LIves in Cricket No 31 - Walter Robins

86 The War Years to be filled by Squadron Leader R.W.V.Robins whose name will be familiar as that of the Middlesex and England cricketer. Squadron Leader R.W.V.Robins will visit schools where there are contingents of both JTC and ATC. His main duty will be to discuss training problems and methods with the CO of the unit and make suggestions for improving and vitalising ATC training e.g. by making it more open air and imaginative and less of classroom kind and ensuring that all COs take advantage of facilities for visiting RAF Stations, Gliding Schools, etc which are open to them (also making sure such facilities are available). He will in general, endeavour to ‘put over’ the ATC training as against that of the JTC. He will in addition discuss any particular problems with the Headmaster. During school holidays he will occupy himself with NCO Courses and Training Camps. In the meanwhile, in April 1943 the Advisory County Committee had asked MCC to appoint a Select Committee to produce a plan for post-war cricket. Robbie was asked to join that committee alongside Hammond, Wyatt, Turnbull, Sellars, Errol and Jack Holmes, Rupert Howard and Gubby Allen, under the chairmanship of Sir Stanley Jackson. Their report was published in March 1944 and ‘emphasised the importance of a sound psychological approach to the game and stressed the duty of captains in particular to animate their sides into enterprise and the pursuit of a win rather than the Shortly after returning to England in the summer of 1943, Robbie captained this ‘England’ side in a two-day match against a Dominions team at Lord’s. Standing (l to r): H.Gimblett, A.W.H.Mallett, T.G.Evans, L.H.Compton, A.V.Bedser, J.D.B.Robertson, T.E.Bailey. Seated: E.R.T.Holmes, R.W.V.Robins (capt), L.E.G.Ames, D.C.S.Compton.