Thornbury Cricket Club Centenary Handbook 1871 – 1971

(This extract is copied from the Thornbury Cricket Club Centenary Handbook 1871 – 1971 with the kind permission of Thornbury Cricket Club)

“It is a privilege to be invited to write a Foreword to a History of the Thornbury Cricket Club on attaining its Centenary in 1971.

The Club was founded by my father, Dr. E. M. Grace, in 1871, the first home matches being played in a field in Thornbury, adjacent to his residence at Park House.  The following year, however, the ground at the Ship Inn at Alveston, came into use and has continued as the Thornbury Club ground ever since.

Many high scores were recorded in the early years of the Club, and this is not surprising as my uncles, W.G. and G.F., occasionally played for the Club; it will be remembered that the three brothers all played for England in the first Test match against Australia at the Oval in 1880.  The rule allowing a declaration by the batting side was not introduced until about 1889 and therefore very high scores were made and the opposing side might never go in at all!

In the early years of the Club a number of well known cricketers played for Thornbury, and the fixture list included matches against strong clubs, such as Cardiff, Newport, and Bath, as well as the pick of the Bristol clubs.

My own earliest recollection of matches at the Ship dates from about 1900; my father continued to play for the Club until 1910, and was still extraordinarily successful bowling “lobs”, and in 1906 took 352 wickets; and in batting, whilst not making many runs, was able to hold his end up for long periods when required, and if Gloucestershire had no match in progress Thornbury were frequently reinforced by such players as Jack Board, George Dennett, and Tommy Langden.

I well remember the extraordinary innings played by W. Hyman for Bath Associa¬tion in July, 1902; both sides had been out cheaply in their first innings, and so the game was continued, Hyman proceeding to make 359 in an hour and three-quarters mostly off my father’s bowling.  Two successive overs yielded 32 and 30 runs.

After the first World War, Thornbury cricket started again at the Ship in 1919, my brother, Dr. Edgar M. Grace, having taken over the affairs of the Club, of which he continued as Captain and Secretary for nearly forty years.

In this period a good standard of cricket was maintained local players who advanced to play for Gloucestershire were Archie Penduck, Billy Neale, and Derrick Hawkins.  One of the best batsmen we had was R. P. Keigwin, others who gave splendid service to the Club were the brothers Gilbert and Frank Pullin and Jack Hodges.  In the twenties we relied mostly on slow or medium bowling, but later we had an opening pair of fast bowlers, Bob Mayo and Bill Harris, who must have been amongst the best playing in the County.

Some cricket was played through the second World War, and for this we have especially to thank Dr. Edgar Grace who, in addition to his medical duties managed to maintain the ground in good condition.

Since the War the Club has continued to provide a good standard of cricket and in 1971 celebrates its Centenary Year.

I am delighted to learn that the well known cricket writer, Mr. S. Canynge Caple, has undertaken to edit this Centenary History of the Thornbury Club. I hope that the Club may continue for many years to come to provide a high standard of cricket for the enjoyment of both players and spectators, and in particular, I wish all success to the celebration of our Centenary Year.
NORMAN GRACE.”