Nic Harper - Cambridge University

Nicholas John Harper was born at Forest Hill, London 11/04/39. He played once for Cambridge University in 1961 and was 12th man against Surrey, Yorkshire and the Australians in the same year. He played once for Surrey II v Middlesex and also on occasions for Surrey Colts and Surrey Club & Ground. He was a member of Surrey Young Amateurs 1956-58 (Captain in 1958) and Caterham School 1st XI 1954-1958 (Captain for the last 3 years). Nic batted left-hand - usually opening the innings and bowled left-arm medium pace.

Like his contemporaries Nic was involved with both Brook and the Ramblers from an early age. His first game for the Ramblers was on Sunday September 5th, 1954 at West Horsley against Horsley CC. Batting no.4 he survived 6 overs - bowled R.Dedman 4 (Dedman finished with 9-40). The following Sunday, at Brook he batted no.9 against the Cormorants and made 1.

In 1955, Nic played only once - on August 14th at Dunsfold, but it was a foretaste of things to come.  Batting no.3 he put on 91 for the 3rd wicket with Lionel Wood, scoring 79 including 8 fours. Nic's ability to keep the ball 'on the deck' became something of a feature in his batting and his career batting figures reveal that only 4.8% of nearly 12,000 runs came in sixes.

In 1956 on the Tour, he demonstrated his ability with the ball taking 5-36 against Hassocks, but it was the following year that he started playing regularly for the Club, turning out in 15 matches. His best effort was again on Tour at Findon where he was undefeated on 70*.

Nic scored his first century at Brook against Zombies on May 10th, 1959. Opening the innings with Tony Wood, he carried his bat - 102* from 191 in 2 hours 12 minutes, including 11 fours and 1 six. He played in 23 matches that year, scoring 860 runs including 9 fifties (a number only surpassed once - Tony Wood: 10 in 1970) and the following year 12 matches with 2 centuries and 2 fifties in 584 runs. One of the centuries - 129* was against Petersfield. With the other batsman, Pat Meen making 61*, the pair put on 147 for the second wicket and Ramblers were able to declare on 241-1. The scoreboard made splendid reading.

In 1961, Nic scored 680 runs in 16 innings (5 fifties) and bowled 118.1 overs, taking 25 wickets @ 15.72. He had his best return so far with the ball - 6-39 at Merrow on October 1st. The following year he scored three centuries and one fifty in 8 innings but did not pass the 500 run mark - the only time in 12 years (1959-1971) in which he failed so to do.

Over the next 4 years he played in 85 matches, scoring 3,239 runs including 4 centuries and 24 fifties. His highest score to date was against Abingdon at Hales Meadow in 1964 when he carried his bat - 134* made from 210-4 declared. With the ball he took 80 wickets including 5 in an innings on 5 occasions. The best was 6-19 v Reigate Pilgrims at Betchworth in 1966. In 1965 he took 13 catches.

Perhaps the high point of his career came in 1967 when on Whit Monday at Church Road, Earley, as captain, he won the toss; decided to bat; opened with Tony Wood and scored 179* against Reading. This remains the highest score by a Rambler in a single innings. His first fifty came in 48 minutes; the hundred was passed in 106 minutes and 150 in 148 minutes. It included 25 fours and 3 sixes. Ramblers declared at 280-9 and had the opposition 203-9 at the close.

One other notable achievement remains to be recorded. In the first match of the new 1972 season, Ramblers entertained Waterlooville at Brook. Coming on 3rd change, he secured 2 wickets in his third over and finished with 7-28 in 11.3 overs - his best career performance.

Nic Harper continued playing into 1977 (where records unfortunately cease at present). In all he played in 305 matches; had 299 innings; scored 11,781 runs @ 48.48. He made 20 hundreds (5 more than any other batsman) and 83 fifties; had 15 ducks; scored 95 sixes and 1296 fours. As a bowler, he had 1254.1 overs, 248 maidens, 3924 runs, 229 wickets @ 17.14. He took 5 wickets on 10 occasions and held 124 catches.

Nick Harper with Tony Wood before opening the innings at Kidderminster against the Gentlemen of Worcestershire on Tour 1961