An Evening with Tom
Graveney
and writer, Marcus
Moore, at Cotswold Hills Golf Club
in aid of the Kambia Hospital Appeal
Photos: Mike Charity-Cotswold Life
Richard Kerr-Wilson with Marcus
Moore, Tom Graveney and Peter Boreham
On Friday 22nd November 2003,
67 people gathered at the Cotswold Hills Golf Club on the outskirts
of Cheltenham to spend an informal evening in the company of the
legendary English batsman Tom Graveney.
This fundraising dinner in aid of the Kambia Hospital Appeal was
expertly organised by Mr John Kloer and Godfrey Taylor and attracted
a broad cross section of the local community from the bone fide
cricketing aficionados to those with a more rudimentary knowledge
of the game. After a thoroughly enjoyable meal, the assembled
company settled down to the serious business of the auction. Mr
Harwood as the auctioneer for the evening had little difficulty
in drumming up interest in an eclectic mixture of items including
a signed Cliff Richard CD, a pair of tickets to the Henley Royal
Regatta, a sumptuous wicker hamper and a signed Jack Russell print
to finish off proceedings.
 |
| Godfrey Taylor with
Richard and Joey Kerr-Wilson and John Kloer (organiser
of the dinner)
|
The auction complete, Tom Graveney
and his interviewer for the evening, the writer Marcus
Moore, took the floor. For the next forty five minutes we
were treated to a wonderfully intimate insight into the life of
a world class cricketer in the halcyon days of the 1950’s and
60’s. It was fascinating to learn about Tom’s childhood in the
North East and his early sporting memories. During his wartime
army career it wasn’t long before his sporting prowess was noted
by his superiors who then made him responsible for recruiting
the most gifted athletes passing through his base in the Middle
East into his regiment. Needless to say Tom’s “ringers” made a
clean sweep of all the regimental sporting silverware on offer!
After the war it had been Tom’s
intention to pursue a career in the army, had it not been for
his brother’s last minute invitation to play as a substitute for
a Gloucestershire XI in the summer of 1945. Needless to say, his
flamboyant stroke play caught the eyes of the selectors and Tom’s
fate was sealed. The life of a young cricketing professional in
those post-war years was a far cry from the pampered existence
of today’s young stars. The players performed everyday through
the summer months before having to endure six month tours of the
subcontinent in less than luxurious conditions and without the
company of their long suffering wives and children.
 |
| Wink Farr and Ka Boreham
|
The Ashes tours held
many fond memories for Tom, the intensity of the competition,
the camaraderie amongst team-mates and opponents alike and the
taste of victory on Australian soil, something our current generation
of cricketers have yet to experience. Despite being pressed by
Marcus Moore, Tom was too discreet to offer an opinion as to why
we had been less than successful this winter in Australia. Although
he did hint that perhaps the modern player, despite a plethora
of coaches, fitness gurus and sports psychologists might
not be quite as well prepared physically nor be as mentally tough
as the top players of his generation. Tom’s career was by
no means plain sailing as he suffered more than most from the
vagaries of the English selectors and county cricket administrators,
but despite this he made a successful return to the test arena
at the grand old age of 35.
 |
| Peter Boreham with Anne
and Richard Stephens and Jackie Graveney
|
Life after his playing days saw
Tom turn his hand to a number of occupations including a ten year
spell as landlord of the Royal Oak in Prestbury, a hostelry well
known to many of his audience, and a memorable period as a test
match commentator for the BBC. For those of us who had grown up
either watching Tom play or listening to his commentary it had
been a wonderful privilege to hear the reminiscences of a true
sporting legend.
The evening was capped off by
the Richard Kerr-Wilson’s announcement that the European
Commission had kick started the Kambia project with £180,000 and
that work could now commence in earnest. The evening itself contributed
£1,800 to the cause and we can only hope that future fundraising
events are equally successful and enjoyable.
Mr John Ferris |
