I have included some of the messages and e-mails I have received from around the world on the Ashes, Bodyline and the site. If you have a question on the Ashes, this is the place to send them to - I will try and answer it !! E-mail link on the left menu.

David Kemp from Carlisle, Cumbria wrote:

 

I was staying with relatives in Nottingham and my aunt who was a keen cricket fan told me to go to the hotel in the city where the Australian tourists were staying and to introduce myself to Keith Miller. I was to tell him that I lived just down the road from Benwell Hill Cricket Club in Newcastle upon Tyne, as he had played there during the war when he was stationed at an airfield just outside Newcastle.

 

With the ignorance and courage of youth I duly did so. Not only did the great man make a tremendous fuss of me, but he also gave me half a crown ( the equivalent of 5 weeks pocket money) and got me the autographs of all the party, including old timers like 'Tiger O'Reilly'. To me those players including Miller, Ray Lindwall, Graham Hole,Neil Harvey and the rest seemed and seem like sporting giants. The old Baggy Greens became and remain magical, which is why I long so much for an England Ashes victory.

David Frith from Surrey wrote:

 

The letter from S.S.Vaidy asks about the Bodyline programmes shown on television around the time of the 1982-83 Ashes Test series, which marked the 50th anniversary. The drama-documentary, which I think ran to five episodes, was made by Kennedy/Miller in Australia and was shown in that country and in Britain. It was very entertaining but contained many laughable inaccuracies.

Meanwhile, the BBC produced a 40-minute programme called BODYLINE, made by Alan Patient, and this was the definitive production on cricket's stormiest series ever, with newsreel footage and filmed interviews with a number of the players late in life.

 

Mark Collet asked in his letter about the origin of the Ashes. Much has been written about this fascinating legend, but further research and claims in recent years seem to have led us nearer the truth. The ashes may well have been of a VEIL rather than a bail. Rosemary, Dowager Countess of Darnley, daughter-in-law of Florence Lady Darnley, said in 1998 that Florence had suggested this some years ago. She said she had worn the veil while watching the Englishmen play in Melbourne. It is most likely that Florence and some lady friends handed the little urn filled with ashes to Ivo Bligh at Rupertswood (outside Melbourne), home of Sir William Clarke, when the English amateurs were entertained there during the 1882-83 tour.

 

Ivo, of course, was to marry Florence, and they lived in Cobham Hall, Kent. He died in 1927, and his widow presented the urn and its velvet bag to MCC. It is to be seen in the museum at Lord's. There was one further element of mystery about the urn and its contents. An employee at Cobham Hall claimed that one morning a maid accidentally knocked the urn off the mantelpiece. The contents spilled out, and so horrified were those who witnessed the accident that it was decided the urn should be refilled immediately. As a matter of convenience the clumsy maid allegedly scooped some ash from the fireplace and slipped it into the urn. MCC, of course, have resisted any move to have the contents tested forensically - a proper decision, since the mystique should remain for all time.

 

Ian Burt from the UK wrote :-

 

Superb chronicle of the Ashes, as someone who has seen two of the most significant moments in recent times in the series (Taylor's ton at Edgbaston in 93 and the spin demolition at Edgbaston in 97) it was great not only to read about those moments again but also the history of the whole thing. Keep up the good work mate!

 

Rhys Jenkins - North East England wrote :-

 

Hello everyone, Great site which covers the Ashes in it's true glory. The Ashes is the be-all-and-end-all of Test cricket. The greatest Ashes Test of recent years - has to be our great win at the MCG in 1998 when we came back from the dead as Australia seemed to have it in the bag. Keep up the good work and please visit my cricket site. Cheers Rhys J

 

Tony Warren from South Africa wrote :-

 

I had the honour of seeing Don Bradman's last innings. That of course was 52 years ago and I was 23. The one thing that I remember about that incident was that Bradmans arrival at the crease was accompanied by a 'standing ovation' and similarly two balls later when Eric Hollies 'unkindly' bowled him. The crowd once again rose to its feet to cheer him off the park. I get a lump in my throat even thinking about some 50 odd years later. I was similarly affectede some couple of weeks ago when a 70,000 crowd at Wembley stood still aand without a murmer to remember Stanley Matthews. That I only witnessed on television but nevertheless a moving experience.

 

Helen Barter from the UK wrote on Bodyline:-

 

My son is researching the family tree. I have been told for years that one of my grandfather's cousins was Harold Larwood. We found his autograph (not for sale!) amongst my late uncle's effects. We haven't yet managed to tie up the family links as there were many aunts and uncles and we are not sure which were the parents of Larwood. However, it was great to find your portrait and biography of him for our records. Please let us know if you have any more information about him. Many thanks for the site - Helen Barter

Enid Todd from Australia wrote on Bodyline :-

 

My niece Karen told me about your site.I am the second daughter of Harold Larwood and extremely interested in anything to do with cricket and the Larwood family tree.I am now a true blue Aussie supporter and think that Steve waugh is the best thing that ever happened to Australian cricket.

 

It has made all my efforts worthwhile getting the letters I have received from Harold Larwood's family thanking me for writing his profile and keeping his memory alive. I am currently working on adding more information to his profile - watch this space ! - Miles

S.S. Vaidy from the US wrote on Bodyline :-

 

It was just what I was looking for. congrats on this great website. Please help me! Where can I buy a setof the video series "Bodyline" which was telecast some years ago? Who made it? BBC?

 

Unfortunately I cannot find any record of the series being made publicly available for re sale. If anyone out there know please send me an e-mail and I will pass on the information to you all. - Miles.

Mark Collet from Rotorua, New Zealand wrote :-

 

My mother, Margaret Worsley, who lives in Devon and is a great niece of Ivo Bligh, tells me that when Ivo Bligh captained England he met his future wife, Flory, who was Irish, when staying at Government House (Melbourne?). They burnt the bails on the lawn there one evening and took the ashes back to England, where for many years they were kept at Cobham Hall, now a school, but then home of the Darnley family (Mary Queen of Scots and that ilk). So Scots and Irish have something to do with cricket.