals, with very few Reigate Priory