Bill Lander, who died last year, first played for the Ramblers in 1956 on June 24th at Horsley. In a 12-a-side match he took 7-41 in 13.1 overs to help Ramblers to an 8 wicket victory. He played in 2 other games that season.
Bill was born at Ordsall, Retford, Nottinghamshire on May 14th 1920. He played for Ordsall Wire Mills as a youngster developing as a left arm spinner who also produced the occasional 'chinaman'. He joined Nottinghamshire CCC groundstaff - following a trial- in May 1946 earning the princely sum of £4 per week. He was retained for 1947 and played for Nottinghamshire 2nd XI during that summer.
At Trent Bridge he learned the craft of preparing wickets for three day matches and he could not have had a better training ground.
His connection with Brook and Sydenhurst Ramblers came through his appointment as Cricket Coach and Head Groundsman at King Edward's School, Witley in 1955 where W.D."Bill" Reynolds, a stalwart of Brook cricket, was Deputy Head Master. He was soon producing superb wickets for the School on their new ground - Gurdons - on which it was difficult for a quick bowler to get the ball above stump height. As he used to remark of a pitch "Well it's had the same preparation as the wickets for a county game at Trent Bridge!"
Bill played regularly for the Ramblers during the next 4 seasons and took 5 wickets or more on 16 occasions. His best performance was 8-21 against Stonor, the Bedales School Old Boys side, at Brook. In a 12-a-side match he bowled 20 overs, 10 of which were maidens. Stonor were 16 for 9 and all out 39.
He played in 65 matches for the Ramblers, bowling 755 overs and taking 194 wickets @ 12.70. He secured 50 or more wickets in 3 consecutive seasons - 1957/58/59.
In 1959 he was appointed to a similar post at Sherborne School, Dorset whose 'squares' had deteriorated badly and he was not required to undertake any coaching. He and his wife also ran the school shop.
During 1960-62, Bill played for Dorset in the Minor Counties Championship as their professional. He headed the bowling averages in 1960 and 1962, taking 105 wickets over the 3 years @ 17.54.
Bill played against the Ramblers for the Ushers on the Sherborne School ground in the period 1968-72 when the Ramblers toured in Dorset.
(My thanks to Bertie Mawer, Old Witleians Association - and sometime Rambler - for additional information.DMTG)