Lives in Cricket No 51 - Rev ES Carter

in their years with Yorkshire County Cricket Club. A good explanation of the work of the Yorkshire Committee was given in the 1950s by historian Jim Kilburn: “Much of the work done in committee must remain without any acclaim. Not even the publication of the complete minutes would tell where all the good ideas originated and what was discussed and rejected. The committee must stand or fall by the result of their deliberations; any mistaken judgements would reveal themselves on the field and in the balance sheets and in the championship tables. Membership of the committee carries few perquisites. Experienced players, members of the professions, business men, and leaders of many sections of Yorkshire life have a place all sharing a common desire for the welfare of Yorkshire cricket. After twenty one years service, a committee member if not already elected to a vacancy, automatically becomes a Vice-President. On such occasions there has arisen the happy custom of the presentation of an inscribed cigarette case, always a treasured possession.” Hopefully at some stage of in his cricketing life Edmund Carter will have received a cigarette case but it seems a poor reward for the anxiety and agitation which membership of the Yorkshire Committee always provided. On one matter the reader may be sure. Carter with his sure touch of language and persuasive tones would have been vocal at those meetings at which he attended. He also had the good fortune to be involved when Yorkshire county cricket was on one of its pinnacles. Peate, Hawke, Committee 92