Salute to Audlem

Kevan Holt has sent AudlemOnline a press cutting with a poem which mentions many associated with Audlem Cricket Club back in the 1970s.

In those days the cricket club always had a dinner dance immediately pre season.These were very formal affairs with an invited Guest of honour and were usually attended by 100ish people.

The dinner where the poem below was read was at the Corbet Hotel in Market Drayton – this was on the Square but is no longer in existence.The press cutting was from the Market Drayton Advertiser.

The poem was composed and delivered by the then chairman of Audlem Cricket Club, Mr Andrew Bee and it proposed the toast to the guests whist analysing many of the club's players and officials (in Caps just to help).

Can you spot people you know or remember?:

Salute to Audlem

There's a little white pavilion to the north of Chapel End,
Where the warriors of Audlem take their ladies to defend
A growing reputation in the fields of the Plain,
For the standard of their butties, and for playing in the rain.

HARDY though they are with the POOLE's upon their wicket,
And the HANKEY's in their pocket, can they cope with playing cricket?
HASS ALL commonsense departed? What a CONDREY to be in!
They'd better HOLT on GRIMLEY or they'll let the weather win.

When the sun shines over Gorsecroft where the battlefield is green,
Where a WALKER made the wicket and the competition's keen,
In years to come they'll talk of us beneath the Gorsecroft trees,
of VERNON, BEARD and BROOKFIELD and other such as these.

They'll talk of ROZ and RAYMOND digging in to save the day,
of STAN's appeal before the catch – the one that goes astray,
Of ERNIE HANKEY's forward prod, of WHALLEY round the wicket
Of IAN JONES's hunt for runs: now that is village cricket.

Did BILL the Barber bend his arm as some have whispered since?
Was smiling RAY the King of Spin and DENNIS MORGAN prince?
They say the captain only bowled at feeble tail-enders!
But even that was less delight than CONDREY bowling benders.

There's BOB McCLINTOCK's pull to leg off every ball he hit,
And JOHNSON's saving byes galore in wicket-keeper's kit,
The deadly length of KEVAN HOLT will not remain unsung
Nor free advice from second slip in Merseysider's tongue.

Our ladies come and do the treas, God Bless their little hearts.
And charge us quite a moderate sum for all their cakes and tarts
They spent it on a Pantomime – I could not see the reason -
You'd think they'd seen enough of that throughout the season.

This year the WEST's of London came to take the place by storm
I'm afraid they won at cricket showing creditable form,
The happening following was one of splendid cheer
And the memory that lingers is of FURBER drinking beer!

Our junior team have played so well, they really made their name
They beat a load of local teams and lost a single game
And some of them have shown their weight among the senior teams
A healthy sign for future years, security it seems.

We know we've lost some matches; And others we have won
We lost to ruddy Norton – but we do it all for fun!
They had to black some two handsome eyes before they won their matches,
Next year we'll up and thrash them well, If we can hold our catches.

Our President has once again produced a team to beat us.
And RUBY's gastronomic flair would sink the greatest eaters
The ALBERT made some runs for us, we let him go in last
And capped it all with crates of beer. Long may that fixture last!

Another season's over and other has begun
And here we all are once again. I hope we're having fun.
So welcome all vice-presidents, Friends you are the best
And will the players rise with me to help me toast -
Our Guests!

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