A SHORT HISTORY (Extract from the Complete Bugle Cricketer)
Gary Waller exchanges bats with Tim Wiltshire
The earliest recorded competitive cricket game involving a team from Bugle is against St. Columb on 11th June 1910. This game is played at St. Columb and a full scorecard is published in the Royal Cornwall gazette that week. The return fixture is staged on 24th August 1910..
Two games are also played against Tywardreath in this season. Thereafter thare is no Bugle cricket trail until a match against Tregonissey on 19th July 1921, This is probably the first cricket game involving Bugle following the Great War. A few details of this game are printed in the Western Morning News paper.. Bugle score 57 (G. Tonkin contributing 15) and Tregonissey 33. The most likely venue for the above games are in Richards fields (Westley Terrace). A Cornish Guardian article (1956) noting the resurgence of the Bugle cricket team after the war refers to ‘men in working shirts, trousers and variations of hob nail boots, plying their ‘trade’ in a meadow behind Westley Terrace, near to the British Railway station. Distant memories have also come up with a few details of some of the players performing pre-war. Alf Gibbons was renowned as a canny slip fielder. Ken Manhire was a quick bowler who played matches during his summer breaks from College. Redvers Brokenshire had a keen interest in the game. Cyril ‘Trixie’ Thomas and Gerald Thomas were two footballers who also played the summer game. Ivor Rice was another quick bowler.
In 1929 Molinnis Park is developed as a football field and two years later there is an announcement in the 14th May 1931 edition of the Western Morning news as follows; “It has been decided to (re-)form a cricket club at Bugle, the football ground being available for play. Officials are: President Dr. Malcolm; Chairman Mr. Herbert May; Treasurer Mr. Norman Thomas; Hon Secretary Mr. M. Hancock; Captain Mr. G. T. G. Hancock.” This appears to be an effort to kick start cricket in the village. No reported games have been found between 1921 and 1931 suggesting that in this 10-year interval cricket in the village had fallen quiet. The availability of a pitch at Molinnis and footballers looking for a summer sport may have doubtless sparked Messrs May, Dr. Malcolm and Thomas - stalwarts of the large ball game in Bugle in this era - into resurrecting cricket interest.
Similarly details of cricket games have not been found for the summers of 1938 to 1953. This is not to state with any confidence that games were not played but it is likely that the event of War is taking effect on village life. It is most unlikely that any cricket was played by Bugle during the War years (1939-45) as it is known that league football and cricket were suspended and it follows that friendly games would have also been considered inappropriate and difficult to arrange. It is not until 1950 when on 29th July, the ‘Bugle Boys Club’ is formed (nicknamed the Pathfinders), that cricket in the village begins a comeback. A ‘Club’ is perhaps the wrong collective noun to describe this group of local lads who take the opportunity to bond with a bow and arrow, by adding their name and a Red Indian name to a Club register. Ron Clayton at its forefront and records of the membership remain in his possession. The old notes record each member’s willingness to pay 4 (old) pence a month subscription. The Bugle Boys Club arranges recreational events that include football during the winter and cricket, or indeed any game that they wish to play in the summer school holidays. Football matches are played against teams from Lanivet and Hallew, and staged at the Charles Street Park. In time the park becomes too small a venue for such events and a suggestion is made to use the football field at Molinnis. Negotiations follow with the football club for ‘loan of the ground’ and in the summer of July 1950 this wish is granted. The sound of willow hitting ball arouses a cricket interest that has been dormant for many years. Cricketers of the pre-war era and older villager’s (membership of The Boys Club appears to have been restricted by age to some degree), take an interest in what is happening and literally emerge from ‘over the football field hedges’. From the Molinnis direction comes, Graham James, Eddie Edwards, Fred White, and John Tanner (son of Tom, a life member and groundsman of the football club). With time Captain B. C. ‘Nick’ France – a friend of Eddie Edwards and a County Cricketer from Shropshire, Lloyd Higman, Gordon Retallick, Maurice Crowle and Trevor Pascoe amongst others, hop over the hedge, but this time from the direction of the ‘top goal’. The earliest match for which some records exist is a Boys Club fixture against The Bugle Cricket Club (a team formed primarily from pre-war members). This is played at the football field in the summer of either 1950 or 1951. Details of the Cricket Clubs team are unknown but a record of the Boys Club batting line up recollects Roger Thomas, Ken Pendray, D. Harry, Peter Richards, Ron Clayton, D. Hocking, B. Pownall, D. Glover, Geoff Docking, Terry Brenton, L. Couch and R. Wedlake. Further details of the match do not exist although it is known that Ron Clayton and Roger Thomas were the opening bowlers. Furthermore, Roger Thomas had the honour of being a Boys Club ‘ringer’ as he was not a Pathfinder member and is brought into the team because he is a good bowler.
Cricket in the village takes a serious twist at a meeting on 7th December 1954 - for which the minutes still survive -when the ‘Club’ agrees to apply to join the new second division of the Eastern Division. This league is for ‘B’ teams of clubs competing in the senior section and other teams of that standard. The Club is admitted for the 1955 season and the summer of 1954 is spent competing in several friendlies and preparing for the following year. Seven matches are recorded in the Cornish Guardian and Gazette. The fixture on 17th May (reported on 22nd) against Mevagissey is Bugle’s earliest post War match confirmed by a report. For Bugle Noah Lobb is the star turn scoring 17 out of 62 runs and taking 5-35 when Mevagissey bat. Jonathan Barron the English and World Amateur Snooker Champion, Ken Tregunna (3-19) and Thornley Triggs play in the Mevagissey team. In the return match (reported on 27th May), Les and Peter Rowse play for Bugle. Les also turns out for Gorran during this season. In the same edition of the Guardian he is photographed with the Gorran team that entertains Rock on 25th June in the County League. He scores 34 that day and bats with Archie Smith (20). At Bugle Ken Tregunna (7-29) destroys the Bugle innings and Thornley Triggs (21) makes a useful batting contribution for his team. Both these players are later ‘poached’ by Bugle when the Mevagissey club folds in 1956. During the match at St. Stephen (reported on 3rd June) the home side wins very comfortably by 9 wickets when Bugle is dismissed for 22 runs. The Guardian reports ‘The 16-year-old (St. Stephen) wicketkeeper F. Julian stumped 3 behind.’ The match on 12th June against St. Tudy is advertised in the Guardian but no details are published. It is possible that the game may not have been played. The newspaper report of the match against Gothers provides information of the match being ‘timed’. ‘On Thursday Bugle entertained Gothers in a friendly timed game. Bugle put Gothers in and after the visitors lost two quick wickets a partnership between A. Bowyer and W. Humphreys added 58, Gothers totalling 109-7. Bugle began slowly but after a time got going and by close of play had scored 118-5.’ Bugle’s reply includes a half century by Brian Vivian (50*) who becomes the scorer of the earliest recorded half century by a Bugle batsman. The match at St. Tudy appears to have been played out on a poor wicket. All ten St. Tudy batsmen are removed by 3 Bugle bowlers with only 13 runs being scored by the bat. On this day, Arthur Crowle’s return of 2 wickets for 8 runs is a ‘little costly’. Bugle wins the game by 3 runs having suffered a similar fate in their innings with Arthur Crowle scoring almost half the runs. A second innings follows with Bugle again winners, scoring 106 runs to St. Tudy’s much improved 55. The St. Stephen game is also timed. The home side makes 109 for 7 before declaring. Bugle struggles from the first ball and battles to reach 29-9 at the end of the allotted time – saving the game by just one wicket. A sign of the bulldog spirit to come? Also, to be noted is the appearances of David Stevens who is not very old at the time!
Two games are also played against Tywardreath in this season. Thereafter thare is no Bugle cricket trail until a match against Tregonissey on 19th July 1921, This is probably the first cricket game involving Bugle following the Great War. A few details of this game are printed in the Western Morning News paper.. Bugle score 57 (G. Tonkin contributing 15) and Tregonissey 33. The most likely venue for the above games are in Richards fields (Westley Terrace). A Cornish Guardian article (1956) noting the resurgence of the Bugle cricket team after the war refers to ‘men in working shirts, trousers and variations of hob nail boots, plying their ‘trade’ in a meadow behind Westley Terrace, near to the British Railway station. Distant memories have also come up with a few details of some of the players performing pre-war. Alf Gibbons was renowned as a canny slip fielder. Ken Manhire was a quick bowler who played matches during his summer breaks from College. Redvers Brokenshire had a keen interest in the game. Cyril ‘Trixie’ Thomas and Gerald Thomas were two footballers who also played the summer game. Ivor Rice was another quick bowler.
In 1929 Molinnis Park is developed as a football field and two years later there is an announcement in the 14th May 1931 edition of the Western Morning news as follows; “It has been decided to (re-)form a cricket club at Bugle, the football ground being available for play. Officials are: President Dr. Malcolm; Chairman Mr. Herbert May; Treasurer Mr. Norman Thomas; Hon Secretary Mr. M. Hancock; Captain Mr. G. T. G. Hancock.” This appears to be an effort to kick start cricket in the village. No reported games have been found between 1921 and 1931 suggesting that in this 10-year interval cricket in the village had fallen quiet. The availability of a pitch at Molinnis and footballers looking for a summer sport may have doubtless sparked Messrs May, Dr. Malcolm and Thomas - stalwarts of the large ball game in Bugle in this era - into resurrecting cricket interest.
Similarly details of cricket games have not been found for the summers of 1938 to 1953. This is not to state with any confidence that games were not played but it is likely that the event of War is taking effect on village life. It is most unlikely that any cricket was played by Bugle during the War years (1939-45) as it is known that league football and cricket were suspended and it follows that friendly games would have also been considered inappropriate and difficult to arrange. It is not until 1950 when on 29th July, the ‘Bugle Boys Club’ is formed (nicknamed the Pathfinders), that cricket in the village begins a comeback. A ‘Club’ is perhaps the wrong collective noun to describe this group of local lads who take the opportunity to bond with a bow and arrow, by adding their name and a Red Indian name to a Club register. Ron Clayton at its forefront and records of the membership remain in his possession. The old notes record each member’s willingness to pay 4 (old) pence a month subscription. The Bugle Boys Club arranges recreational events that include football during the winter and cricket, or indeed any game that they wish to play in the summer school holidays. Football matches are played against teams from Lanivet and Hallew, and staged at the Charles Street Park. In time the park becomes too small a venue for such events and a suggestion is made to use the football field at Molinnis. Negotiations follow with the football club for ‘loan of the ground’ and in the summer of July 1950 this wish is granted. The sound of willow hitting ball arouses a cricket interest that has been dormant for many years. Cricketers of the pre-war era and older villager’s (membership of The Boys Club appears to have been restricted by age to some degree), take an interest in what is happening and literally emerge from ‘over the football field hedges’. From the Molinnis direction comes, Graham James, Eddie Edwards, Fred White, and John Tanner (son of Tom, a life member and groundsman of the football club). With time Captain B. C. ‘Nick’ France – a friend of Eddie Edwards and a County Cricketer from Shropshire, Lloyd Higman, Gordon Retallick, Maurice Crowle and Trevor Pascoe amongst others, hop over the hedge, but this time from the direction of the ‘top goal’. The earliest match for which some records exist is a Boys Club fixture against The Bugle Cricket Club (a team formed primarily from pre-war members). This is played at the football field in the summer of either 1950 or 1951. Details of the Cricket Clubs team are unknown but a record of the Boys Club batting line up recollects Roger Thomas, Ken Pendray, D. Harry, Peter Richards, Ron Clayton, D. Hocking, B. Pownall, D. Glover, Geoff Docking, Terry Brenton, L. Couch and R. Wedlake. Further details of the match do not exist although it is known that Ron Clayton and Roger Thomas were the opening bowlers. Furthermore, Roger Thomas had the honour of being a Boys Club ‘ringer’ as he was not a Pathfinder member and is brought into the team because he is a good bowler.
Cricket in the village takes a serious twist at a meeting on 7th December 1954 - for which the minutes still survive -when the ‘Club’ agrees to apply to join the new second division of the Eastern Division. This league is for ‘B’ teams of clubs competing in the senior section and other teams of that standard. The Club is admitted for the 1955 season and the summer of 1954 is spent competing in several friendlies and preparing for the following year. Seven matches are recorded in the Cornish Guardian and Gazette. The fixture on 17th May (reported on 22nd) against Mevagissey is Bugle’s earliest post War match confirmed by a report. For Bugle Noah Lobb is the star turn scoring 17 out of 62 runs and taking 5-35 when Mevagissey bat. Jonathan Barron the English and World Amateur Snooker Champion, Ken Tregunna (3-19) and Thornley Triggs play in the Mevagissey team. In the return match (reported on 27th May), Les and Peter Rowse play for Bugle. Les also turns out for Gorran during this season. In the same edition of the Guardian he is photographed with the Gorran team that entertains Rock on 25th June in the County League. He scores 34 that day and bats with Archie Smith (20). At Bugle Ken Tregunna (7-29) destroys the Bugle innings and Thornley Triggs (21) makes a useful batting contribution for his team. Both these players are later ‘poached’ by Bugle when the Mevagissey club folds in 1956. During the match at St. Stephen (reported on 3rd June) the home side wins very comfortably by 9 wickets when Bugle is dismissed for 22 runs. The Guardian reports ‘The 16-year-old (St. Stephen) wicketkeeper F. Julian stumped 3 behind.’ The match on 12th June against St. Tudy is advertised in the Guardian but no details are published. It is possible that the game may not have been played. The newspaper report of the match against Gothers provides information of the match being ‘timed’. ‘On Thursday Bugle entertained Gothers in a friendly timed game. Bugle put Gothers in and after the visitors lost two quick wickets a partnership between A. Bowyer and W. Humphreys added 58, Gothers totalling 109-7. Bugle began slowly but after a time got going and by close of play had scored 118-5.’ Bugle’s reply includes a half century by Brian Vivian (50*) who becomes the scorer of the earliest recorded half century by a Bugle batsman. The match at St. Tudy appears to have been played out on a poor wicket. All ten St. Tudy batsmen are removed by 3 Bugle bowlers with only 13 runs being scored by the bat. On this day, Arthur Crowle’s return of 2 wickets for 8 runs is a ‘little costly’. Bugle wins the game by 3 runs having suffered a similar fate in their innings with Arthur Crowle scoring almost half the runs. A second innings follows with Bugle again winners, scoring 106 runs to St. Tudy’s much improved 55. The St. Stephen game is also timed. The home side makes 109 for 7 before declaring. Bugle struggles from the first ball and battles to reach 29-9 at the end of the allotted time – saving the game by just one wicket. A sign of the bulldog spirit to come? Also, to be noted is the appearances of David Stevens who is not very old at the time!