Brigstock CC have been playing cricket in the meadow from just after WW11. Prior to the war the ground was in the Slade the second field on the left going into Dust Hill; there wasn’t much level ground for the wicket. The first ground after the war was in a field which is now beyond the by pass. The players, taking it in turns to carry the kit, took the green lane next to Highfields past the water pumping station into the second field.
Neither of these 2 grounds had pavilions. It must have been a luxury when cricket moved to the meadow.
The first pavilion, situated behind the far goalposts, was donated by Horace Spencer. This consisted of a simple one roomed green and cream wooden structure where players changed and stored kit. Ray Butcher recalls that there was barely room for one team if it rained. Toilet facilities were a tin surround behind the pavilion (standing room only gentleman). Initially teas were provided at the New Inn but in later years Heather Isles recalls she and Joyce Wills provided teas from the (old) village hall kitchen. Lyn Hector remembers taking teas across the meadow to the pavilion
When the club folded in 1971 the pavilion was dismantled. The brass plaque from that pavilion has been preserved and has now returned to the club (thanks to Olvin Smith).
During this playing era the meadow was used as a cow pasture. At first posts and wire protected the square. In later years there was an electric fence but at no stage was the whole field protected from the natural hazards provided by cows. Every player that I have spoken to, who played in that era, has the common memory of picking themselves or a ball from cow ‘plop’. Times were hard then but at least the ‘plop’ was soft.
When the club restarted in 1979 the meadow was no longer being used as a pasture but the only area that was cut regularly was the football pitch, which was kept clear by the local authority for the school.
Carl Hector renovated the old gang mowers and the club started cutting the ‘D’ around the square. But in the late 1980’s the local authority stopped cutting the football pitch when grass cutting was privatised. Since then the club has taken over the responsibility for the regular cutting of the playing area. Members taking turns on a rota.
The square was dug up and re seeded, much of the early work being carried out by Hedley Ruff, Pete Roden and Trevor Shiells. Whilst we played friendlies at home the square was not ready for the first league season in 1982 and all matches were played away.
At the same time Eric Adams purchased on behalf of the club for £ 6 a wooden hut from a London Brick site in Bedford. Many Saturdays were spent dismantling, transporting (on Anthony Steward’s lorry) repairing and remodelling the panels to a new design. Whilst all club members got involved in this project it would not have been possible without the skills, leadership and commitment of the older generation of players who restarted the club. Many thanks to Robin Isles, George Wise, Trevor, Robin Palmer, Carl, Hedley, Pete, and Don Green. Don wasn’t a player but his carpentry skills were a great help. In the same way Cliff Sharp did all the electrical work for us. This facility included a tearoom, kitchen, changing room (later converted to two), and ladies and gents toilet and was at its time an extensive facility. Showers were added before the club joined the Northants Alliance Cricket League in 1993. The pavilion, on the site of the current car park was painted white and green to reflect the old colours.
Whilst it took many weeks to put in services, build the foundations and so on the walls and roof were put up in one weekend. Can anyone remember when? Sometime in the summer of 1981? We put a temporary repair over the joins of the roof and the following year had the roof refelted professionally (I know this expense was in y/e 31/12/82).
A tractor was purchased from Woodlands garage and is still giving us sterling service. It was garaged at various places (including with its original owner, thanks Anthony, in a barn at the back of Rene Gray’s house and in Ron Bamford’s garden) until John Croker built a lean to on the back of the pavilion to house the tractor and gangs.
Over 2 winters in the late 1980’s Ron Bamford first built and then extended the sightscreens using steel purchased from British Steel and offcuts from Fairline boats for the panels.
All of this activity was carried out on a shoestring budget financed in the early years by regular discos in the village hall and a tote organised by Trevor Shiells. In later years Nigel Shiells, Alan Bamford and Robert Wise ran a different tote based on cricket.
From the off, the club were fortunate that there was a thriving ladies section (for the teas not the cricket). Initially this was run by Barbara Ruff, then by Janet Roden and Lyn Hector.We never did give Lyn a straight answer about the type of sandwiches we preferred. In later years Judy Burdett has been in charge and we try to make sure that she is on the rota during Wimbledon. By my reckoning 3 of the original ‘tea ladies’ are still helping out. Thank you Heather, Janet and Audrey and of course to you all. As well as excellent teas there always seemed to be some money ready when we needed a new mower. On a non-sexist note the club are very pleased that we have a female player and that there are a number of girls attending practice.
For many years a pitch preparation rota was in operation but in the last 4 or 5 years Pete Burdett has been responsible for wicket preparation and the quality of the wickets have improved.
The old pavilion became ‘tired’ despite repairs, and improvements carried out over the years by club members too numerous to mention.Temporary repairs were needed to the roof in 2000 to get us through a couple of seasons.
At a meeting in May 2001 it was decided that the club would embark on a major fund raising drive so that a permanent replacement could be found. Rory Finlay Notman indicated that he would provide some funds if the cricket club would make a similar commitment. The club organised discos fun days and a barn dance. We sent letters to village residents to ask for help and met with a generous response. We secured one or two modest grants. Individual players were prepared to make short-term loans or guarantees to get the work started. And local businesses provided services, equipment and materials, very often free of charge. We are very grateful to everyone for his or her support. But especially the club is very grateful to Rory for his most generous donation of money and time; he became the project manager and did a fantastic job.
Construction on the third
pavilion started in spring 2002 and it was ready for the start of season 2003.
Many club members have provided me with details to enable me to put together this series of articles. I want to thank Clarence and Robin for their fund of stories. Thanks also to Carl and Ray for details recently supplied.
But most of all, thanks Trevor for getting us started again.
A Bamford 2003
The Meadow at Brigstock.