20 BUGLE PLAYERS from the archives
1. Les Rowse
Les moved from Gorran to Bugle (Great Lavrean Farm) in the early 1950’s, bringing his considerable cricket talent to join a growing body of young men who had re-established the Bugle team after the 2nd World War. In so doing he becomes the catalyst for the rapid development and success of the Club throughout the mid 1950’s. His cricket pedigree is impressive having established himself in the successful Gorran team of that era and representing Cornwall on one occasion against the Army. He Captains the first Bugle team during the inaugural league match in 1955. He is a genuine all rounder and despite the loss of almost every score sheet record during his reign we are able to bring his cricket back to life from perusing Cornish Guardian reports. His number of appearances drop with ageing years but he continues to play until 1970 when in his final match on 23rd August that year at Sandy Lane he scores 28 runs against Bodmin.
2. Cliff Nicholas
Cliff moves from St. Blazey in 1979 (with Tim Wiltshire). It is a major scoop for Bugle as he is an experienced campaigner and a canny boundary trekking Captain. He remains at Bugle until his retirement from the game in 1985 and he Captain’s the side in 1982 and 83
leading Bugle to the Junior 1 Championship and for its first venture in Senior cricket for many years over this period. His position of choice is at Number 3 bat where he enjoys great success in 1979 (517 runs) - when he also scores a century at Wadebridge - and 1980 (604 runs). As a nimble outfielder Cliff holds the record for the most catches taken in a season when in 1982 he snares 18.
leading Bugle to the Junior 1 Championship and for its first venture in Senior cricket for many years over this period. His position of choice is at Number 3 bat where he enjoys great success in 1979 (517 runs) - when he also scores a century at Wadebridge - and 1980 (604 runs). As a nimble outfielder Cliff holds the record for the most catches taken in a season when in 1982 he snares 18.
3. Arthur Crowle
Arthur was Captain in 1954 and Vice Captain for the 1955 league season. He was first and foremost an opening batsman and an occasional bowler and is the first player to score a century at the Sandy Lane ground although exact details of this feat have not survived. He opens the batting for the last time in his final game on 1st May 1970 at St. Minver, this being the first match of that season. Previously he scored 24 at St. Stephen on 14th September 1969 – the final action of that season. Due to only a small number of scorecards surviving from the early post War seasons his record is incomplete and very understated but he will be always be remembered as one of the key players during the early Sandy Lane era.
4. David Stevens
David incredibly makes his debut in 1954 as a very young boy and becomes a major player in the Club throughout the 1960's and 1970's until injury forces him into a premature retirement. He is a gifted left handed batsman but memories of his talent with willow in hand are often forgotten because of his exceptional career as a right handed bowler. From 1962 to 1980 he takes 848 wickets and in this period snares 50 or more victims during 9 seasons. David also holds the record for Bugle's best bowling performance of 9 wickets for 4 runs at Sandy Lane against Trevone in 1978. In recent times he becomes President - a position that has revived his interest in the Club. In times of need he still turns out in his whites (and creams), adding to his record of taking part in almost every season since 1954.
5. Adrian Thomas
Adrian is another example of longevity and holds the record for playing the highest number of games for the Club - over 900 during a career spanning the period 1965-2010. He begins as a late order batsman who hits the ball a little agriculturally but with time straightens his approach and develops into a very handy batsmen who works well with the tail to score needy runs at number 8 or even lower. He is occasionally promoted to open the innings and makes a career best 123 at Newquay in 1984 whilst promoted in the order. As a bowler he is a late starter - tweeking occasionally in 1975 but not taking a firm hold of the ball until the late 1980's. By 2010 had taken over 500 wickets for the 1st XI plus a further 32 for the 2nd XI. Adrian has held almost every office in the Club over the years including the position of Club Captain for 5 years when Bugle had 3 sides (2 Saturday and 1 midweek) in operation. He has also spent a lifetime sitting on the big mower whilst grooming the outfield or keeping the square.
6. Paul Tucker
Paul has been a Club fixture since his interest with the noble game began in 1972. He had earned the reputation of being a dogged character at the crease - defensive in nature, slow scoring and when 'set' difficult to prize out - and has carried his bat on 4 occasions to prove this statistic. Perversely however there is an attacking side to his game during which on occasion he can score runs extremely quickly. Well over 100 sixes have flown from the Tucker bat over the years that has yielded over 13,000 runs in over 700 career matches. He Captains the side for 5 successive years between 1984 and 1988 and in the early 2000's he answers the call to keep wicket (in the absence of any other volunteer). After many seasons of running down he hangs up his playing boots at Truro in 2009. When not playing his Club interests have included keeping the square, cutting the outfield and various offices including Secretary and Treasurer.
7. Noah Lobb
Whilst best known for his talent as a footballer – he was a member of the many South Western and Western league teams including Bugle, Bodmin, St. Austell and Illfracombe and represented Cornwall - Noah was a genuine sporting all-rounder. By all accounts he was a tough character to play against on the cricket field, expecting and giving no quarter. He excels with bat, ball and as wicketkeeper during the 1950's and early 1960's but due to missing records his full impact is grossly understated. His last league game was on 20th July 1963 at Sandy Lane against Boconnoc when he is run out for 5 runs. His final game is eleven days later – an evening fixture also at Sandy Lane against St. Lawrence Hospital during which he scores 35 runs batting at Number 2 sharing a partnership of 85 with Ken Pendray (92*) for the first wicket. He dies suddenly on 6th August (Aged 44) such that his obituary is reported in the same edition of the Guardian as the details of his last game.
8. Ken Pendray
Makes his debut as a young lad in the 1956 league final at Camborne. Ken’s memories are of assisting to roll the wicket at the football field but not participating in any cricket match until being grabbed by the elders to help form a team for the final at Penzance. He remembers having to borrow whites for this occasion and when batting in the final is more worried about his trousers falling down than the speed of the bowler. Ken had a keen eye and good coordination for a moving ball that he struck cleanly and with distance. He has many claims to striking it over the railway embankment that once stood high in what is now PC Tonkin’s rear car-park. Ken was also a fine point fielder, taking many sharp catches, and possessed a strong accurate throwing arm. On occasion he kept wicket or bowled spin. He retires from the game on 17th September 1976 at Lanhydrock, scoring one run batting at number 6.
9. Paul Martin
Paul played around 80 games over 5 seasons (1969-73) for St. Austell, then Grampound Road (1974) when he is literally pulled from out of a pub to make his Bugle debut at St. Stephen in 1975. Thereafter he grows into a major player in the Club both on and off the field. When in whites he grows into a terrific wicketkeeper breaking all records for longevity and dismissals. For over 12 season he hardly misses a game and by the time he gracefully hands over the gloves to the up and coming Robin Nicholls he has collected 470 victims (404 catches and 66 stumpings) for the 1st XI . As a batsman he finds a regular slot for over a decade at number six and rises on occasion to open the innings where his style suits. He plays his final match in the 2003 season and by then has played in 505 league games and accumulated 4805 runs. Off the filed he holds the position of Treasurer for many-many years and will ever be remembered as the founder of the Century Club.
10. Gary Waller
Gary is an accomplished batsmen when he joins Bugle in 1986 having honed his skills on the hard wickets at St. Austell. His crisp cuts and luscious drives are a sight to behold to Bugle players and supporters alike. He compiles the majority of his runs during a ‘golden’ period incorporating seasons 1987-1991 when he scores over 2000 in all competitions. Thereafter his interest wanes a little as work commitments take centre stage. Nonetheless there is still time to turn out periodically for both the 1st and 2nd XI's and to take a hatrick against Tregony - although not being renowned as a bowler. Gary Captain’s the 1st XI for the first of many seasons in 1989, leading Bugle to league runners-up. He walks away from the game after the 1998 season during which he plays just 2 matches, with a legacy of 3571 league runs.
11. Mike Ollis
Joins the Club in 1971 almost immediately following a friendly fixture played at Sandy Lane between Bugle and the Cornwall and Devon Police of whom he is employed. The early 1970's are a difficult time for Bugle and Mike's presence and interest helps to steady the ship and steer it onwards. He is a real club man and takes the role of Secretary for many years before becoming instrumental in setting up and running the Sunday League XI and eventually the 2nd Saturday XI. On the field Mike is a useful all rounder - a very handy quick scoring middle order batsman, and a bowler of occasional spin. In times of need Mike has also stood behind the stumps. He holds the record for the highest innings by a Bugle player (189*) achieved at the hands of Barnfield for the 2nd XI. He makes his final appearance in 1987 when he moves to Banchory (Scotland) but returns a few seasons later with his new love Banchory CC who make two tours to Cornwall in the 1990's.
12. Tim Wiltshire
Tim is one of Bugle's best imports when he joins from St. Blazey (together with Cliff Nicholas) in 1979. Tim will rightly be classed as an all rounder but his forte was with ball in hand. In 1982 he takes a record 81 wickets in the Junior 1 Championship winning season (when in 8 matches he takes 5 or more wickets). Whilst determined to succeed at a personal level Tim is also a great Club 'player'. He builds many scoreboxes over the years, sets up the foundations for the new pavilion and will be remembered as the father of the Bugle Hoot Toots who tour the Scilly Isles each September. As his performances begin to wane he drops down the leagues to revive the fortunes of the 2nd XI before his ‘retirement’ in 1992.
13. Kevin Spencer
Makes his debut in 1972 in Senior 2 and begins quietly. Used primarily as a bowler in his formative years - at one point he is so disappointed with his batting that he actually bats left handed during a few matches - it takes him almost 10 seasons before hitting a first 50 (92 in the 1981 Sunday league). Thereafter his confidence and development grows at a pace and throughout the 1980' s and the 1990's in particular he becomes a run machine and Bugle's most consistent all rounder. When on top of his batting he scores runs extremely quickly and has scored many fifties (particularly from 51 to 100) at breakneck speed (around 30 balls). As a player in his twenties and thirties his keen batting eye is well employed in the slips where he takes many blinding catches - most notably in 1982 when Kevin Allen is bowling quickly. Having bowled medium pace for decades using a lengthy run up he has conserved his energy in recent times by adopting spin as his main weapon of surprise. Has Captained the 1st XI many more times than any other individual. Moved to Boconnoc CC in 2013
14. Roger Pilkington
Roger is serving with the Royal Air Force at St. Mawgan when he is encouraged to join the club, making his debut in 1980 in the Sunday league. He is soon drafted into the 1st XI and almost immediately makes an impression with a knock of 128* at Sandy Lane against St. Lawrences's, sharing a record stand oF 232* with Graham Knight for the 4th wicket. By the end of the 1999 season when he opts to hang up his boots (and devote more attention to his other sporting love - golf) he has played 234 matches. His style develops from a quick scoring middle order batsmen into a fearless pinch hitter who frequently belts the first ball of an innings to the boundary. At the peak of his powers over the seasons 1988 to 1998 he is feared by the opposition as when on pole he can change the direction of a game every so quickly and make a mockery of any bowler. As a bowler he possessed the uncanny ability to break stubborn partnerships and take key wickets in short spells.
15. Andy Thomas
Makes his debut in 1987 for the Club in the Village KO Competition. Takes up bowling in 1990 with the 2nd XI returning 4 wickets in the season. Debuts as a bowler for the 1st XI in 1991. Now an accomplished player and 1st team Captain for the 2011 season his distinctive height and build enables him to terrorise opposition with bat and ball. With bat in hand a keen eye and raw power projects the ball to all corners of the ground rather quickly. As a bowler he has developed into an accurate medium pacer with good control of swing and seam. For the 2011 season he can call on a wealth of experience having played in over 400 games. Despite a few short breaks he has been an ever present figure and character in the Bugle team. A lesser known claim to fame is that he is the last player to take 50 league wickets in a season having achieved this in 1998 (51).
16. Graham Knight
Graham's joins Bugle from Werrington CC in 1981. He is an accomplished cricketer - primarily as an opening batsman and an occasional 'tweeky' spin bowler. He remains at the club for 10 seasons scoring 2894 runs in 139 innings. Being left handed he becomes the perfect partner for the right handed Paul Tucker and together they open the batting on more than 80 occasions. He scores his only century for the club in his first season - against St. Lawrence's at Sandy Lane. Thereafter he compiles 13 fifties. As a useful slip and close catcher he snares 46 victims and his off spin rewards him with 21 wickets. A respected club-man his presence is sorely missed when he hangs up his boots in 1990.
17. Neil Spencer
From the humble beginnings of a friendly first game in 1984, Neil has grown to dominate the game as an opening batsman and bowler. Plays intermittent games for the 1st and 2nd XI's in the mid 1980's whilst progressing as a bowler, taking 19 wickets for the 2nd XI in 1990 followed by 31 for the 1st XI in 1991. His batting comes of age in 1994 when he scores 75* in the final game of the season against Launceston. By the time he moves to Didcot, Oxfordshire in 1996 he is an accomplished player but on the occasion of his return in 2001 he has progressed into an exceptional all round cricketer with a rapidly maturing stroke play and a well honed fast medium bowling action. Like his Uncle (Kevin) he has the ability to consistently convert 50's into tons and by still playing and in good nick he could set new highs in the Club statistics before he retires.
18. Ron Clayton
Ron is one of Bugle's post war founder members having been associated with cricket at Molinnis Park as early as 1950. He is primarily a bowler with amazing control, accuracy, a little cunning and much movement in the air and off the seam. He would effectively tie up one end week in week out. The earliest record of him (found to date) is in the Cornish Guardian when he returns 7-30 against Mevagissey on 27th April 1954. He continues to play until 1987 (although he misses the 1980-1983 seasons) and would probably have kept going longer given the opportunity (in 1988 Bugle had a large squad). The loss of early scorebook records means that like others of his generation his statistics - particularly his wicket taking tally - is likely to be considerable more than shown below. At the time his boots are finally retired he has taken 894 wickets that include 53 five wicket hauls and one recorded hatrick (although he claims a few more) . His 9-24 against Caerhays in 1964 in a 20 over Roseland fixture remains a remarkable feat!
19. Nicky France
Nick is a high quality spin bowler and extremely gifted batsman and represents Shropshire in Minor Counties Cricket for many years. Bugle's great fortune is that he marries a lady from Bugle so even when work calls him to move away he religiously returns each year during the summer school holidays to play in three or four matches, often helping to pull a struggling Bugle campaign from out of the mire. Like others of his generation many of his records have been lost but his performances are of such magnitude to have been recorded in newspapers for posterity. During Bugle's inaugural league season in 1955 he compiles 498 runs in 14 innings and takes 56 wickets at an average of 5. His only (known) Bugle century arrives at Ruan High Lanes one year later. His final match is 20 years later when in 1975 he scores 12* and takes 3-33 at St. Blazey. His son Andrew scores 27 and takes 4-27 in the same fixture.
20. Geoff Wheildon
Geoff plays the majority of his cricket for the 2nd XI where he excels as an opening batsman, occasional bowler and wicketkeeper. He joins the Club when he brings his family to Bugle from St. Austell in the 1980's. His sons Matthew, Gary and Andrew also play for the Club in later years. His first season of note is in 1985 when he plays 12 games for the 1st XI scoring 150 runs including a half century. Thereafter he enjoys many excellent seasons for the 2nd XI particularly in 1994 and 1996 when he amasses a succession of fifties and hundreds. He signs off with a knock of 53 in the final 2nd XI game at Landulph in August 1998 and plays a handful of matches for the 1st XI in 1999.