LIves in Cricket No 31 - Walter Robins

103 Changing the Law he had contributed, Robbie took his own steps, rarely recalled these days, to find schoolboy cricketers with the right aptitudes. He persuaded Billy Butlin to award a ‘Young Cricketer of the Week’ at his holiday camps throughout the summer. Those selected were rewarded with a free week’s coaching at Filey, the finale being a two-day match against a Public Schools XI. Charles Robins captained the latter side in 1952, but recalled that as soon as we looked like winning [Robbie] insisted that we hold back as the whole scheme would thus be put in jeopardy!’ Robbie was also asked in 1952 to take over as captain of the Middlesex Second Eleven, then playing in the Minor Counties Championship. The desperate need for new young players had now been recognised and attempts were being made to develop youth cricket in the county. Robbie was approached by J.W.Hearne who asked whether he could be of any use in connection with the coaching of the young players. Robbie was very enthusiastic about the idea and gave warm support to the plan to employ Hearne to supervise coaching in Middlesex practice nets on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, as well as attending Second Eleven matches with a view to relating mistakes made in matches to net practice. The Seconds matches were all of two days’ duration and the perfect platform for Robbie to demonstrate to his young protégés the need for fast scoring and sharp minds to search out victories from creative declarations. He interrupted his appearances with the Second Eleven in June by taking another Forty Club team down to Eton College. This time young Charles found himself facing not only his father and uncle, but his 71-year-old grandfather, Vivian, as well! Charles was caught behind the wicket off the bowling of his uncle but ensured victory for the College by taking two late Robbie (left) with Billy Butlin and Lady Isobel Barnett. Butlin’s holiday camps ran cricket coaching as part of Robbie’s effort to extend public interest in the game.