LCS Meeting Thursday 29 th January 2015

Transcription

1 LCS Meeting Thursday 29 th January 2015 This month s speaker ex Warwickshire Bowler and Batsman Paul Smith On a very miserable, cold, snowy, January night. Over 120 hardy souls braved the weather and the possibility of bad conditions on the roads going home. To come along to this second LCS meeting in January. This time our entertainment was provided by Paul Smith, who many will remember as the SEX, DRUGS and ROCK n ROLL cricketer of the 1990 s. I remember a lot of people at the time likened Paul to Georgie Best in football. Reflected in the glass behind Paul s head you can see Mike Williams. Mike is the chairman of the Midlands branch of the National Cricket Society, there monthly meetings are held at Edgbaston. Mike came all the way from Birmingham to hear Paul speak.

2 On behalf of the membership Wasim Khan was invited to be a guest of the LCS, Wasim very kindly agreed to give up his evening to be at this meeting, the reason for inviting Wasim, he played at Edgbaston with Paul Smith. MJK Smith, no relation, was also due to be a guest at the meeting. However, MJK rang to say that he was unwell and didn t fancy driving back to Warwick if the weather was bad. Looks like that was a good call. Wasim Khan receiving a cheque for 500 from Howard Many of our newer members will be unaware that the Cricket Club, allow the LCS to meet in the Charles Palmer suite and do not charge us for the venue, the county also open the bar for our members. So at the committee meeting in January it was decided that, on behalf of the membership we would present a cheque for 500 to the county, allowing them to buy an item for the kitchen; it s a large wheeled plate stacker that can hold 120 plates ready for use. John Stew explains how his new bit of kit works. Robin Whait looks very impressed!

3 The LCS hope that our ongoing fantastic relationship with the County continues for a very long time to come, and we are pleased that the new chief executive has made time to build that relationship by attending our meeting so soon after taking on what can only be a very hard job, and on behalf of the membership we wish him well in all his future endeavours. The front row lads back to full strength. Colin second in on the right, in future wants to be known as MICK trouble with groupies I believe (They all know what that s about, SORRY Mick! Thanks for the very nice prize) Talking of prizes, blowing my own trumpet, I think this month s selection was about the best prize draw I have ever been able to put together. This is a match worn signed shirt from the 2011 T20 final at Edgbaston. Will Jefferson s I believe, which I was lucky enough to be given to use as a prize.

4 MICK gave me the very nice wine kit top right The basketball item bottom right contained two VIP tickets worth 50. Many thanks for your constant support. Some very good prizes I think you ll agree

5 The LCS trophy for 2014 has now been engraved ready to present to Angus Robson, on his return from Australia (I think he s in OZ) Howard introduces our guest for the evening Paul played in 221 matches for Warwickshire scoring over 8000 runs with a top score of 140; he took 283 wickets with a best of 6 for 91. He also played in 270 one day matches taking another 234 wickets.

6 Paul started his talk by telling us that he had family links to Grace Road, his father played for the County in the 1950 / 51 seasons. Before moving the family to the north of England. Paul said his early recollections of cricket are, being about 10 and his farther relaying the 1974 / 75 test match series in Australia. Paul said his dad would be lying in bed early in the morning listening to a transistor radio, then repeating the latest scores, he said long before the days of Sky TV. Lots of familiar faces were missing due to the possibility of snow. However there were quite a few new people in the audience.

7 A great selection of cricket books as normal, Howard told the meeting that Angie and Jean are trying to get the amount of stock down. A problem with the sound meant us asking for everyone to move in a little closer some new faces on the front row, if you enjoyed this meeting please pass on our details to your friends.

8 Paul talking about the start of his cricketing career Paul told us that he was at about the age of 13 / 14, when Bob Willis started coming to his family home. He went on to say that at that time his elder brother David was the opening bat at Edgbaston. David later became the CEO at Grace Road. Paul said that Bob Willis was a massive inspiration on him at that young age, and that he only ever wanted to play for the same county as Bob. Even on a bad night we still had a good turnout

9 Paul continued by telling us that by15 / 16 he was spending six weeks at a time of his summer at Edgbaston. When Paul was 16 he said there were 33 players on the playing staff at Warwickshire. At this time Paul continued, Bob Willis came to Paul and said that Warwickshire wanted to send him to Lords to be on the ground staff there. Don Wilson was the coach who looked after the lads on the ground staff at Lords. Paul now in full flow

10 Paul then told us that at the time Alan Oakman was the assistant coach at Edgbaston, he said that they wanted to offer Paul a contract, and within a very short space of time, Paul was playing first class cricket. Every one listening with interest to Paul s talk Paul said that he was at the time the youngest player to score 50 runs for Warwickshire, and this 59 in the first innings was matched by another 59 runs in the second innings this record was set in a match at Grace Road. Paul spoke about the bowling attack when he was playing at Edgbaston, they included, Donald, Small, Moles, Munton and Reeve. A few good bowlers there. Paul told us that Bob Willis had said it was Paul s job to bowl less balls but get more wickets, to shock the opposition and from a batting prospective, it was Paul s job to go out and play shots and score quick runs. Paul said that at the end of his first season, David Brown asked him what his plans were for the winter. Warwickshire wanted to send Paul on a cricket scholarship to South Africa for six months. Paul told us that his boss in South Africa was Dr. Ali Bacher. This was Paul s introduction to apartheid. However, Paul told us that he played and coached in townships like Soweto.

11 At the mid-session break the raffle raised 105, the running total for this winter is now over 700. Many thanks to everyone who donate so generously to the LCS funds. David took this crystal vase home to his wife in Hinckley; I hope he stopped to buy some flowers on the way. During the break Paul sold some of his book, Wasted? David Williamson checks out his signed copy. Paul kindly donated a signed copy of his book for a prize in the next Raffle. After the break the meeting continued with our normal Q&A. Paul was asked a very interesting question about playing in the Hong Kong Sixes competition. He went on to explain in a little detail about the game. Paul told us that you have a keeper a bowler and two fielders either side of the wicket. Paul said the Hong Kong 6 s was played in the rugby ground, which he described as an oval bowl stadium. He said that some of the best players in the world took part in the tournament. It s a very fast game as there s a lot of ground to cover and not many fielders to cover it. Paul told us that in his team there were four players from Warwickshire.

12 The vote of thanks was given by Alex Potts on behalf of the members. The next LCS meeting is on Thursday 5 th March. When Grahame Lloyd will be making a return visit to Grace Road. This time he will be telling us about his new book, Howzat. The Six Sixes Ball Mystery. About the sale of that famous cricket ball. Phil Veasey On behalf of the LCS committee