Lives in Cricket No 52 - Schooled in Cricket (2nd edition)

202 came to learn about cricket. Yet he was deeply concerned with such matters. He often sported CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) badges, and with his family more than once went on the annual Aldermaston peace march. Even when he had taken a stance against Sunday cricket and raffles at the time of his benefit for Somerset in 1954 he took the time to criticise his own Methodist Church for not renouncing war. The following year his letter of thanks to the Methodist Recorder , April 28, 1955, stated: “Having gained the support and sympathy of so many Methodists, would you please allow me to mention a subject that is near to my heart and that makes Sunday sport and gambling seem insignificant in comparison? The majority of Christians’ attitude to war. I am sure that if war was right there would have been no Cross. If only a great organisation like the Methodist Church would renounce war in the name of Christ we would be nearer His Kingdom.” He was vociferously anti-apartheid with regard to South Africa, even resigning his membership of Yorkshire County Cricket Club which he had joined as a supporter in 1956 for its complicit support of a proposed South African tour of England in 1970 despite the continuance of apartheid in South Africa which meant it would be a racially determined, all white team. His resignation is cited in the Wakefield Express of February 21, 1970. As it happened the tour was later cancelled. “Make pitch 22 metres”