Quotations from P G Wodehouse are copyright of, and reprinted by permission of, the Trustees of the Wodehouse Estate © 2012 The P G Wodehouse Society (UK)

The Gold Bats vs The Sherlock Holmes Society

at West Wycombe, 20th June 2010

Jamie Jarrett reports on a cherished annual event for the society

The sun shone on this match in more ways than one. Not only was the weather more than kind to us, but West Wycombe cricket ground is in a beautiful setting and this was the tenth anniversary of a rather special annual match against a fellow literary society - The Sherlock Holmes Society of London.

The ground is by West Wycombe Park. Now a National Trust property, it was built by Sir Francis Dashwood of Dilletanti Society and Hellfire Club fame. Red Kites can be seen regularly hovering above the cricket green and also either swallows or swifts (an unresolved debate as to which occupied the spectators) enjoyed darting about the stumps at near ground level.

The Sherlockians

The match progressed in a very diplomatic and statesmanlike way, with umpires Murray Hedgcock and Norman Murphy ensuring that intra-national relations were always at their best. Not that this was needed, the two teams and societies, although locked in competition with each other, are clearly close friends.

The Gold Bats, with Norman Murphy far left and Murray Hedgcock far right

As the match progressed it was agreed that an extra half an hour of play would ensure a fair outcome for all and indeed the game went from being exciting to watch to captivating, as the Gold Bats tried to bowl out the Sherlockians before they could meet the Gold Bats’ earlier declared total. One Sherlockian ultimately achieved a score of 114! Alas the Sherlockians finally scored 215 for 8 wickets to our 212 for 7 declared. Bob Miller's team, as usual, did our society proud in a closely fought and thrilling game.

It was well worth going along to this event. Indeed Nicholas Utechin, of the Sherlock Homes Society, produced an anniversary booklet to celebrate the tenth year of this match. The booklet is entitled Wycombe Wonders.

Nicholas Utechin presents Wycombe Wonders anniversary booklet, to both team captains

It is produced in a limited edition of 221B copies and contains a humorous and informative history of this annual event with many photographs and quotes, for example Murray Hedgcock commenting on a win by the Sherlockians: "The Wodehouseans offered a novel excuse - over-confidence, as demonstrated by their turnout for the first time in splendid new caps - plum-coloured, with crossed bats (in gold of course) ... I suspect even the Gold Bats were pleased, because the spirit of these contests requires that success, like enjoyment, be shared.". A fitting comment on a very enjoyable annual event for both societies.