11. Chapter 8 The Uneasy Years before the War 1930-1945

Denis Compton and Arthur Fagg youthful visitors: Lord Home scores 69: Three fine innings in 1934 (Johnson 119, Wellard· 149, Dobbings 203): Closed for the War

The cricketing sensation of 1930 was the young Don Bradman, making his first visit to England with the Australian Touring Team. He scored 131 in the Nottingham Test, 254 at Lords, 334 at Leeds and 232 at the Oval. Bradman's success stimulated interest in cricket at all levels of the game.
In Bexley, one of the most eagerly awaited matches of 1930 was that against the MCC in Cricket Week. The MCC sent a strong team, captained by G E C Wood, who had kept wicket for England a few years before. The spectators were rewarded with a feast of runs and a fine all-round performance by A J B Fowler of Middlesex

Scores: MCC 292 (Fowler 79)
Bexley 189-9 (S B Gorringe 67; Fowler 6-49)

Archie Fowler made many visits to Bexley over the next 20 years, always making a point of strolling round the ground and commenting how much he liked the setting. After retiring from the first-class game he became head coach at Lords and regularly brought teams of aspiring young professionals to play against the Club. The future England players Fred Titmus and John Murray played at Bexley in these matches.
Another well-known visitor in 1930 was C S Marriott, the Kent (and later England) bowler. 'Father' Marriott, as he was always known in cricketing circles, was one of the best leg break bowlers of the era. He was, however, very unathletic and his fielding and batting were unbelievably bad62. In his first class career he took more wickets than he scored runs, but on his visit to Bexley he reversed his normal order of success by scoring 7 runs and taking 6 wickets (for 47). Horace Goddard had the distinction of hitting him for two huge sixes.
The Bexley umpire at this time was Stan Gannaway. 'Gann' had a deformed leg which prevented him playing cricket but cricket in general and Bexley cricket in particular
were his great interests in life. He began umpiring for the 2nd XI in 1919, before moving to the 1st XI. He earned a reputation as a very sound umpire, albeit with the disconcerting habit of banging loudly on his metallic leg-iron when signalling leg byes. Gann umpired for thirty years before taking to his special armchair at the front of the pavilion. From this vantage point he kept a critical eye on the game and, particularly when lubricated with a little medicinal Guinness, would regale his listeners with hilarious accounts of incidents he had seen.
The annual match at Bexley against Kent Club and Ground in I930 resulted in an easy
victory for the visitors. W H 'Hopper' Levett kept wicket for the C&G XI, as he was to do so for Kent and England in the years ahead.
Many young cricketers destined to become very well known in first class cricket have played at Bexley, and one such player appeared with great success for Kent C&G'XI in 1931. He was Arthur Fagg who, although only 15 years old at the time, scored 131. four C&G wickets had fallen for only 20 runs when Fagg arrived at the wicket. He said to the Kent umpire, with the confidence of youth, "Surely, there's no reason for these chaps to get out?"62 and proceeded to hit the bowling all-round the ground. As a young player Arthur Fagg was thought by some judges to be a better prospect than Len Hutton, but his career was hindered by illness and although he played a few times for England did not quite reach the heights predicted for him. He is, however, the only English batsman to have scored a double century in each innings of a match: 244 and 202 not out for Kent against Essex in 1938.
One of the leading Bexley players in the 1920s and 30s was F T C 'Hacker' Johnson. He first visited the ground in 1912*, as an eight year old, to watch his father play for Bexleyheath against Bexley. His first view of the ground and the kindness of the tea ladies made a lasting impression on him and sowed the seeds of a life-long interest in the Club. He became a playing member in 1922 and for nearly forty years was a leading figure both on and off the field. His best season was 1929 when he scored over 1000 runs at an average of 46 and took 43 wickets with his away-swingers.

Although not a tall man Hacker was a magnificent straight driver of the ball and hit many huge sixes. He is believed to be the only person to have hit a ball directly on to the railway embankment, a distance of some 130 metres. On many occasions during the inter­ war years he opened the innings with a devastating onslaught on the opposing bowling. Some of his more spectacular innings are described later in this chapter. (His nick-name stemmed from his activities on the hockey field and not from his batting style).
Cricket Week in 1931 was blessed with exceptionally fine weather. George Wood again brought down a strong MCC team to open the week and attracted a large crowd of spectators. For most of the matches Bexley turned out young and inexperienced teams, but although all the matches were lost they were not too one-sided. The sideshows and other evening attractions were well patronised; they included dancing on the green, a beauty contest, a scouts boxing tournament, a tug-of-war between the police of Sidcup and Bexley, an ankle competition ("open to all England"), culminating on the Saturday evening with a fancy dress carnival with over a hundred entries, the procession marching up the High Street to the ground led by a brass band.
At the end of 1931, an inventory was made of every item of Club Property, down to the last cup and saucer. This list has survived and provides interesting insight into the everyday workings of the Club. For example, it shows that the Club now had motor mowers, but that the old horse drawn rollers and mower, and the horse's collar, boots and harness had not been discarded. It also shows that the Club had netting, coconut matting and other items necessary for net practice. The presence of beer and wine glasses on the list shows that members drank at the pavilion, rather than at a local pub after the matches.

*The score book for 1912 came to light recently and shows ‘E Johnson’ playing for Bexleyheath at Bexley on 17th August 1912, in confirmation of Hacker’s recollection of the event written 74 years later

The inventory was neatly hand written by Harry Vinson, who was the Chairman of the ground committee at the time. The Vinson family were prominent cricketers and local farmers for many years; however in 1932 Harry sold his farm - Hurst Farm - for the Hurst Road housing development and left the district.
In the 1932 match against Kent Club and Ground, Bexley collapsed to be all out for 36. Kent replying with 139. There was some consolation for Bexley in the bowling of George Lovegrove, who at the age of 18 showed great promise by taking 5 for 19. He also bowled very well in the final match of Cricket Week, taking 5 for 12, including a hat trick, against the Bank of England. He was soon to become a key all-rounder in the team for the next twenty years.
For several seasons during the 1930s the groundsman was a Mr Cassell. He was employed from April to October for £3 a week. In addition he received the proceeds of a benefit match which usually amounted to about £25.
This may be a convenient point at which to refer to the finances of the Club. The cost of running the Club over the years and the corresponding members' subscriptions are shown below:-

The responsibility for the administration of the Club's finances has, of course, lain with the Hon Treasurer. In 1923 Basil Brook, the Manager of Martins Bank [now Barclays] in Bexley High Street, was elected Treasurer. This was the start of a pleasant and valuable tradition, for over the next fifty years Messrs B S Noakes, S E Lawrence, A L Kirk and J A Jacques were successively both managers of the bank and Club Treasurers. (After this time, with changing circumstances and the need for the Treasurer to work very closely with colleagues on the committee it became more appropriate to elect a Treasurer from the ranks of the membership.)
Overall the 1932 season was not very successful and a complication arose before the start of the next season when Ralph Alderwick announced that he would not be available for re-election as Captain. The committee considered that none of the current 1st XI players was suitable to replace him and encouraged A G Parsons, who had not played for several years, to come out of retirement and take on the captaincy. After considerable argument at the AGM, at which several players spoke in favour of electing a younger person, Parsons was elected. The decision was not a success and
before the next AGM the playing members insisted that they should have a greater say
in the selection of the captain.
But all was not gloom in 1933. Cricket Week was blessed, as it usually was in the 1930s. with sunny weather and the ground looked a picture with its flowering plants and 1nIn1mg. As usual several first class cricketers took part, including Flt Lt Jack Holmes (Sussex) who later became the Chairman of the Test Selectors, G E C Wood and A P Day (Kent). But the most interesting visitor that year was Lord Dunglass (later Lord Hume) who was to become Prime Minister thirty years later. He was a very good player. having played first class cricket for Oxford and Middlesex. At Bexley63 he batted very neatly in scoring 69*. Some fifty years later I wrote to him about the match and he replied in a most charming manner about his recollections of it.
foe years later Lord Dunglass was to accompany Neville Chamberlain to meet Adolf Hitler in Munich, in his effort to avert the Second World War. It is perhaps ironic that the winner of the prize for the most original fancy dress costume in the carnival in 1933 wait the Hon Sec, A W Josephs, who dressed up as Hitler. Three thousand people gathered on the ground that evening to enjoy the fun.
On a very different topic, during the 1930s the number of trains using the Bexley line increased greatly and play was often held up as batsmen waited for them to pass out of their line of sight. Percy Waistell, the Chairman, decided to try to overcome this problem by planting a screen of trees at the foot of the railway embankment. In the winter of 1933/4, at his own expense, he planted a long line of poplars, but unfortunately most of them died and now there are only four left. The solitary poplar near the tennis pavilion became known affectionately as "Waistell's Folly". But it was an interesting experiment and might be worth trying again.
On the subject of trees, it would be interesting to know when, and under what circumstances, the row of lime trees along the western side of the ground was planted. Expert opinion on its age differs, but a planting date of about 1870 seems the most likely. In 1987 a hurricane swept across the South East of England and many trees nearby were uprooted, but miraculously the Club's thirteen superb Limes were undamaged.
For 1934 L R Ferguson was elected Captain and he proved a popular choice. The improved team spirit was shown in excellent victories over Bickley Park, Dartford and Gravesend, and favourable draws with Sidcup and Blackheath. Hacker Johnson played a memorable innings* (See Appendix 1 for detail) against Gravesend at the Bat and Ball ground64. He went in at No 7, with the team struggling at 94-5 and scored 119 in 56 minutes. He hit six sixes. five of them clean out of the ground. After the sixth six the groundsman said that the replacement ball was the last they had and another lost ball would mean the end of the game. Fortunately no more balls were lost and the game continued. Bexley were all our for 243 and Gravesend just managed to avoid defeat with 177-9.
The most exciting news for local cricket enthusiasts that year was that Arthur Wellard was coming up from Somerset to play for Bexley on the Saturday of Cricket Week against the Bank of England. Some three thousand spectators crammed into the ground and they were not disappointed65. Arthur scored a magnificent 149. Bexley declared at 260-9 and the Bank replied with 181. Wellard's hitting that day was still being talked about fifty years later by those fortunate enough to have been there*; for excitement and atmosphere this was probably the most memorable occasion in the Club's history.
It might be thought that after the remarkable innings of Johnson and Wellard the 1934
season could not possibly produce any more batting triumphs. But in a match against Blackheath near the end of the season66 M W J Dobbings scored a magnificent 203*. He and Gamble (72) opened the innings and put on 269 in 1¾ hours. The innings was declared closed at 296-2 when Dobbings was out. He batted for just 125 minutes and
hit 4 sixes and 27 fours. His score of 203 has only once been exceeded by a Bexley player, when John Shuter scored 304 not out in 1884. Dobbings' 203 is in fact the highest score made in a match which was still 'live', Shuter having batted on long after the game was won. Blackheath were all out for 91. By a fortunate coincidence the team photograph was taken that day and the scoreboard behind the players shows the historic score (see illustration).
Maurice Dobbings had just returned from his honeymoon when he scored his double century; strangely his wife took a great dislike to the name Dobbings and insisted that it be change to Dobeyn. Unfortunately for the Club, they moved out of the district at the end of the season and Maurice did not play again for Bexley.
Away from the cricket field, the President, Councillor A R Potter JP was elected Chairman of Bexley Urban District Council in 1934. In that capacity he played a big part in the purchases of Bexley Woods (£2,000) and Hall Place (£25,000) for use by the public.
One of the pleasures of Cricket Week in the 1930s was the opportunity it gave of seeing and playing against many well-known players. 1935 was a vintage year in this respect. Denis Compton, then only 17, appeared for the MCC, scoring 16 in a total of 266-8 dec*(See Appendix 1 for detail) Bexley replied with 171-7, with Hacker Johnson going great guns with 75 not out at No 767. Compton played his first Test two years later and, of course, went on to become one of the most popular players of all time.
In another match in the Week, 'Big Jim' Smith of Middlesex and England met with great success, scoring 61 and taking 4 wickets with his fast bowling. Bexley made a very creditable 221-6 in reply to their opponents' 244-8 declared. Hacker Johnson, after overcoming the surprise of Smith's fiery pace, had the pleasure of straight driving him for six over the sight screen in his innings of 56.
In the history of the Club there have been very few matches which have ended in a tie. But in 1936 a match at Bickley Park ended in this way after a most exciting game which favoured first one side and then the other. It was a misty, humid day and when Bexley were put in to bat they found the ball was swinging a great deal. Six wickets fell for 9 runs. At this point skipper Ferguson and Johnson came together. They had been to a cricket dinner the previous night and had gone to sleep in the pavilion, hoping not to have to bat. But they were woken up and hastily padded up; Johnson made 84 and Ferguson 30, so that the side reached the respectable score of 162.
Bickley Park at first made light of the task of scoring the runs and reached l10 before the first wicket fell. But wickets then began to fall rapidly, till the scores were level at

Bexley C.C., 1934
Back row- W. Martin (scorer), W. D.Myers, Capt. J. U. Hall, A.W. Josephs (Hon. Sec.) J.A. Richardson, E.B. Kelsey, L.Rogers, J.WGaunt, S. Gannaway (umpire)
Front row- Front Row - G.F.Lovegrove, H.C. Davey, H.W. Starkey, L.R. Ferguson (Capt.), M.W.J. Dobbings, F.T.C.Johnson, B.0.B.Gamble
Seated - H. Crooks, J.C.R. Prewer.
The scoreboard shows Dobbings' score of 203.

at 162-8. George Lovegrove then proceeded to take the two remaining wickets in successive balls without conceding a run, to achieve a tie amid scenes of great excitement.
Percy Waistell, the Chairman, was very active in many spheres during the 1930s. Apart from his business position as Chairman of Reffells Brewery, he was a Kent County Councillor and involved with most of the numerous village societies active in those days. He was a churchwarden at St Mary's and in 1937 launched an appeal for funds to pay for the re-hanging of the church bells, which had been silent for nearly sixty years. The project was successful and today as the bells ring out across the meadows they help to create the atmosphere of a classic English village cricket ground.
In the same year local government in Bexley was reorganised, with the Urban District Council becoming a Borough. Alistair Potter, the Club President, was elected the first Mayor of Bexley and, in a pleasant gesture, the mace for the new borough was donated by his friend Percy Waistell.
A feature of the cricket at this time was the fine all-round play of Lovegrove. He had opened the batting and bowling for several seasons. He scored a particularly good century on the county ground at Gravesend in 1937, hitting 4 sixes and 18 fours in only 80 minutes.
Perhaps as significant for the Club, this period saw the debuts of three very promising cricketers, C F Hoare, J W Jeffery and R E Stilwell. They played their first matches for the 3rd XI but were soon in the 1st XI. Jimmy Jeffery scored 67 not out against Beckenham 1st XI, a remarkable feat for a 16 year old. All three were to become regular members of the 1st XI for the next thirty years.
By 1938 there was a growing recognition that another War in Europe was inevitable. By the end of the season 85,000 gas masks had been supplied to the area, there were barrage balloons, searchlights and anti-aircraft guns in Danson Park and trenches had been dug throughout the Borough. When war was declared at the beginning of September 1939 many members of the Club immediately joined up for military service.
For 1940 the Club decided to try to run one Eleven, to provide relaxation for those engaged locally on War duties. For the first time ever, Sunday cricket was played at Manor Way, against Army teams. The war-time matches had their hair-raising moments; in one match at Dartford play was held up as waves of enemy bombers flew overhead and play was only resumed when the pitch had been inspected for bomb fragments.
Bexley played 29 matches in 1941, a surprisingly large number in the circumstances. The standard of play was not as high as it had been, but the matches provided a welcome diversion from the grimmer aspects of war-time life. Remarkably, in these matches Bert Brisley took over 100 wickets, the first time this feat had been achieved by a Bexley player. By the end of 1941, however, the situation had become impossible and the Club closed down for the rest of the War. Civil Defence personnel used the ground during the latter part of the War and at one stage it echoed to the unfamiliar sounds of American troops playing baseball.