Clumber Park Cricket Club History

Club Archives

As club archivist I would this season like to continue with tradition and would ask you to help me in my quest to find old photographs, old newspaper clippings and any memories of Clumber Park Cricket Club you might have. Once again we had some success last year, things have started to appear! However I know over the years many generations of families have visited the park and the cricket ground area, so I’m am sure this plenty more material is out there. Please dig deep into your minds and commit to paper those long lost memories of hot summers at Clumber Park cricket ground. Have a look in your old photograph albums, boxes in the loft, and if you come across anything relating to the club please let me know, I would love to hear from you!"

This year a old member turned up with some early fixture cards dating from 1989 to 1999 just before we launched the how famous white ‘Clumber Handbook’ which was first launched in 2000 as we entered the league. The old books make some interesting reading, having only four page though they are quick to get through, does any one remember teams like Tudor, Weirfield and Darnall Wellington?

We are hoping to document the history of the club with a view to producing a book so any material would be gratefully received, it will be copied and returned safely.

You can contact me at the pavilion or see the Club Contacts page.

Thanks Mick Baton.

The Visits of Brian Johnston

Clumber Park CC is proud to have had as a Vice President for many years the much loved cricket commentator and jovial host Mr Brian Johnston. During his long spell as a member of the Radio 4 Test Match Special Team, during the Trent Bridge test match Brian would spend the day with us on the middle Sunday, prior engagements permitting, and one year visited accompanied by the ‘bearded wonder’, Bill Fridall and their wives. For many years the tea break extended into early evening and our tea ladies invariably made a sumptuous cake to take back for his colleagues on the Monday. We were never really certain if his colleagues ever were offered any, especially with Brian’s well-known liking for chocolate cake. Brain Johnston was a gentleman of whom there will be no equal. During his regular visits to the club he became a friend to players and spectators alike. Often while visiting the dressing room ‘pre match’ he marvelled at the fact that many of us were still able to play his favourite game at our advanced ages. Some of us are still playing today and fondly remember the visits of Jonners to the ‘Park’!! Would that everyone in cricket could have had the chance of a day with Jonners as many of us at Clumber Park CC feel honoured to have experienced. Long may his memory remain.

History of the Club

It was from the mid-1890's that the Clumber Park Cricket Club had begun to play regularly, under the keen direction of the Duke's Chaplain, Rev. Frank Hawkins, who was an excellent player himself. The Chaplain stayed at Clumber until 1932 and never lost his interest and support for the team. In the 1920's the Cricket Pavilion was erected, withthe Duke insisting that heather be used to thatch the roof.

Henry Edward Hugh Pelham-Clinton-Hope became 'Lord Lincoln' in 1928 after the death of his uncle the 7th Duke of Newcastle. His father took the title as the eighth Duke of Newcastle but continued to live in Surrey. Lord Lincoln had spent much of his youth at Clumber House with his childless uncle and aunt, his mother having died when he was five years old. He was well known and liked on the estate and, from an early age gained a reputation as a keen sportsman.

By the end of the First World War, Lord Lincoln had become a scholar at Eton, where his passion for cricket led eventually to his appointment as Captain of the Eton cricket team during a 'year of unbroken success'. He later went up to Magdalene College, Cambridge to study (successfully) for his art degree. His main interests lay in sport, and he was said by some to have been of County, or even Test match standard if he had chosen to channel and develop his talents further in that direction. He had already scored impressive hundreds off the adult bowling of 'Gubby' Allen and Adrian Gore. On moving to Clumber around 1930, Lord Lincoln lived in the Parsonage until the commencement of the Second World War in 1939, when he served in the Air Force and was posted away to the Middle East and later to various bases around the UK.

During the 1930's the cricket club flourished with his active support and leadership, the team being made up of mainly of estate tenants. There was no shortage of volunteers for the games at that time, nor was there any strong 'class' attitude, with the Clumber House joiner, Barratt Stanhope (amongst others) taking the captaincy when Lord Lincoln was away. The Earl also enjoyed sport at Worksop College, and it is on record that he arranged for the Eton College team to play there. The picture of the pavilion below is circa 1930's.

His other sporting interests were rugby, ice hockey, and golf. He became President of the Worksop Golf Club following his uncle's death. In 1941, his father died (whilst staying at Clumber) and Lord Lincoln took the title as ninth Duke of Newcastle, after completing his war service, he sold Clumber Park to the National Trust, and moved away, living for some years in Rhodesia. He died, at his cottage in Lymington, Hampshire, in November 1988.

Since the war, friendly cricket has continued to be played at Clumber Park on every Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday during the season. The club pay The National Trust one peppercorn each year in return for use of the facilities, indeed each season starts with The Peppercorn Trophy game between a National Trust XI and a Clumber Park CC XI.

In more recent years the club has developed a successful youth programme and has junior teams at U17, U15, U13, U12, U11 and Kwik Cricket and boasts some 24 ECB qualified coaches.

In 2000 the club entered two senior teams into the Bassetlaw and District Cricket League for the first time, followed one year later by a Third XI and Sunday league XI playing in the Newark Alliance League. Last year the First XI won Division 6 and this year the club will be entering a Fourth XI into the Bassetlaw League.

As a mark of the success and vision at the club within recent years we have been awarded the prestigious Clubmark Award, the first club in Nottinghamshire to achieve this; we have also gained Focus Club Status from Nottinghamshire CCC.

"The Next Generation" project was also launched in 2000 with the aim of investing in new practice facilities and developing the Pavilion. The aim of the project is to develop the game of cricket amongst local children and ensure the future of the club for the next 100 years.