The Crimson Rambler

As the brighter amongst you may have worked out “The Crimson Rambler” was the predecessor of this blog.  It began (under the title “Go, litel blog, go …”) in April 2009 and ran until January 2015.  It started as a miscellany of arts, sports and light topical satire but gradually evolved (or degenerated) into a cricket blog.  Though I say so myself, some of it was quite good and you can find it here https://backwatersman.wordpress.com/

9 thoughts on “The Crimson Rambler”

  1. Hi, I did leave a message on your previous Crimson Rambler webpage, before realising that one was no longer being used. As such, I’ll re-iterate the gist of that previous message in case it should prove of interest to you and your followers. The message was in response to an article about Delius, since I’ve just written a book about the History of Whalley Range Cricket Club, and as it happens, Delius played for the club during the 1883 season, and had quite a bit of success with both bat and ball. Should you be interested there are more details on http://ashtoncricketleaguebooks.webs.com/
    Kind regards, Pete

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    • Hi Peter. Thanks very much for that. I’d certainly be interested to know more about FD’s cricket for Whalley Range, though I may have to check my limited budget for cricket books before ordering a copy. It is good to know that that there are still some serious cricket historians at work, as opposed to my dilletante-ish efforts. I have posted a link to your site on Twitter, so, with luck, some of my followers might be encouraged to have a look at it. You’ve probably thought of this already, but the MCC Library at Lord’s are always happy to receive new cricket publications, though I’m not sure what their policy is about payment. There is also still a decent library at Trent Bridge, though ditto re. payment.
      With best wishes and good luck for the new season, Nick (“BW”).

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  2. Hi, thanks for the response. FD’s highest score with the bat was an unbeaten 40 against Bowdon, a game in which he also achieved his best bowling figures, taking six wickets. He occasionally also kept wicket for the club. At the time, Whalley Range was a very exclusive area of Manchester, and he thus managed to play alongside some illustrious characters, the most noteworthy of whom was Thomas Percy Bellhouse, who was the inaugural ABA middleweight boxing champion. His team-mates also included C. A. G. Hulton (a man of some standing who was a direct descendant of King Henry VII), F. D. Gaddum, and W. G. Mills, who all played for Lancashire at some point. Five years later, Archie MacLaren, who was born and bred in Whalley Range, also played occasionally for the club, and is still the holder of the highest individual first-class score by an Englishman, an effort of 424 for Lancs against Somerset in 1895.

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  4. Hi, I suspect evidence may have been a tad on the elusive side, since most of the really significant players were indeed from the Victorian age and played at the old ground on College Road which is sadly no longer extant. However, there should’ve been a few photos on the present clubhouse wall showing some of the stars from yesteryear, notably the oldest photo which dates to 1884 and features Thomas Percy Bellhouse (inaugural ABA middleweight boxing champion), Henry Charles Lenox Tindall (the Usain Bolt of his day), Walter George Mills (who played for Lancs), and Frederick Ducange Gaddum (who also played for Lancs and once took 9-5 for the club, though tragically died far too young in a cycling accident).

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  6. Hello Backwatersman
    I came across your blog whilst idly browsing about Northamptonshire CCC and soon realised that you are the son of my old, fondly remembered English teacher from KBS. He was a genuine inspiration to me and to this day I recall some of his bon mots and lessons on good writing style. Sharing a love of cricket, we occasionally bumped into each other at Wantage Road after I no longer had to explain why my essay was late.
    Enjoy your writing – keep it up.
    Kind regards
    Peter

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    • Thank you, Peter. I’m sure my Dad would have been delighted to read your comments about his teaching. I’m not so sure what he would have made of this blog, but I’d like to think that some of it would have made him laugh (for one reason or another).
      Best wishes
      Nick (“BW”)

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