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

205 Chapter Twenty-six Some appreciations of Johnny Lawrence Eric Hill, Johnny’s colleague at Somerset and then local cricket journalist wrote in the Somerset year book of 1953- 54 which preceded Johnny’s benefit: “... Everyone likes little men who look as cheerful as he does all day through, and, with his easy to remember Christian name, his readiness to talk to anyone, his almost pathetic eagerness to help the younger players whatever the conditions, he was soon as popular as anyone in the side. “His obvious delight at having jiggled out an opposing “batter” (as he almost invariably calls them), his unfailing ritual of falling down after every catch he has made (be it a dolly as he makes the most difficult catches look, or a sizzling blinder that takes your breath as you vainly search Johnny and Mary’s golden wedding anniversary, April 1988; he died in the December.