.Some
of you will already know that Harold Larwood was
England's great fast bowler, best remembered by
cricket fans for his bodyline bowling in the 1932-33
Test series against Australia. This story is about
the man who was my Grandfather.I didn't really know
the great cricketer. His cricket career was over
before my mother was born. The Harold Larwood I
knew was just my "Grandad", a man who was proud,
fiercely loyal with great strength of character
and sincere humility. He loved to tell stories and
it is the stories he told me, many about his cricketing
days that provide some of my most cherished memories
of him. Grandad was born in 1904 in Nuncargate,
a typical small village in the English Midlands.
Times
were hard and there was no money about. His father
worked in the local coal mine. At
13 Grandad got his first job, at 14 he became a
pony pit-boy, then at 17 he took a job on the night
shift at another mine. In 1923, while he was still
working at the mine, the Nottinghamshire County
Cricket Club asked him to sign on for a year with
a view to becoming a professional. The club official
asked him how much he was earning in the mine and
Grandad replied "Thirty two shillings, sir". When
offered the same amount by the club, he jumped at
it and so began his professional career. Unlike
today's cricketers, he didn't make much money out
of cricket. Grandad always said that the greatest
honour a man could receive was to represent his
country in sport. The money was never an issue,
and in recognition of this honour you did not disgrace
your country by arguing with or questioning the
decisions of the "skipper" or umpire.
He was disgusted by the behaviour of many of today's
great sportspeople. Grandad's cricket career ended
in 1934 and the following extract from his book
The Larwood Story, in his own words best explains
what happened and gives a great insight into his
character.
"
The gentlemen of the M. C. C. did not show their
hand until early in the 1934 season and I was certainly
not prepared for the devious approach that was made.
We were playing a match in Nottingham at the private
ground owned by Sir Julien Cahn, who had been president
of Nottinghamshire in 1931. He was a wealthy man,
a patron of the club, a gentleman, a big businessman
who rode in a chauffeured Rolls Royce. During the
match I was asked to go and see him. He talked for
a few minutes and I knew he was buttering me up
for something. Finally he said.. "Harold,
I'm afraid you'll have to apologise to the M.C.C."
Harold! Usually I got called plain Larwood. "Apologise
sir? What for?" "For your bowling, Harold." "I
have nothing to apologise for sir." "Oh,
but you must Harold. You must apologise to the MCC
for your bowling and you must agree to bowl legitimately
in future. If you do you will be picked in the Tests
against Australia. But unless I have your word,
I'm afraid you will not be considered at all." I
couldn't believe what I had been told and my stomach
turned over.
I
thought of how I had bowled myself to a standstill
in Australia, at the captain's orders, how I had
bowled till my side ached, bowled till my toes bled..
I thought of how my stomach had revolted against
food because of the strain of bowling. I thought
of how I had bowled until I was weary, only to have
Jardine come across and say, 'Try one more, Harold.'
I thought of the cables the M.C.C. had sent me in
Australia. There were three of them all signed by
Marylebone. The first, addressed to me at the Hotel
Australia, Sydney, during the First Test said..
'Well bowled Notts.' The second, during the Brisbane
Test: 'well bowled, congratulations.' The third
one, during the last test.. 'Bravo ' After
a while I said to Sir Julien Cahn 'I'm an Englishman
- I will never apologise.'"
After
cricket, Grandad grew flowers in a market garden
and later had a tobacco and lolly shop. In 1950,
he moved his family to Australia and settled in
Sydney where he worked in a soft drink factory until
he retired. He loved gardening and always had a
vegetable garden in the back yard of his Sydney
home. Even as his eyesight deteriorated he worked
that garden until he died in 1995. Grandad was given
a very warm welcome when he moved to Australia and
there were a number of reasons for the move. He
felt betrayed by England, but more importantly he
believed Australia offered better opportunities
for his daughters. He loved Australia and never
regretted making it his home. While the Australians
had given him a terrible time during the test matches,
he didn't harbour any ill feelings towards them.
He kept a letter from one Australian fellow that
he particularly liked: .....
"
You seem to have come in for more than your fair
share of barracking. But, believe me, we barrackers
don't wish you any harm but we're out to do everything
possible to help Australia win and that is our method
of doing it. We'll do exactly the same thing tomorrow
but there is nothing personal in it. If you look
at it in the right light you'll take it as a compliment
that we are picking you out for special treatment.
It is generally the most dangerous one we select.
I want to see Australia win. So when we try to stampede
you tomorrow remember it's not you we're up against,
it's your ability. Take no notice because you give
us what we want - you give us our money's worth".
Although
this letter didn't represent the views of all Australian
supporters, it expressed an attitude that Grandad
found and admired in many Australians. This was
one of the reasons he liked them so much. In September
1994 he was presented with a medal commemorating
his becoming a Member of the Order of the British
Empire.He was very proud of this award, as he was
of all the trophies and awards he'd ever received.
Whenever he talked about them his face would light
up in a befitting combination of pride and humility.
Grandad's attitudes were very traditional and he
never approved of one day cricket. He said it wasn't
"real cricket" and thought the coloured uniforms
were ridiculous. He usually referred to it as "pyjama
cricket".
The
yelling and hugging didn't impress him either. Fifty
years after bodyline Grandad said "it
didn't seem at all vital any more. Except for one
thing. I'm still glad to
this day that I never apologised."
Thanks
Jenny for that great piece. The article was taken
from February's 'Tarong Talk', Queensland,
Australia. The quotes are taken from Harold Larwoods
book 'The Larwood Story'
