Embedded Files
Colleagues from the past sixty years
This photograph is thought to have been taken at the Jackson's Club. Can you identify the umpires? Some are ...
Back row: Bob Thomas, ..., Tom Nicholson, Christopher Clayton, Peter Holmes, Bob Roper, Richard Petit, Dave Hart, Fred Minter, Martin Reed, John Abram, Mike Jones, ..., Geoff Mountfield, ..., George Mott.
Front row: Alan Robinson, Ken Blackie, Fred Holmes, Lawrie Coward, Arnold Sylvester, Eric Whitton, Alan Longmate, George Bunker, ..., Geoff Lazenby, ... Can you fill in the blanks?
nb not all of those pictured above were members of the association.
Laurie Coward
Laurie Coward was the Association's longest serving secretary holding the post for twenty years from 1972-92, and also served as Appointments Secretary. He came from Eggborough near Pontefract and played cricket for Whitley Bridge CC (scoring a century for them at the age of 16), Gomersal CC and Fenner CC.
In 1962 Laurie took up umpiring and was soon an active member of the Association. He became a member of the regional council of the ACU (later ACUS) and Finance Officer for the North East Region. Laurie was invited to represent ACUS at a garden party at Buckingham Palace in 1994, which he deemed an unforgettable experience. He also served on the East Yorkshire Cricket Association. In 1996 Laurie was elected a Life Vice President of ACUS. He also umpired the Texaco under 16 ‘Tests’ between England and the West Indies. When he retired as Regional Councillor for the North East region in 1996 Laurie was presented with an album in which Sir Colin Cowdrey wrote: “The game of cricket thrives and goes from strength to strength due largely to a host of cricket fanatics who give themselves quite unselfishly for the good of the game. No one has worked harder, with more care, for the noble game of cricket in the North East and for Northumberland and Durham than Laurie Coward. We are indebted to him and we are grateful for his dedication and his lovely Yorkshire sense of humour.” He also received a silver necked crystal decanter presented to him by Derek Shuttleworth, the ACUS North East Regional Training Officer.
Laurie was also a football referee for twenty four years and worked for J H Fenner. He died in 2000 at the age of 82.
George 'Vin' Jones
George Jones known as Vince or Vin in the local cricketing world retired from work at the age of 64 in 1978 and, seeking a new challenge in retirement, took up umpiring. Vin attended the courses and joined ERACU.
He had been a good cricketer in his playing career, starting at school and being given the chance to go to Yorkshire's nets for junior players a couple of years later. However, his family could not afford the right equipment and the opportunity passed him by. Still he played until 1958 before he put his whites away.
Twenty years later he took up the white coat and after three years of study took his exams. He then spent five years as training officer for the association.
In 1992 he received an "outstanding achiever in retirement award" . After winning £200 in a regional award he went on to scoop another £1000 in a national achievement award.
Ken Kendrew
Ken Kendrew was born in Hull and served, as a Navigator, in the RAF in World War II, and afterwardsin the Middle East. In 1950 Ken married and lived in Islington, playing cricket for Wickford. Through work he met Len Hutton and played cricket with him, His son Richard and Jimmy Binks at Fenners. By 1965 Ken had returned to Hull and was playing for the RAFA on the Stray. He captained the side for several years and on retirement was invited to umpire Hull An XI by John Mowbray. He did so and later also became Secretary of Hull CC. To develop his knowledge of the laws of cricket Ken undertook the winter training course under the tutorship of Jack Yates.
After passing his ACU exams Ken was invited to join the umpires’ panel of the Humber Don League, and became a highly respected official. He also began to assist Jack on the training course. When the local leagues merged Ken continued his umpiring in the Alliance until his retirement . On retirement he presented with a salver by the Alliance for his services to local cricket. One of his most memorable remarks concerned how the umpire should signal the end of an over by simply calling “Over”, which he followed up by saying: “Andover is a place in Hampshire!”
Wilf Kingdom
Wilf Kingdom was born in 1916 and spent his early playing days with Kings Hall He worked at Priestman Brothers where he stayed until his retirement, apart from serving with the Royal Artillery in WW2. He then played for Priestmans and captained them to the East Riding Amateur League Div 3 championship in 1958, Div 4 Champions in 1955, George Braithwaite Cup in 1955, Alderman Arthur Shepherd Cup in 1953. After retiremeing from playing he took up umpiring and became the first training officer of ERCUSA. In 1964 he was part of the association quiz team which came runners up in the Yorkshire Federation of Cricket Umpires Quiz.(other members were Eric Whitton and Harry Swift who won the individual award with 100%). In 1970 he was invited to umpire the BBC televised International Cavaliers captained by the Australian Bobby Simpson against a Freddie Trueman invitation XI at the Circle. He went on to umpire for many years in the Yorkshire League until ill health forced him to retire.
In his youth he was a keen footballer, winning the East Riding Church League Cup in 1935. He was also a follower of Hull City.
Holidays were usually spent at the Scarborough Cricket Festival and both myself and my brother were coached to play cricket as soon as we could walk. In fact my mother often said that cricket in our house was not a sport, it was a religion. His family presented the Association with the Chairman's gavel which is still ised to keep order at meetings.
Contributed by Howard Kingdom
Tom Nicholson
Tom Nicholson, who died in 1989, was a much respected umpire who served as the Association’s second training officer after the passing of Wilf Kingdom, and also as chairman of the Newland Evening League for over 10 years. Tom was a tall man who had been a bowler in his cricketing days, but in later years he gained a slight stoop. A kindly, gentle man, he was always ready with a word of advice or encouragement for new umpires. Tom also won the Les Hilton Trophy three times between 1976 and 1981.
Mark Reuben
Mark Reuben was one of the original 25 members at the inaugural meeting in the Church Institute, Albion Street in 1953. He was elected as the first Vice Chairman of association. Born on 29th September 1902 to Russian parents who resided in Minsk, now known as Belarus, he came to the UK, as a two year old, with the family .
He played cricket for Hull Judeans from the age of 20 and was also in the Licensed Victuallers club which played as a Thursday team. After reflecting on a show of mediocre batting form over three years he decided cricket was best served by him taking up umpiring. This he did from 1925 until ill health forced him to retire in 1971. In acknowledgement of his umpiring with HULL CC at Anlaby Road Circle he was elected a life member of the Club.
The year 1955 saw him introduce our current President Michael Foster to umpiring. It came about as a visiting Sunday eleven had no one available to umpire their match. Little did he realise that, after asking Michael to join the association in 1957 when attending the monthly meetings at RAFA Club, Beverley Road, that his prodigy would surpass the years of service of himself and still be standing in the Diamond Jubilee year of 2013.
Mark Reuben was a most respected and well liked umpire in East Yorkshire cricket. He achieved a reputation for his knowledge of cricket laws and queries which were often settled for numerous customers at his barber shop in the city.
Contributed by Michael Foster
Guy Robinson
Guy Robinson was a well respected figure both on the sports field and in life in general. He was a member of Kirk Ella CC for 50 years and a life long sports fan. Guy died in Septemnber 1994 but he was still working in the press box at Hull City on the day he suffered the brain haemmorage that led to his death. Guy was a popular figure as an umpire, officiating across East Yorkshire and in the Humber Don League. He was also keen on junior football and helped coach a team in Anlaby.
He had been a freelance journalist and copy writer and was a familiar face at Boothferry Park where he helped out in the press box.
Eric Whitton
Eric Whitton founded the association in 1953 , when he had already been umpiring for over 30 years. His career as a cricketing official began as a fourteen year old when he took up scoring for BOCM. Two years later he began umpiring. In those days the fees for umpires in the E R Amateur League were: Division 3 - 2/6d; Division 2 - 3/6d; Division 1 - 4/6d, which included all expenses, but Eric travelled to matches on his bike. There was, of course, a free tea thrown in! After a carrer spanning sixty years Eric retired from umpiring in 1992 and carried on as the very respected lifetime President of ERCUSA until his death in 2012. Eric never played the game but derived immense satisfaction from his career as an umpire.
Not only was he a wonderul umpire and gentleman he was also a war hero having served in the Royal Artillery in the Second World War. Eric was also a member of Hull Zingari CC for over fifty years.
Colin Wiles
Colin Wiles was a hard hitting batsman and highly skilled wicket keeper who played for Beverley in the East Yorkshire Cup and Hull in the Yorkshire League. He also played in the Bradford League. After retiring from playing he became an excellent and highly respected umpire. From the local leagues he progressed to the Yorkshire League and on to county second XI matches. Colin served the association as appointments secretary.
He was a fanatical supporter of Hull FC and rarely missed a home fixture providing there was no clash with cricket, which always came first. Coilin died at the sadly young age of 56 in February 2000.
Keith Lamb
Former colleague Keith Lamb standing in a Zingari v Welton Match on the Chanterlands Avenue ground.
Keith Lamb umpired for many years in the Humber Don League and then in the Alliance. He was highly respected by players and colleagues for his shrewdness, temperament and the correctness of his decision making.
John Mowbray
John Mowbray joined Hull Cricket Club as a 16-year old and served the club for the best part of the next 60 years. In his early years, John was an attacking left-hand batsman and occasional seam bowler. He had the left-hander’s classic cover drive, but could also hit the ball hard – twice hitting the first ball of the innings for six. In later years, he became an obdurate specialist in crease-occupation, and prided himself on rarely being bowled.
He played for over 15 years in the Hull’s number 2 side – punctuated by a spell of National Service – and helped them to win the East Yorkshire Cup in 1958. During his National Service in the RAF, he was stationed at Sutton Coldfield and played in the Birmingham League and in Forces games. John had his first experience of umpiring whilst still playing for Hull in the 1960s, standing regularly in the popular old Circle Cup evening knock-out competition for many years. After 20 years at Hull CC, John had a few seasons with Hull YPI in the 1970s, but returned to the Circle in 1976.
When a new committee was elected at Hull in 1984 under his old friend Maurice Atkinson, John joined it. He was a committed and outspoken committee member, and raised many thousands of pounds for the club by arranging advertising, functions and raffles. For a while, John served as vice-chairman of the Hull club. He was very keen on developing young cricketers; managing Hull’s under-17s, and resurrecting and captaining the old Hull An XI, in order to introduce junior players to Saturday league cricket.
Around 1993, John started umpiring league cricket regularly, standing first in the old Humber Don league, then the East Yorkshire Cricket Alliance. By 2002 he had retired from league cricket, but he continued to stand in junior cricket, always without accepting any fee, right up until 2010.
Contributed by Roger Pugh
George Ayre
George was the doyen of East Riding cricket umpires. George retired in the early 1970s, but his reputation lived on for many years. A relatively short man, flamboyant in his signals on the field, he enjoyed a highly enviable reputation amongst local cricketers. Roger Pugh remembers when starting out with the Association in 1975, that George was referred to in revered tones as the level to aspire to - if George gave you ‘out’ – you were out!!
Contributed by Roger Pugh
Do you have any memories or photographs of these chaps that we could publish?
Mike Jones has kindly provided some photographs including the group above and those below.
Les Hilton Fred Minter
Malcolm Ripley has kindly provided a list of names of past and present colleagues and this has been added to by Michael Foster, Michael Free, Jeff Jackson, Roger Pugh and Keith Smith.
A Richard Abba, R Abbey, John Abram, Dr Thomas Abraham, Peter Aldread, Albert Allen, John Anderson, Rev John Andrews, John Andrew, Graham Andrew, Vernon Asker, Sam Atkinson, George Ayre.
B Peter Bacon, P Baker, R Barker, Frank Barratt, Albert Bell, Billy Bell, Dennis Bellamy OBE DL, Dave Beldan, Staveley Belton, Fred Bernard, Steve Berry, Howard Bicknell, Ken Blackie, Keith Blagg, Edward Blair, David Blair, Edward Blank, Geoffrey Bowling, F Brand, Geoff Brice, George Brown, Gerry Brown, David Browne, Ian Broumpton, Alec Buckton, John Buckton, Patricia Buckton, Derek Bullamore, Ray Bullock, George Bunker, Steven Bunn.
C Eric Cameron, Eric Camp, John Carr, David Carroll, Malcolm Cartwright, Derek Chadburn, Ted Clarke, Matthew Cole, Malcolm Cookman, Melvin Cookman, H Cooper, R Cooper, G Coultas, Lawrie Coward, Dave Craker, Ted Croft.
D Alan Dalton, Bill Dalton, Frank Daniel, H Dearnley, Geoff Dingsdale, Cyril Dodd, Ron Downs, W (Billy) Dunn, Fred Du Pree,
E Andrew Eastwood, Richard Elvidge, Bob Evans, Neil Evison.
F Peter Farrar, Ken Featherston, Malcolm Forbes, Michael Foster, Pete Fowler, Pete Fox, E Francis, M Franks, Michael Free.
G Colin Gates, Jonathon Geddes-McClure, V Gilmore, Chris Glew, J Graham, Steve Graham, Gavin Gray, Bob Green, Ken Green, Mick Green, Ken Griffin, Frank Goddard, Neil Goforth, Len Goldspink, Mike Gooch.
H Bob Hakeney, Tony Hales, Charlie Harrison, Paul Harrison, Dave Hart, J Harvatt, Mike Herbert, Les Hilton, John Hinds, B Hodson, Graham Hoe, Billy Holmes, Peter Holmes, Phil Holmes, L Howarth, Keith Hulland, Chris Howgill, Mike Hutchinson.
I Tony Ireland.
J Stan Jackets, Harry Jackson MBE, Jeff Jackson, Michael Jones, Alan Jones.
K Ken Kendrew, Paul Kirby, Michael King, Wilf Kingdom.
L Vince Lacey, Kenneth Lake, John Lamb, Keith Lamb, Mike Laws, Mike Lawson, Ralph Lawson, Geoff Lazenby, Fred Levitt, Mike Linwood, Keith Lodge, N Longhorn, Alan Longmate, Brian Lowthorpe.
M Russell Mathers, Lachlan Mclean, T Medforth, Derek Miller, Ian Milner, Fred Minter, John Money, Richard Morwood, John Mowbray, Mike Mullaney, Peter Myers.
N Tom Naylor, Ron Nendick, Gerald Newman, Will Newman, Tom Nicholson, Bernard Norris,
O Ian Oakes, Alan Obridge, John Ollett, Richard Ollett.
P Mark Palmer, Andrew Penney MBE, Richard Perry, John Peck, Richard Pettit, Gordon Prescott, Mike Puckering, Roger Pugh OBE.
R John Raynor, Martin Reed, Dave Rees, Mark Reuben, Andrew Ribee, Tom Ribee, Bob Roper, E Roberts, Alan Ripley, Malcolm Ripley, Alan Robinson, Frank Robinson, Guy Robinson, Ron Robinson, Les Rosindale, Mike Robertson, L Rowson.
S Melvyn Sadofsky, Paul Salisbury, Peter Samphire, Brian Sanderson, D Sanderson, Ian Sanderson, Denis Sawdon, Roy Scott, Dave Sheehan, Tim Silversides, Arnold Silvester, Dave Silvester, David Smith, Eric Smith, F W Smith, Keith Smith, Norman Smith, Shaun Smith, Len Speight, Tom Smith, W Smith, Ted Stamford, Eric Stephenson, Dave Stuart, Harry Swift.
T J Talbot, Len Thacker, Derek Thorpe, Charlie Tichias, Major Peter Todd, John Tooke, Jim Treadwell, Arthur Twiddle.
U Nick Ullfors.
W John Walker, Paul Wallis, Tom Waltham, Bing Watson, Les Watts, Mike Wellock, Jack West, Colin Wiles, S Williamson, Malcolm White, Eric Whitton, Norman Whitton, Graham Wilson, J Wood, Robert Wood, R Woodhead, Bert Wreghitt.
Y Jack Yates, Barry Young, Jimmy Yull.
Scorers:
Simon Bailey, Elizabeth Coles, Fred Curtis, ex Sutton CC, Sue Everingham, ex South Holderness CC, David Free Hull YPI, Lewis Fryer SHCC, Phil High Londesborough Park CC, Luke Ingram SHCC, Alice Johnson, Humbleton CC, Philip Pickering, Patrington, Steve Pickersgill, Kirk Ella CC, Phil Rogers Fenners, Ray Teal Beverley CC.
Scorers:
Simon Bailey, Elizabeth Coles, Fred Curtis, ex Sutton CC, Sue Everingham, ex South Holderness CC, David Free Hull YPI, Lewis Fryer SHCC, Phil High Londesborough Park CC, Luke Ingram SHCC, Alice Johnson, Humbleton CC, Philip Pickering, Patrington, Steve Pickersgill, Kirk Ella CC, Phil Rogers Fenners, Ray Teal Beverley CC.
Local Cricket Umpires, who have “stood” in the various Leagues – that are current or defunct, over the past years. Please note that a number of these Officials, may not have been members of the ERCU&SA, however in the past, the ER Cricket Pennant Alliance, the Humberside Cricket Federation and clubs in other leagues had to provide one Umpire to officiate in their Leagues matches. (Originally contributed by MGR.)
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