Hadleigh Cricket Club 1919
Back Row (L-R):
Mr Porter-Senior; Mr Smith; Alfie Jones; Wilf Potter; Mr Hailstone; Joe Grant; Mr C Potter; Mr J Barber; Mr Len Barber; Mr Potter
Front Tow (L-R):
Harry Fields; Tom Owen; Mr Woodford; Mr Lynhan; Jim Owen
In Front:
Jimmy Botton
Thundersley Cricket Club 1920
If anyone can recognise the players and officials in this photograph, please contact Ron Curtis with the details.
Thundersley Cricket Club 1946
If anyone can recognise the players and officials in this photograph, please contact Ron Curtis with the details.
Thundersley Cricket Club 1946
If anyone can recognise the players and officials in this photograph, please contact Ron Curtis with the details.
In 1946 two local cricket clubs, Hadleigh CC and Thundersley CC, amalgamated at the end of the 2nd World War to form the club we know today.
The annual subscription for players in the new club were fixed at one shilling (5p) with match fees of 2/- (10p) for home games and 1/- for away matches!!
How times have changed! The club started with one of the key problems that we experience today – a lack of playing members. Initially the club ran one Saturday team, one Sunday team and a Wednesday team – for the shopkeepers who had that day off each week. How times have changed again!!!
Believe it or not, we still have active members (very few) who were there from virtually the start of the new H&TCC. Unfortunately we lost two of our long-standing members in 2015 who passed in their nineties but who had active associations with the club since its formation in 1946. Jimmy Watson was the first Wednesday Captain and Albert Collins played from the mid-1940s until well into his 70s and captained the 3rd XI in the 1960s era.
Hadleigh & Thundersley Cricket Club Wednesday XI 1951
Standing (L-R):
Bert Gower (Umpire/Treasurer); Bob (Jimmy) Watson; Ken Arnold; Bob Holmes (Captained Wed XI after 1954); Bob Awford; Norman Bambridge; Geoff Byford (Later Club Captain); Norman Smith; A. Aldridge (?)
Sitting (L-R):
Mrs. Harwood (Scorer); Harry Hewitt (Wed XI Captain 1948-1954); Jack Bardell (Landlord of The Crown PH); Jack Sheaville (Landlord of The Castle PH).
This information was provided by John Jarvis who played for H&TCC as a school boy in the 1940s. He was probably but not certainly, at school when this team photo was taken. The photo was taken before 1953 when the pavilion was opened. John later went on to be the Club Captain for a number of seasons in the 1960s and 70s era; John has also been Chairman and President of H&TCC in his later years, as well as served for many years on ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) Committees and the Essex County Cricket Club Committee. Now well into his eighties, he currently organises a monthly lunch for current and past players/members during the winter months, raising funds to improve the facilities at the club for all to enjoy in the process.
Hadleigh & Thundersley Cricket Club c.1952
If anyone can recognise the players and officials in this photograph, please contact Ron Curtis with the details.
S. Ballard; B. Hart; B. Field; R. Homeword; R. Harwood; Jim Sheppard; E. Ballard; L. Ballard
The Opening Day for the New H&TCC Pavilion in John H. Burrows Recreation Park 1953
The original H&TCC Pavilion was opened in 1953 in John Burrows Recreation Ground with the raising of the flag by Essex CCC and England Test Player, Trevor Bailey.
This photo was taken on the day and shows all the players who took part in the celebration match. I believe that Trevor Bailey was on Test duty at the time and he probably shouldn’t have even got changed for the match, let alone play! I am reliably informed that he did bat, but didn’t take the field!
As far as we can tell, the 22 players and officials on the day that can be named from left to right are:-
Back row:
Richard Horsfall; ???????; Richie Shepard; ???????; Harry Ballard; ???????; Bob Holmes:
Middle Row:
??????? (Umpire); Harry Challis (H&TCC Secretary); David Watkins; Bob Homewood; Geoff Byford; John Scrivenor; Len Ballard; Norman Sammons (Umpire); Brian Taylor –Wkt (Essex & England):
Front Row:
Pat Barnes; Jimmy Watson; Ray Smith; Burt Farnham; Frank Vigar; Norman Smith; Trevor Bailey (Essex & England); John Jarvis:
If anyone can recognise the players and officials in this photograph, please contact Ron Curtis with the details.
August 1953
A large crowd assembled in August 1953 in John Burrows Recreation Ground for the official opening of the new pavilion which subsequently burned down on Christmas Eve 1970. The replacement pavilion was opened in August 1971 and a major extension was added in 2016-17.
T.E. Bailey (Essex & England) was the guest of honour and pulled up the club flag to officially open the new building. He then took part in an exhibition match between the club and a Southend District Cricket Association select XI.
To the left of the picture is Rectory Road looking towards the corner with New Road. No ‘health and safety’ barriers between the club and the roads then – just a hedge, a ditch and a few young trees!
H&TCC played a select XI representing Southend & District Cricket Association at the opening of the new pavilion in John H Burrows Recreation Park.
The photo of players, club members and friends includes;
Len Ballard; Charlie Sugg; Bob Holmes; Norman Bambridge; Jack Sheavill; Richard Sheppard; Bob Sims; Alan Watkins; Pat Barnes; William Boys; George Harwood; Harry Field; John Scrivenor; Geoff Byford; Harry Challis; Bert Farnham; Bob Homewood; John Jarvis; Harry Harwood; Geoff Hardy; Alf Lambert; Norman Hambridge; Tony Lambkin; Bert Gower (Umpire); members, families and children.
Opening the Pavilion in 1953
H&TCC v Southend & District Cricket Association
Back Row (L-R)
Bob Homewood; Roger Sheppard; Pat Barnes; Bob Holmes; J Brown (Runwell CC); Reg Holland (Marine CC); Alan Carradus (Old Southendians CC); B Croston (Old Westcliffians CC); Bob Pinkerton (Rayleigh CC)
Middle Row (l-R):
Bert Hart; Jimmy Watson; Geoff Byford; C Pearce (Westcliff CC);
Front Row (L-R):
John Scrivenor; Len Ballard; Norman Smith; Harry Ballard; Gerald McLellan (Westcliff CC); F Goodrum (Southend LCS) Derek Blott (St John’s CC); Edgar Ward (Leigh CC)
H&TCC Saturday 1st XI – 1954
Harry H Hewitt (Umpire): ?; Bert Hart; Les Carter; Bob Simms; Brian Hewitt; Tony Lambkin
Front Row (L-R):
Albert Collins; Norman Hambridge; Bert Farnham; Sid Nunnan
Hadleigh & Thundersley Cricket Club Wednesday XI 1954
Back Row (L-R):
Bert GOWER (Umpire/H&TCC Treasurer); Jimmy (Robert) WATSON; George HORWOOD; Ken ARNOLD; Bob HOLMES; Bob AWFORD
Middle Row (L-R):
Norman BURBRIDGE; Geoff BYFORD; Norman SMITH; A. ALDRIDGE (?)
Seated (L-R):
Mrs H HARWOOD (scorer); Harry HEWITT (Wednesday XI Captain1948-54); Jack BARDELL; Jack SHEAVILL:
- ‘Jimmy’ Watson: Christened Robert but always know as Jimmy, was the Manager of the Hadleigh Co-op
- George Horwood: Local Daws Heath Farmer
- Ken Arnold: Proprietor Sports and Office Supplies shop @ Thames Drive, Leigh
- Bob Holmes: Accountant. Also owned the NEWS BOX Newsagents in Benfleet
- Bob Awford; Proprietor local Bakers
- Harry Hewitt: Photographer – had shop on London Road, Leigh
- Jack Bardell: Proprietor of Garage that stood where Morrisons supermarket is now. He married into the family that owned the Crown Hotel/Public House and a number of other hostelries between here and London
- Jack Sheavill: Proprietor The Castle Public House
All information provided by John Jarvis. John was born and brought up in Hadleigh and attended Westcliff High School. He played as a schoolboy for Hadleigh & Thundersley from 1946 until retiring from playing senior cricket in the late 1970s. John was a regular 1st XI player throughout the 50s and 60s as an aggressive batsman and off-spin bowler. He held the offices of Club and 1st XI Captain, Chairman and President and is now an Honorary Life Member of the Club in recognition of his services to the club. He also served for many years on Essex County Cricket Club Committees and a number of MCC Committees which demonstrates his life-long dedication to our local cricket Club as well as in helping to develop the game of cricket at County and National levels.
Now in his 80s, John currently organises a monthly Lunch Club which meets every 1st Thursday of the month between September and March. The Lunch Club helps to keep ex-players and friends of H&TCC in touch and raises much needed funds for club improvements for the benefit of all. The Lunch Club has funded a newly refurbished kitchen and the purchase of much need Bar furniture in recent times.
Hadleigh & Thundersley Cricket Club 1955
If anyone can recognise the players and officials in this photograph, please contact Ron Curtis with the details.
A typical match day in the late 1950s
Throughout the 1950s and 60s it was not unusual to find a good crowd of spectators around the boundary on match days in JHB when the 1st XI was playing. A shed near the pavilion housed the deck chairs and folding chairs which were used by spectators.
When Hadleigh was batting the youngest member of the team, especially if he was batting low down in the order, was sent round the boundary to collect donations to aid club funds. Happy Days!!
Hadleigh & Thundersley Cricket Club Saturday 1st XI 1958
Back Row (L-R):
Jack Bartlam (Umpire); Richard Sheppard; Jackie Pile; H Smith; Harry Ballard; Bob Awford; Don Johnson; Harry Field (Umpire)
Front Row (L-R):
John Jarvis; Barry Evans; Bob Holmes (Capt); Jimmy Watson; Lambert Hardy:
Hadleigh & Thundersley Cricket Club 1st XI c.1959
Photo taken in front of Solby’s House
Back Row (L-R):
Norman Burbridge; Charlie Sugg; Bob Sims; Bob Holmes; Brian Hewitt; Geoff Byford; ….?......
Front Row (L-R):
Pat Barnes; Len Ballard; Harry Ballard; Norman Smith; Jimmy Watson.
Hadleigh & Thundersley Cricket Club Wednesday XI
Back Row (L-R)
Colin King; Bill Johnson; Barry Evans; John Jarvis; Normand Howe; Richard Sheppard
Front Row (L-R)
Jimmy Watson; Bob Holmes; Roger Sheppard; Jackie Pike; Len Ballard
Hadleigh & Thundersley Cricket Club Benefit Match v Essex 1960
This looks like a benefit match between H&TCC and Essex as it includes Brian Taylor (Wkt) (far right) and just to the left sitting down looks like Trevor Bailey. Is that Michael Bear (Essex) standing at the back? H&TCC players that can be identified include Jimmy Watson (one the left about to bat), Geoff Byford (standing behind Jimmy) and John Jarvis (far right sitting down).
Hadleigh & Thundersley Cricket Club Wednesday XI 1962
Back Row (L-R)
William Boys: Barry Evans: Alan Watkins: Geoff Hardy: Laurie Battelle; Norman Radford:
Front Row (L-R)
Len Ballard: John Jarvis: Geoff Byford (Capt); Norman Howell: Jimmy Watson
Hadleigh & Thundersley Cricket Club Bill Greensmith’s Benefit Match 1963
Back Row (L-R):
…..?....... (Umpire); Tony Murray; Eddie Higginson; Don Johnson; Bob Sims; Richard Sheppard; ..….?.......; Pat Barnes (Umpire)
Front Row (L-R):
Len Ballard; John Jarvis; Geoff Byford; Arthur Hodgson; Jimmy Watson
Hadleigh & Thundersley Cricket Club Wednesday XI 1965
Back Row (L-R):
Harry Ballard; …….?.........; Bill Smith (Wkt); Bob Awford; Bert Farnham; Ray Burton;
Front Row (L-R):
……?.........; Bob Holmes; Laurie Battel; Norman Smith; William Boys
Hadleigh & Thundersley Cricket Club Saturday 1st XI 1968
Back Row:
Tom Hodge (Scorer); John Agar; Peter Brown; Bob Simms: Brian Rayner; Harry Field (Umpire)
Front Row:
Len Rodwell; Geoff Westbrook (Wkt); Eddie Higginson: Sidney Corbett (President); John Jarvis (Capt); Robin Turner: Henry Revell.
Pavilion Fire 1970
The original pavilion, which was modelled on the traditional pavilion seen in many villages was opened by Trevor Bailey in 1953. It stood on the site of the current pavilion until it was destroyed by fire on Christmas Eve in 1970. The current building was built in the summer of 1971. This building was extended during 2016-17 with grant funding from the Veolia North Thames Trust, CPBC, the Essex Community Initiative Fund, Essex Community Foundation, Essex & Southend Sports Trust and donations from members and friends. The pavilion now boasts six changing rooms and a large social area.
Much was lost in that fire but with renewed determination, a new pavilion was built and was operational by the middle of the following cricket season thanks to the hard work of club volunteers who helped with digging foundations and building walls – alongside help from the professionals!
The new pavilion has seen constant amendments and improvements over the years and we are currently concluding a very ambitious extension project which will see the addition of four new changing rooms, a much bigger social area on the first floor with disabled access and facilities. The aim is to create a sports/community hub in John Burrows which will serve not only the members of the club, but community groups as well.
Groups who use the grounds existing RVS facilities will eventually transfer their activities to our building as and when their existing meeting space is no longer available. The local Council plans to demolish the RVS building as and when it becomes untenable.
The plan includes the construction of an external public toilet facility on the ground floor accessible to all park users, as there isn’t an available toilet for them to use at the moment.
Buy-a-Brick
The Management Committee for the Extension Project would like to thank all those listed below for their generous contributions towards meeting the cost of the Extension Project through the BUY-A-BRICK fund-raising scheme.
Hadleigh & Thundersley Cricket Club Saturday 2nd XI 1973
Back Row (L-R):
Harry Field (Umpire); Tony Brazier; Geoff Byford; Geoff Westbrook (Capt/Wkt); Bob Simms; David Slaughter; Roland Revell;
Front Row (L-R):
Chris Cawcutt; Mike Hayden; Doug Meakin; Steve Jones
Hadleigh & Thundersley Cricket Club Saturday 3rd XI 1973
Back Row (L-R):
Chris Smith; Arthur Hodgson; Ray Mead Albert Collins; Norman Radford ;Don Johnson; Chris Sargeant
Front Row (L-R):
Keith Lilley, David Entwistle, Martin Whipple
Evening Echo Champions 1977
Left - Right:
Clive Mohabir; Peter Knight; Dick Neal; David Jones; Kim Bailey (Capt); Dave Smith (Southend United Manager); Glen Jones; Neil Harding; David Slaughter; John Jarvis (Won the £5 bet); Crouching: Ron Curtis; Chris McHale; ….?....: Dick Neal’s Dog wearing he H&TCC sweatshirt
Cricket in John Burrows c.1980
This picture shows the pavilion prior to its extensions in 2017 on a brilliant summer day with not a cloud in the sky! There seems to be a good crowd watching the match and even some spectators watching from the boundary.
The building that replaced the fire-gutted original pavilion in 1971 was added to and altered over the years; the most notable alteration being the filling in at the front of what was an overhang to accommodate a new beer cellar to the right and a storage facility to the left (the shutter for the storage area is up in this picture).
Chairs, benches and tables were stored in the shuttered store room and on International Days in July, the room was turned into a temporary bar area for the benefit of the many spectators from the local community coming to see the ex-Test players in action against a select XI made up mainly of our club players with a few ‘guests’.
In its heyday, between the late 1940s and mid 1960s, matches in JHB were well attended by spectators who came from as far away as Shoeburyness. As a young cricketer in the mid-60s, our current Secretary was often sent around the boundary when H&TCC side was batting to ask for cash donations for the Club from the spectators – taking round a special collection box. Deck chairs were available for spectators for a nominal cost of 6d – 2.5p in new money. Ice Creams and sweets were also sold to children and park users from the back of the pavilion facing the service road.
In the 1970s and 1980s the main square was in excellent condition and the outfield was very smooth and fast, especially after a prolonged dry spell – as is evident in the picture above.
In the 1960s there was no protective fencing around the ground on New Road and Rectory Road as there is today, but with the bats that were available at the time, not many big sixes were hit out of the ground and into the roads and nearby houses at any time – even during Cricket Week.
Hadleigh & Thundersley Cricket Club Sunday 1st XI 1981
Back Row:
Clive Mohabir; Stephen Gargrave; Tom Wilson; Paul Jackson; Tony Downey; Roland Revell; Paddy Long
Front Row:
Ian Pryor; Geoff Westbrook (Wkt); Harry Greenwood (Capt); Ron Curtis; Neil Harding
Hadleigh & Thundersley Cricket Club Sunday 2nd XI 1981
Back Row:
Roy Pearce (Umpire); Mike Hutchinson; Colin Willis; Peter Wagstaff; David Greaves; Nick Heath; Paul Hayes
Front Row:
John Jarvis; Steven Jones; Peter Jenkinson (Capt/Wkt); Peter Knight; David Slaughter; Tim Greenwood.
Hadleigh & Thundersley Cricket Club Saturday 1st XI 1989
Back Row (L-R):
Geoff Westbrook (Umpire); Iain Bray; Craig Manson; Nigel Warwick; Andrew Revell; David Slaughter; Keith Klein;
Front Row (L-R):
John Ancock (Scorer); Roland Revell; Nigel Holmes; Andy Johnson; Peter Ballard; Glen Geeson;
Boxing Day Charity Matches in JHB
For many years (25+) H&TCC held an annual charity Boxing Day match against Roger Buxton’s XI. When Roger’s team was no longer able to be there, the final few years of this unique local event were against a ‘select’ team from Leigh-on-Sea CC. Matches were played on a coconut matting wicket laid out on the football pitch adjoining the main square.
In this match in 1990 the participants included;
Chiraq Desai; Adam and Neil Goodman; Geoff Davison; Steven Gargrave; Keith Klein; Mark Palmer; Martin Wood; Steve Johnson; David Slaughter, Peter Millard (LoS); John (?)Threadgold; and some others who still need to be identified.
In one of the early matches, Roger Buxton (off-spin bowler) came on to bowl against John Jarvis. After only a couple of balls, JJ was caught in the deep, much to Roger’s delight. His joy was short-lived as the umpire after a while called ‘No Ball!’ On asking why this decision was made, the umpire replied: “You have been bowling a lot of no balls but Mr Jarvis told me only to call one when it was important!” From my recollection there were only a small number of matches held in the snow and footwear included football boots and whitened wellies worn by Len Rodwell!
Hadleigh & Thundersley Cricket Club Saturday 1st XI 1991
Back Row (L-R):
David Greaves; Ron Curtis; Mark Palmer; Jon Wagstaff; Ken Saunders (Umpire); Neil Harding; Andrew Revell
Front Row (L-R):
Steve Jones; Mark Seadon; David Slaughter; Glen Geeson;
Front:
John Ancock (Scorer)
Hadleigh & Thundersley Cricket Club Past Captains' XI
Inset Left: Paddy Long
Inset Right: Roland Revell
Back Row (L-R):
John Clarke; Nigel Holmes; Mark Palmer; David Slaughter; Neil Harding
Front Row (L-R):
Kevin Grant; John Jarvis (Capt); Peter Jenkinson (Wkt); Kim Bailey; Ron Curtis
This match was played against a club side in Cricket Week which is always held during the first full week in August.
Hadleigh & Thundersley Cricket Club Saturday 1st XI 2005
Back Row:
Tim Lowes; ?; Adam Fleming; Richard Revell; Steven Board; ?
Front Row:
Chiraq Desai; Mike Tibbenham; Paul Baker; Paul Tibbenham; Devang Ghandi
Hadleigh & Thundersley Cricket Club Saturday 1st XI 2007
Hadleigh & Thundersley Cricket Club T-20 Squad 2012
JOHN JARVIS
1931 – 2017
| 1946 | Joined H&TCC and played for 1st XI aged 15 Scored over 23,000 runs and took over 1,000 wickets during his playing career with H&TCC. |
| 1960 & 66-73 | H&TCC Club Captain |
| 1969 | Chairman Essex Cricket Association |
| 1972-2004 | Essex County Cricket Club Executive Committee |
| 1982-1996 | President H&TCC |
| 1997 | Hon Life President H&TCC |
| 2007 | Founded the H&TCC Lunch Club |