WATN Cont..2

Bill Baines

Wicket Keeper

Now a resident Kiwi...!

Long before Al Murray, Chadwick had it's very own "pub landlord" one William Baines.

It didn't matter which part of the metropolis we were playing in, we would assemble every sunday lunchtime at The Bridge Tavern on the southside of Hammersmith Bridge for a pre-match pint and team talk... though I don't remember any of the latter!

Unfortunately our "local" didn't last long as Bill and Maureen decided to up sticks (and stumps!) and emigrate to New Zealand where Bill currently manages an installation company providing shopfittings and units for major supermarkets.

After a 20 year absence Bill and Mo came to the UK for a visit in 2007 and along with Simon & Thea Webb, Lorraine and I joined them at Larry and Liz Dann's for Sunday Lunch...where Larry served...New Zealand Lamb! (ok, so it was roast beef, but why ruin a good gag!)

Bill only played a couple of the early seasons and was Chadwick's mainstay Wicket Keeper, taking 26 catches and just the one stumping. Usually batting at 10 or 11, he scored 162 runs in 31 at bats, was not out 9 times with a highest score of 25... I don't think we ever let him bowl.

Each season to this day we still compete for the "Bill Baines Catching Shield" which goes to the player with the most outfield catches in a season, not because we want to remember him, but because he paid for it originally... I've got the receipts for the last 20 years engraving if you'd like to settle the bill...er Bill....!

(GF 2007)