Lives in Cricket No 7 - Richard Daft

never left it until it was made easy to him.’ . . . (Cheers) . . . ‘But time went on. I saw that boy grow up into manhood, and now we have him before us as our guest tonight.’ . . . ‘In Richard Daft we have a model cricketer.’ . . . ‘Daft had been tried in the fire and not found wanting. Whether in the cricket field or in his social life, he was alike respected . . . and so it was a most gratifying thing to see him, the recipient of such a splendid testimonial tonight.’ . . . (Cheers) Sir Henry formally handed over the testimonial on behalf of the subscribers. His final gesture was to add a sealed donation from his own pocket. When the welcoming calls and applause died away, Richard replied: ‘I can scarcely express my feelings on such an auspicious occasion, which I regard as the chief event of my cricket life. I feel that I am hardly in a state of mind to express sufficiently my thanks for the extraordinary honour you have done me in presenting such a magnificent testimonial.’ Then an interruption from Captain Holden: ‘Nothing more than is deserved.’ Richard, unabashed, told his audience: ‘It is true that throughout my cricket career I have endeavoured to uphold the game, whilst I have played it as keenly as possible. At the time alluded to by Sir Henry, I little thought I should occupy the honourable position in the cricket world I hope I occupy now. I felt that there was a chance of distinguishing myself for the county, which was really my ambition. As to the testimonial, I assure you I shall always regard it as an heirloom, and it will be my greatest pride to think that my children, after twenty years’ connection with cricket on my part, would have something to point to and say that there was one in the family who, at any rate, attained a certain position in the cricketing world, and which position is recognised by my native county.’ (Cheers) ‘It is extremely pleasing to me to see gentlemen like Captain Denison and Sir Henry Bromley coming out of their way to attend such a gathering.’ (‘Hear, hear.’) ‘I feel much indebted to you, as indeed I am to all present, and so long as I can be of any use to the county, I shall certainly place my services at the disposal of the Committee.’ Richard sat down amidst a crescendo of cheering. Benefit in Kind 78