Men in White
The 1894 Surrey Championship winning team included four great Thames Ditton players: Back row: Maurice Read (first left), Tom Richardson (second left), George Ayres (third left). Middle row: Bill Brockwell (second right).
To celebrate this year's 175th anniversary of Thames Ditton Cricket Club, a book, "Men in White on Giggs Hill Green," has been specially written by former player and local resident David Harries. Richly illustrated, Men In White traces the history of the club from its very first match in July 1833 to the current day. To his credit, the author has ensured that long lists of statistics don't get in the way of a good story.
Harries doesn't attempt to gloss over the enormously difficult times the club has faced. He acknowledges, with some justification, the important role Thames Ditton has played in the development of the club game. He also believes TDCC's future looks secure and that the Club is well placed to face the challenges of the future.
As the book reveals, apart from Sir Alec Bedser - who has written the Foreword and had a benefit game on the Green in 1953 - many other famous names have played their part in Thames Ditton's remarkable history.
Heathfield Stephenson, born in Esher, played for Thames Ditton before going on to star for Surrey and England. In 1861 he captained the first England side to tour Australia. His nephew Maurice Read, whose father owned a shop in the High Street, also played for Surrey and England. He scored the club's first century in 1889 and was granted the rare honour of a Test Match for his benefit. Tom Richardson, was included in the Six Giants of Wisden selected by Neville Cardus in its 1963 Centenary edition .He lived in Angel Road and was also a vociferous member of the committee.
Other famous names from the 'golden age of cricket 'include Bill Brockwell (Surrey and England) and George Ayres (Surrey) whose father was publican of The Angel .A photograph of the 1894 Surrey championship winning team shows Read, Brockwell, Richardson and Ayres who were all in the side. In 1939 Eddie Watts (of Watts Road fame) took all 10 wickets for Surrey against Warwickshire. Along with his brothers Les and Ernie, he is specifically mentioned by Bedser in his Foreword. In the early 1950s vast crowds flocked to watch cricket on the Green. Regular benefit matches were held for Surrey players including Eddie Watts, Laurie Fishlock, Jack Parker and Bedser himself.
From the early 1870s until the outbreak of the First World War the club was the heart of village life. Annual Concerts were organised and these continued until the 1950s when at least two concerts were staged, one to celebrate the Club's 125th anniversary.Until 1977 the club didn't have its own pavilion. Players changed at The Angel - its headquarters for 135 years - or in old Bell tents erected before each game. The late 1960s almost saw the demise of the club.
It was in the mid-1970s that, due entirely to the determination of one man, the then President Douglas Manser, the club leased a site from the Milk Marketing Board, raised £15,000 and obtained planning consent for a timber framed building. In 1977, the first pavilion was opened with a celebrity match against Boardian Allstars, led by the legendary Denis Compton. It was watched by 2000 spectators. By the early 1990s, however, it was accepted that the pavilion, built 16 years earlier, was not up to the high standards required by the Surrey Championship. Thus in 2002, a project first launched in 1993 to set up a Pavilion Fund to build a replacement, was revived and in July 2004 the magnificent new two-storey brick pavilion was opened by Sir Trevor MacDonald..
This season the club is running four sides on Saturdays and two on Sundays. The colts section continues to thrive and there is also 'Quick' cricket for boys and girls.
Geraint Morgan, President
David Harries has been a member of TDCC since 1954. His daughter Kirsti and family now live just off the Green, and one of his grandsons joined the Colts this year and played his first match for the Club.Men in White on Giggs Hill Green is available from David Harries, the Old Post Office, Plaistow, West Sussex, RH14 0PT at £10 incl. P & P. Also from The Pro Shop, 52 High Street Thames Ditton. Cheques payable to Thames Ditton Cricket Club. All profits to Club funds.