I conducted an auction at Lord's last night for St David's Care in the Community. The assembled gathering sat on the edge of their seats as they listened to two great cricketers, Sir Garfield Sobers and Brian Lara, reminisce about their cricketing days. The most fascinating statement of the evening came from Sir Garry when he explained how he became an all-rounder. At the age of 14, when playing cricket on the beach in Barbados, the rules were simple - if you bowled someone out, you got to bat. And he always wanted to bat, so he perfected his bowling. He was then able to spend the rest of the day at the crease. In fact he was playing beach cricket when the message came through that he'd been selected for his first Test at the age of 17. He walked on to the pitch with Worrell, Weekes and Walcott, who were coming to the end of their distinguished careers.
The other good story that came out of the evening concerned Freddie Trueman. When Fred spoke at such occasions, he used to claim he'd got Garfield Sobers out for a duck. "This is true," Sir Garry confirmed, "mind you, I was 17 at the time and to be fair to Freddie, he got me out on three other occasions as well - on 128, 192 and 224. God bless him."
The auction raised £20,000 for this worthwhile cause, and the most popular item of the evening was Laura King's champagne and caviar tasting for 10 at the RAC club, which in these tough times went for £5,000. Mind you, it was purchased by someone from Barbados, not from England.
The other good story that came out of the evening concerned Freddie Trueman. When Fred spoke at such occasions, he used to claim he'd got Garfield Sobers out for a duck. "This is true," Sir Garry confirmed, "mind you, I was 17 at the time and to be fair to Freddie, he got me out on three other occasions as well - on 128, 192 and 224. God bless him."
The auction raised £20,000 for this worthwhile cause, and the most popular item of the evening was Laura King's champagne and caviar tasting for 10 at the RAC club, which in these tough times went for £5,000. Mind you, it was purchased by someone from Barbados, not from England.
15 Comments:
It is my contention that were war like a cricket match, the American Revolution would still be underway.
Jeffrey
How I envy you your numerous sporting companions. Now, Sir Garfield Sobers and Brian Lara; those really are names to conjour with...
My wife's a 'Trini" and knows Brian Lara and his family well. Because of this connection I've been priveliged to meet Brian a few times; on one occassion when he was at the height of his cricketing career and spending a little time at golf's World Matchplay Championship at Wentworth.
A truly charming and charismatic character who gave a great deal of his time to chat with the many young and older spectators who recognised him and wanted to say "Hi". I don't think he saw much of the golf tournament...
Jeffrey, when you have the time would you consider telling us how you became so involved in Charity Auctioneering. You clearly do a great deal of it and, It's truly a wonderful thing to do...
Dear Jeffrey,
Thank you for your fabulous stories. I am an avid fan. I have just read all three of your Prison Diaries. I moved from prison to prison without a break, just as you did!
Thank God for all those lads who gave you friendship and support when you were just ‘Jeff’ and in need of human kindness. I was very moved by the actions of these men. I missed them when you moved on, as I’m sure you must have.
Do you keep in touch with them? I hope so. I am particularly curious if ‘Wayland Shaun’ has ‘made it’ as an artist now he is ‘out’. As an artist myself and ex-Art Teacher, I was impressed by his exceptional talent.
These lads made a tremendous difference to you and vice-vers, I am sure! Keep on writing Jeff! Your stories are absolutely ‘unputdownable’.
My husband will confirm that I often take Jeffrey Archer to bed with me and I’m an OAP. I hope you don’t mind.
Yours Susan
(Haworth, West Yorkshire)
Dear Mr. Archer,
Would love to hear my favourite author's opinion on this year's Wimbledon. I hope you worship (alright! maybe not! but "love", perhaps?) Roger Federer the way I do.
Will you be going for any of the matches at London SW19?
Reminds me of the good old days when cricket was always played in "whites" and my heroes were the cricketers I loved to watch...Denis Lillie, Jeff Thompson and my favourite one of all ~ Rodney Marsh. Loved to see him behind the wicket!
I heard on the radio yesterday that a team of Aboriginal cricketers sets off for Britain shortly following in the footsteps of a pioneering Indigenous side recognised as the first to represent Australia in any sporting code. The original team toured England in 1868, nine years before the first Ashes series established cricket's oldest rivalry. In those days they had to endure a three-month voyage before playing a 47 match tour.
141 years later Cricket Australia has assembled a team of young Aboriginal cricketersto honour the original players, playing at many of the same venues as the original players.
Now, that I would love to see!
Rich - I very much admire Roger Federer, and am looking forward to catching some of the matches over the Wimbledon fortnight.
Diane McKewin - So would I! Most interesting.
Susan - many thanks. I only really kept in touch with Billy and Fletch and have visited them over the past few years. Fletch sadly passed away last month.
Sir
your fascination towards cricket is amazing. But save for THE CENTURY a short story you wrote, i think you have stayed away from cricketing stories...why is that. I also remmebr reading an article GANTS OF THE GREEN(1999) in the wake of the 1999 world cup.
When will we get the collection fo cricketing stories from Jeffrey Archer???
Narayan - The problem is that there would be no market in America for a book of cricket stories!
Jeffrey
Re your 4th post to this thread. I'm shocked by what you say!
Surely, the Americans can't have lost interest in Jiminy Cricket. Can they..?
Jeffrey,
Cricket Australia National Indigenous Development squad of young cricketers left Australia today (Saturday) for England. These young men range in age from 16 to 26 and will play 11 matches. Searching Google, I found these games will be played (don't know the venues but I guess the opposing team will give a clue)
June 24 - Kent (Twenty20)
June 25 - Middlesex XI (one-day)
June 29 - Home Counties (Twenty20)
June 30-July 1 - MCC Combined Universities (two-day)
July 2 - East Anglia (one-day)
July 3 - Essex (one-day)
July 7 - Richmond (one-day)
July 8 - Surrey (Twenty20)
July 9 - Southern (Twenty20)
July 13- Sussex (Twenty20)
July 14- Club Cricket Australia (one-day)
I do hope you are able to 'catch' a match or two. Enjoy...
Diane
Sir Jeffrey,
This is about writing a book of cricket stories.
Personally, I go by the author and not by the subject of the book. So when Jeffrey Archer writes about art in 'Chalk and Cheese' or about the theater on his blog, I read and enjoy your writing, even though I know little about the subject.
Anyway, if one wants to know about something, than the best thing to do is to read about it.
So a book on cricket by Jeffrey Archer will be a best seller in England and India among other countries, but the author's popularity may help to sell a few million copies in the US as well.
Sir Jeffrey,
May be if you wrote about Cricket, because of you the book may sell and you might end up complimenting the ICC cause of popularising Cricket in US of America and many other countries.
That, for one, is an optimistic view.
Getting back to Narayan, I think you have mentioned cricket matches in many of your books; I especially remember the book "A matter of Honour" in which you have quoted test match scores in several places. Am I right?
Jeffrey,
Re my post @ 2, having just read your "Prison" Diaries vol. III, I now see how you became so involved in Charity Auctioneering. Long may you continue to do so.
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