Lives in Cricket No 42 - Frank and George Mann

114 Acknowledgements The idea for this double biography was first raised by Charles Robins when I was his guest for lunch at Lord’s to celebrate the publication, in this series, of Walter Robins: Achievements, Affections and Affronts in 2014. He suggested that I should contact James Mann, grandson of Frank Mann, son of John PelhamMann, and nephew of George Mann. James invited me to his home in Kennington to see his collection of photos and memorabilia and provided me with background information to the history of the brewery, Mann, Crossman and Paulin. He also suggested that I should approach Sarah, the daughter of George, who lived in Hammersmith and who he believed possessed her own collection of Mann family memorabilia. In due course I met Sarah and it is thanks to James Mann and Sarah Grootenhuis that I was able to begin this joint biography. I must also add that Charles Robins himself contributed several examples of his personal recollections of both Frank and George Mann, in particular during the latter’s years as an executive of both MCC and Middlesex CCC. I would also like to thank Dr Terry Rogers, hon archivist at Marlborough College; Miss J.S.Ringrose, hon archivist, Pembroke College, Cambridge University; Ian Quickfall, hon archivist, Malvern College; Victoria Nelson and Peter Budden, Wellesley House School archives; Neil Robinson, MCC Library; Daniel Korachi-Alaoui, Archives and Library Assistant, Canterbury Cathedral Archives and Library; Peter Wynne-Thomas, who supplied me with an index of all the significant references to Frank and George Mann in The Cricketer magazine; and Howard Milton, Cricket Society Librarian. I am grateful for help with illustrations from the Mann family, (the unrelated) Roger Mann and Catherine Rive. In various ways Philip Bailey (statistical points), Gerald Hudd and Jenny Moulton (proofreading), Martin Howe, Roger Moulton, Terry O’Dwyer, Chris Overson, Mark Rowe and Keith Walmsley have contributed to the text. My thanks too, to all at City Press Leeds for their work on the book. Special thanks go to David Jeater for his encouragement, patience, editorial skills and creative suggestions which enabled me to complete this biography of two outstanding cricketers and their service to the game both on and off the field. Bromley, Kent September 2015