The Oratory

One bright feature of a depressing weekend in which one Winchester match was cancelled and the other abandoned, followed by Sydenhurst's match at Haslemere being cancelled, was an invitation from Sean Daverin to take a side to the Oratory, on Sat. 21st June. Normally acceptance would have been out of the question. Co-incidentally, the 21st is the one gap in the Brook fixture card and after discussion with Simon Kitching, it was decided to accept the invitation.

Will any Brook or Ramblers players wanting to play in this match either contact Simon Kitching on:-

Those who would normally be playing against the Nomads that Saturday should not apply, or it could make Alan Hardy's recruitment difficult.

A word about the Oratory may be helpful to those who don't know it. Situated near Reading, and easily approached by motorway, the Oratory is what Eton used to be - "a school for Catholic gentlemen". Its wicket is better than Eton's and its magnificently kept outfield is 6 square yards larger than Lord's - where incidentally, the Oratory has historically played a match a year. The Oratory has produced such notable Patrons of international cricket as the late Duke of Norfolk. Set in the grounds of an imposing mansion, the facilities for players, families and friends are exceptional and freely available on the day - these include indoor and outdoor swimming, tennis etc.

The match will start at 1.30 am and lunch will be provided for the players. Friends and families are invited to bring picnics.

Sean Daverin, himself an ex-Middlesex cricketer, will pick a side to match our strength on the day - to ensure an even contest. If this proves a popular event, the invitation will be repeated annually under a Brook/Ramblers banner."

Sadly the records for the 1980s are still not to hand. Does anyone know whether the game was played?

In Memory Lane, there is reference to the Brook Ramblers match, at The Oratory, in 1986. You have written, at the foot of that article, "does anybody know if this game was played?"

I can assure you that that game was played. I captained the Ramblers side which included Simon Kitchen and Sean Daverin captained The Oratory Old Boys side. We played on their magnificent wicket, which is cut out of the side of a hill, very much like the one at Arundel Castle.

I can't remember anything about the game, except that it was played in decent weather and that the school provided lunch before the game. I do remember the steep bank on the down hill side of the ground.

The other thing that was notable about that particular day was that Brook and the Ramblers actually fielded two sides. I can't remember who the second XI played or whether it was a Surrey match or a Club Cricket Conference match.

The Oratory is a small school for Catholic aristocracy whose alumni include Bernard, Duke of Norfolk, MCC President and manager of several MCC tours. One of his contemporaries was Dickie Dean, who was Lord of the Manor of Wraysbury and Eton. Dick had a house on Magna Carta Island, which was accidentally burnt down by his goddaughter. Dick was the country's first property tycoon and president of the Ameriti. I first met Sean Daverin, playing for Dick at Eton. Sean had been born in South Africa and had played top flight cricket and tennis in South Africa. As a school boy, he attracted the attention of the Middlesex CCC. He played several games for the Ramblers and was a sort of Ian Botham of club cricket, in that he was a useful, forceful bat, a medium paced bowler and a sure pair of hands. He loved the straight six and I can remember his producing those both at Devizes and also at Oxford Downs, in your presence.

One day we may know the outcome of the Oratory game but, for the present, it remains a mystery, unless Sean can provide it. He lived at a house which I seem to remember was called Appletree Cottage, in Pyrbright, from which he ran a robust business.