Issue 28

‘Our hardworking Groundsmen Martin and Steve produced some quality pitches and the outfield was in outstanding condition, as a result of their hard work we were rewarded with hosting the Bradford League T20 final that was a great day for all concerned, fantastic to see Martin and Steve recognised by the League. ‘We hope all is well with everyone at Carlton CC Edinburgh, wishing you the very best, your friends at Carlton CC Wakefield.’ Cricket 2021 News from Stevie Gilmour, Head of Coaching After the successful Covid 2020 season, the cricket committee are turning their attention to the winter programme in preparation for what will hopefully be a full season in 2021. Obviously there is a fair amount of uncertainty, however, like last year, the plan will be to start Indoor training during January at James Gillespies High School. The new intake of the Performance Squad will be announced soon, with the hope of getting in a 6 week block of training before Christmas. This possibly will only be for those u18. /from over ‘Our first and second elevens enjoyed plenty of League success and the T 20 competition proved an excellent opportunity for some of our younger players to show off their skills. ‘The junior section completed League and cup fixtures in a busy 8 weeks, the under 13s and under 11s played some great Cricket and are already looking forward to the 2021 season. Our under 9s played 15 matches in a league and cup winning season. Cricket 2020 Do you have views on this year’s cricket? The Cricket Committee would like to hear them. Please take a moment to respond to this short questionnaire. https://form.jotform.com/steveg105/fe edback-2020 And everyone should be prepared for some outdoor winter training just in case. So a Carlton Beanie* should be on your Christmas List! *fresh supplies expected soon Collector’s Item

In a season when I was expecting very little cricket, the bonus of an extra seven MCC games was a great unexpected pleasure. I have Fraggle and Jamie Kerr to thank for giving me the chance to get this extra cricket in. This summer was due to be the start of my MCC playing membership application, the first year in a fairly long membership process to gain life-time membership of the MCC. Membership gives you the opportunity to play in games all up and down the country for the MCC. And you receive that little red book which allows you to enter Lords for any game held there that year and entrance to the famous pavilion. Last year I enquired of Fraggle (the most MCC man I knew) about taking part in the application process. He and Jamie Kerr then proposed both me and Simmo for application this year. The process requires several proposers and a sponsor of your application and if you are successful you begin your probation period. This involves playing a minimum of 10 days of cricket over two years. If you compete well in those games (taking wickets and scoring runs) and show a good account of yourself (don’t be a dickhead) and play in the spirit of the game (natch for Carlton players!), then you enter your 5 year stint - you are now a member and need to play a minimum of 20 games over 5 years and then after that just a few games a year where possible. I was due to play twelve games this year with 6 around Scotland and then another 6 in the north of England. Of course, with Covid-19 all games planned for April-July were cancelled, but, eventually, I was lucky enough to get seven games in with two in Scotland and five in England. Playing 2 days back to back at Sheffield Collegiate (Joe + Billy Root’s and Michael Vaughan’s club) and a game in Newcastle with Simmo against former Carlton player Chris Patterson’s club Stocksfield CC (see NL 10) It’s been a great opportunity to play with some very familiar names. Simmo and I have played twice together this year and in one of those games Carlton’s own Will Hardie was playing. I had a few games with Jamie Kerr and some Scotland old guards (I had a 90 run partnership with Alec Davies at Fettes - and I’m not saying how many I contributed) and I have also met some great people from all up and down the country who I have made friends with. I will hopefully play with them for a few more years to come. I would really encourage looking at completing your MCC membership in years to come if you have the time. It’s a great way for fitting in extra cricket, which in Scotland isn’t always on offer, but also an amazing opportunity to meet players from all over the UK and make some friends for life. And at the end of the day who wouldn’t love the chance to sit in the Pavilion at Lords for a test match? Calum Sibley tells how he and Tom Simpson are pursuing prestigious membership of the MCC

Greetings from Sussex Former Grange Loan favourite Alan McLeod recalls some times at Carlton, and tells of his new cricket adventures in the deep south. Karen and I moved to Sussex in 2018 (my job moved to London) and we now live in Burgess Hill which is c10 miles from Brighton. We’re loving it down here (handy for the coast, the south downs, watching Sussex play at Hove, and going up to see Arsenal in London). I immediately joined Burgess Hill Cricket Club which is a friendly place. With better weather down here, the wickets are a bit harder (and occasionally turn which is nice). The heat has also meant I don’t need to wear my under-armour (unlike Scotland where one season I wore it for every match)! I’m now 50 but am still enjoying playing for the 2nd/3rd XI at Burgess Hill, and visiting some lovely village grounds. We had an August Cup competition in Sussex this year which meant we got about 6 competitive games in plus a few friendlies which was more than I hoped for given COVID 19. I joined Carlton back in 1989 (aged 19) from Corstorphine. I’d really fancied playing at Carlton having watched them on occasions at Grange Loan and been impressed by the fact they were an open club (rather than a former pupils club which most top Edinburgh teams seemed to be at that time). I remember fondly my first few years at Carlton where I learnt a great deal from Richard Swan, Hugh Parker, and Andy Macpherson. There were always a few laughs as well (usually curry or smell related chat) with Graham Langley in the team and with Titch Bannerman winding people up. Some of the tours to Newcastle were also memorable. I played for Carlton 1st X1 for 12 seasons but packed-up in 2000. I had a long hiatus until Fraser Watts coaxed me out of retirement in 2015 to play for the 3rd XI. I’ve had a renewed interest since then and enjoyed playing in the 3rd XI with a great crop of juniors coming through the ranks. It was also fun to play with Kevin Whitaker, who had originally joined with me back in 1989. As a left arm spinner it was great having a top-notch wicketkeeper to take stumpings! Jamie Kerr was another keeper who I played with at Carlton who was an excellent stumper.

100 not out - More About Women’s Cricket at Carlton The Newsletter’s recent account of the development of Women and Girls’ cricket at Carlton focussed on the last 10 years. Bill Polson reminds us that there is a longer history: From at least 1955 until its closure in 1967 the girls of Esdaile School practiced at Grange Loan on Friday evenings. (Esdaile was the school for Church of Scotland ministers' daughters situated in Kilgraston Road.) This was organised by Jimmy Jappy and a few of the young lads who knocked about the ground, such as Chris Paul, Robert Elliot and myself, were allowed to bowl at the girls in the nets. My claim is that it was the earliest coaching that I carried out. Towards the end of the summer term there was a match between J. Jappy's Carlton XI and Esdaile in which the boys/men had to bat left handed. The Esdaile ranks contained a very strong off side player called Rosemary McCulloch who JJ did consider asking to play for the second eleven and opening bowler, Elizabeth Duncan, who a 14 year old batting the wrong way round certainly found difficult to play. And as can be seen from the photo below taken from this article on the website women cricketers at Carlton go even further back to the 1920s So, from the 1920s to the 2020s - 100 years of women’s cricket at GL. And keeping the flame burning - some of Carlton’s 2020 keen-as-mustard women have been getting in some post-season practice with club skipper Ally Evans giving them some pointers. QUIZ NEWS In last Friday’s quiz, the company was boosted by the first quizzing appearance in Carlton Colours of Sandy Scotland. But even his knowledge of Tamla Motown could not prevent Keith Murray’s well deserved triumph. Reinforcements are required for the next quiz on Friday 27 November Full details will be available shortly through Whats App The next issue of the Newsletter will be on Monday 7 December. All suggestions for content are welcome. Newsletter@carltoncc.co.uk