My Uncle Frank

We are a three-generation cricketing family. I never met either my paternal grandfather or granduncle, as both had passed away before I was born, however, although we lived two-hundred miles apart I got to know my father's brothers and sisters well.

My father played for a minor county, his most momentous feat being a hat-trick of "brilliant catches" for which he was awarded the ball, suitably mounted, on which is a silver plate recording the event. When his playing days ended he stood as an umpire for minor Cricket Clubs in the Merseyside area.

My Uncle Frank was by far the best player in the family having played for Worcestershire C.C. at the age of only seventeen. But for losing an arm below the elbow, during World War One at Salonika in 1917, he certainly would have found a place on the England Test Team. However, by taking up umpiring while still in his twenties, Frank became the most famous in that field. Born on Sunday, 20th January 1895, he died on Monday, 8th April 1957 and, as a Memorial, he is buried, symbolically between two yew trees, in Bushey's Parish Churchyard, Hertfordshire.

Whenever the family got together we would listen spellbound to my Uncle's many fascinating cricketing stories. Here are a few, the first being my favourite.

When "Bodyline Bowling" had become popular, around 1930, it was the understood thing a fast bowler did not employ the "method" when another fast bowler was at bat. This informal agreement was broken when my Uncle was standing in a match at Nottinghamshire. At the time, Harold Larwood was at the height of his career (this was before the infamous episode of 1932, in Australia, for which Larwood was made the scapegoat, despite the fact that he was obeying his Captain's orders!) In the first innings when Larwood was at bat, he faced a fast-ball bowler who unwisely "bodylined" him. My memory urges me to state that the offending bowler was William "Bill" Voce but, as he also played for Notts, my grey matter obviously isn't quite what it used to be. Anyway, in the next innings at the beginning of an over, when the offending bowler came in to bat, Larwood turned to Frank saying that "I am going to pin that so-and-so to the sight screen!" First one nearly 100 mph ball, then another - on the third delivery, there was a click the ball being caught in the slips, after which the batsman started to walk off. My Uncle called "Not out" as the ball had hit the batsman's pads not his bat. He was heard to mutter something like "By God I am" and continued his walk to the pavilion!

Writing of fast bowling reminds me of Frank's favourite story about Freddie Truman which occurred early in the Yorkshireman's tempestuos career. No matter the position of the opposing batsman's legs, Freddie was calling "Howzatt" in a manner most truculent. Finally, losing patience, my Uncle pulled Truman to one side telling him that it wasn't the way to address an Umpire. The polite way, Frank told him was to make the appeal by saying "How's that, Sir!" A little later, Truman delivered a legitimate lbw calling the appeal in the prescribed manner, whereupon Frank turned to him saying "That's better my boy" signalling the batsman out!

During the first over of a Test match, my Uncle took his hand out of his pocket preparatory to giving the batsman out lbw. When he realised that no one had appealed, back into the pocket went his hand! Answering a protest from the fielding team's Captain that he should have given the batsman out, my Uncle said that he must be going deaf as he hadn't heard anything from the bowler!

Keith Ross Miller, the great Australian all-rounder, loved classical music. On one occasion after play had finished for the day, he was enjoying a drink with my Uncle, while, at the time, the BBC Symphony Orchestra was broadcasting their rendition of the Brandenburg Concerti. Keith turned to my Uncle asking, "What do you think of Bach?" To which Frank replied, "I don't know, he hasn't bowled at my end this season."

Writing of Test Matches and Keith Miller reminds me of Sir Donald Bradman declaring one of Frank's decisions as being the finest ever made in the history of cricket. It occurred at the beginning of Australia's second innings in the Fourth Test of 1948 battle for the "Ashes" played at Headingly. When Alec Bedser's third ball was delivered to Sir Donald, who was opening bat, there was a click the ball being caught in the slips, my Uncle calling "Not out." When Bedser appealed the decision, Frank, as was his wont, turned his back on him. This prompted Norman Yardley, England's Captain, to intercede on Alec Bedser's behalf. Saying not a word, Frank beckoned the Captain to follow him down to Bradman's wicket where he pointed out the small red mark, left by the new ball, as it had clicked on a stump without dislodging a bail. Sir Donald went on to hit 178 runs!

Often umpires find themselves in the way of a well hit ball. On one occasion Frank while umpiring at square-leg, he instinctively caught a ball coming directly at him. The batsman allegedly called out "Well fielded Sir!" However, I believe no umpires experienced what Frank did when arriving at the ground for his first official wearing of the white coat. When attempting to gain admission at the Player's Entrance, the gate-keeper in no uncertain terms told him to "Run away sonny before I call a bobby." When Frank told him that he was one of the umpires, the gate-keeper said something to the effect that Frank maybe the son of an umpire but it didn't excuse him for trying to get in to see the match for free! Apparently, it wasn't until the arrival of the visiting team's captain, who knew my Uncle, that the gate-keeper, albeit reluctantly, allowed him to enter the ground. Perhaps he may be forgiven as doubtless he expected to see someone at least twice Frank's age. I wonder what the reaction was when my Uncle arrived at the Player's Entrance in 1924, while still in his twenties, to stand in his first Test Match.

   

Some of the many sites, found on the Internet, in which Frank's name is mentioned:

Frank's Career Statistics

Glamorgan Club News - 5th December, 1996

Dispatch on Line - 30th July, 1998

Rediff on the Net - 21st December,1999

Rediff on the Net - 3rd January, 2000

Vale Sir Don

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