CRANLEIGH C.C.

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Ramblers played Cranleigh 22 times 1947-1975. They won 10 of the matches, lost 5 and drew 7. A number of Cranleigh players have appeared for the Club over the years, notably Rod Turrell, Peter Adams and Norman Lock. Details of the games follow this article.

Article from "The Club Cricketer", November 1986  by Richard Campion

There can be few clubs in Surrey with a longer history than that which Cranleigh can broadly boast. The club was founded in 1856 and has remained at its original location at Cranleigh Common.
Originally the "ground" was no more than an area roped off to keep cattle out. Dr. A. A. Napper, who was the village doctor, was amongst the founders of the club and he and his colleagues enlarged the ground by the simple but effective process of adding a couple of yards to the chains or ropes each year until eventually the playing area reached its present size of ten acres.
The year 1865 was a highly significant one for the club as it was during that year that Cranleigh School was opened and also the Guildford to Horsham railway started operating. The Surrey Advertiser of 2nd September, 1865, records a match between Cranleigh and Farncombe United, with a splendid all-round performance from Farncombe's Jas Street who took 7 wickets and top scored with 27 out of 83.
In 1877, as part of the village celebration of Queen Victoria's Jubilee a match was played between 12 of Cranleigh and 24 Veterans of Cranleigh, in which the Veterans played in the costumes of 40 years earlier, wearing high box hats and cotton braces.
It is interesting to note that in 1897 a Village Cricket Cup Competition was started and Cranleigh won this cup in the first year of the competition, defeating Bramley in the final. On
the other extreme Cranleigh suffered a severe hiding at the hands of Guildford in the same year, when Guildford batted first and scored 329 for 3, and then bowled Craneleigh out for 62.
Another notable feature of those bygone days is that in 1878 H. E. Caswell, a one-armed player, scored seven centuries, with a highest score of 174. In 1891 a J. Mansfield took four wickets with four balls against Shamley Green, all four batsman being clean bowled. H. Eede was another effective bowler of that era, judging by his figures of 9 for 25 v. West Tarring in 1893 and 8 for 35 against Cobham in the same year.
The links between Cranleigh Cricket Club and Cranleigh School have always been strong. When the school opened in 1873 the cricket club gave permission for the school to use the ground and in return the school helped meet club expenses. In due course the school began to play its cricket on the Jubilee or Tower Fields. Over the years many members of the school staff have played for Cranleigh.
As was the case with many clubs, Cranleigh suspended activities during the First World War. After the end of the war Cranleigh were soon back in action and the years between the wars were marked by contributions from two loyal club stalwarts. Mr Charles Broad became secretary in 1921, a post he held until 1949. Frank Winsloe served the club for many years as a player and official, and was eventually made a life-member. During the Second World War the club featured in two broadcasts.
The first was in 1944 when a game was being played at Cranleigh against Shalford. This was a live broadcast, with a commentary by Michael Standing, which was recorded and later relayed to British Forces in the Middle East. Amongst the listeners was Bob Attwell, a playing member who was at that time serving in Cairo. Later the club was featured in a broadcast to Holland, when commentaries on a game at Lord's were interspersed with a description of a game at Cranleigh. The broadcast clearly made a big impression as a Dutch newspaper gave considerable coverage to the club, accompanied with photographs.
A mention was made above of The Village Cricket Cup Competition which started in 1897. In 1946 its modern counterpart was started and this is named the Flora-Doris Cup Competition. This is a popular knock-out competition. Cranleigh have won the competition on several occasions, notably in 1951 when the "B" side beat Horsley in the final, after the "A" side was eliminated in the early rounds. It is worth recording that the 1951 season saw a less happy match for Cranleigh when against Olinda the first five Cranleigh batsmen were dismissed without a run being scored. The first scoring stroke of the innings was a four through the slips.
The years 1945-1960 are generally regarded as the best for the club as regards playing strength, and the two outstanding players were without doubt Doug Stevens and Wally Morris. Stevens scored at least one century for the club in every season from 1928 to 1950. In 1948 and 1949 he achieved 1,000 runs and 100 wickets. Wally Morris, a fine medium-pacer, took 100 wickets in each of nine consecutive seasons with 142 wickets in 1953 being his best year. In 1948 Stevens and Morris took all opposition wickets to fall in the Cranleigh Cricket Week.
In 1956 the club celebrated its centenary and this was marked by two games against top class opposition. Firstly, Cranleigh played an E. W. Swanton XI, featuring amongst others Len Hutton and Frank Tyson, and later in the same summer the club played a N. A. Paul's XI containing future England captain Mike Smith and South African Test player John Fellows- Smith. In the latter game Bob Attwell took 10-49 for Cranleigh.
Four years later Peter May brought a celebrity side to play at Cranleigh, his team including such men as Richie Benaud, Keith Miller, Stuart Surridge and, to lend comic relief, Harry Secombe. The match was a great success, with over 6,000 people attending. The event was organised to help raise funds to meet the costs of the recently constructed new pavilion, which had been damaged by fire soon after completion. The previous pavilion, with a thatched roof, had been destroyed by fire and clearly this period around the late 1950's was a troubled one for the club.
Cranleigh field two Saturday and two Sunday teams, and also play some midweek games. In addition the club has a well-established cricket week. Cranleigh compete in the Surrey Cricketers League and also of course take part in the Flora-Doris competition referred to above. Paul Bedford is Saturday 1st XI captain, having recently taken over from Rodney Turrell who was skipper for some years. Turrell, a talented all- rounder, has played for Surrey 2nd XI. The Saturday 2nd XI is led by Mike Uwins, who is also club treasurer. On Sundays Rodney Turrell is 1st XI captain, whilst David Steele is in charge of the 2nd XI. Fixture Secretary is Charlie Tilling, whose son Stuart is Hon. Secretary.
Club President is Roger Bullen, and Peter May is the Club patron, having for some years lived near the ground. Jim Swanton and Christopher Martin-Jenkins are amongst the club vice-presidents, having both attended Cranleigh School. Both men have taken a keen interest in club affairs over the years.
One man perhaps more than any other deserves mention as a loyal servant of the club. Bob Attwell joined the club in 1926 as a 14-year-old schoolboy and finished playing only three years ago. Bob was a fine all-rounder, who scored four centuries for the club and took 10-49 for the club in the 1956 Centenary game against N. A. Paul's XI. Bob has been Chairman and President in the past, and now umpires and works with other club members on the ground. He has truly played a major part in the club's distinguished history.