Opening a new pavilion

Brian Sanderson observes a great day for Arthington Cricket Club

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About a fortnight ago I received intelligence that Arthington Cricket Club would be opening their new pavilion this weekend past. The occasion was the semi-final of the Nidderdale Cricket League’s Atkinson-Swires Knockout. They would be taking on Blubberhouses.

Arthington, founded in 1864, is located between Pool in Wharfedale and Harewood. It used to hold a cricket festival every October, at which I was a regular. This was a great occasion for catching up with fellow enthusiasts. Having progressed steadily through the league, Arthington is now top of the first division and looking to migrate to a stronger league to improve its standing.

The long-time owners of the ground were the Sheepshank family—of whom one, Ernest Richard, played a match for Yorkshire in 1929. He went to school at Harrow; the photograph below finds him in the school cricket team. He died on December 27, 1937, working as a special correspondent in the Spanish Civil War, and is buried in the graveyard opposite the ground.

Another famous cricketer who played at this attractive ground was Herbert Sutcliffe. The story goes that he was so unimpressed with the facilities in the old pavilion, pictured below, that he refused to change there, and instead kitted himself out in the Sheepshank house before walking across the field to play. His opinion has come to be widely shared, and it was decided a few years ago that the club deserved better.

Now, after two years’ hard work, the club has a new pavilion. It was opened yesterday by Sir Thomas Ingilby, the league President, together with a number of former players and supporters. Unfortunately rain stopped play, but we were able to ring the bell for the first time, and I took care to capture the moment for your benefit. Then we gathered inside to remember the old friends who have recently left us. They would have been proud of the work. The club is in good hands.

The match has been rearranged for Sunday 28 July. I will be in attendance (subject to the English weather, of course), and hope to see a few of you there.

Brian Sanderson is an ACS member. He serves on the Yorkshire Cricket Archives Committee. If you would like to contribute to this newsletter, please either respond to the email in which you received it, or leave a comment below.