Lives in Cricket No 9 - JH King

Chapter Eleven Retirement During the winter months of his retirement King spent much of his time at the Leicester Liberal Club, keeping up with world news by reading the newspapers there, talking with friends and playing, ‘every day’ according to his daughter, both bridge and billiards, at which latter game he was no mean adept. In 1920 the club had instituted a handicap competition for a handsome silver trophy, which that year was won by King’s colleague Ewart Astill, with whom he often played. Whether after that Astill was too severely handicapped, simply absent abroad or, on account of his clear superiority over other members, 44 he graciously declined to compete, I have not been able to ascertain; but various members won until King, by winning three times (1927, 1932 and 1934), was allowed to keep the trophy, now in the possession of his grand-daughter Judy Cockroft. He also had the opportunity to devote more time to the masons. Like his father before him he had been initiated into the Wiclif Lodge in Lutterworth, in 1907, and subsequently he was elected its Master in 1930. Desirous, however, of progressing through higher grades he joined also, in 1932, the Royal Arch East Goscote Chapter of the York rite at Syston. In 1938 he enjoyed (and surely he did enjoy) the position of Provincial Grand Sword-Bearer for Leicestershire and Rutland, for the performance of whose duties he was accoutred with the implement that warranted his title. More humbly attired he continued also to shoot and fish for the table; and kept fit by doing shoulder-exercises and all the digging in his large garden at home. 112 Leicester Liberals’ billiards cup, won outright by King in 1934. 44 In the winter of 1922/23 Astill reached the third round of the national Amateur Championship.