In presenting it’s Report, with Statement of Accounts and Balance Sheet, for 1935, your Committee considers that the past season may be regarded as having been generally satisfactory. The side has advanced from ninth to fifth position in the Championship, winning ten matches as against eight, and losing three instead of seven, in 1934. No match was lost at Trent Bridge. Had there been better fielding, and fewer missed catches, there is little doubt that the County’s position in the Championship Table would have been still higher.
There were many outstanding performances by individual members of the team, and we can claim to possess one of the strongest batting sides in the country: the average for all matches being higher per wicket than that of any other county. No fewer than seven of the leading batsmen averaged over 34 per innings, Hardstaff heading the list with one of 41.40. Six of the side had aggregates exceeding 1,000 runs, whilst Lilley obtained 937. During the season 20 centuries were obtained for the County viz., Hardstaff (5), Walker, Staples and Gunn G. V. (each 3), G. F. H. Heane and Keeton (each 2), and Lilley and Winrow, R., each one. Knowles showed most promising form in his first season scoring 727 runs, averaging 26.92. Larwood and Voce again bore the brunt of the bowling and worked indefatigably, but apart from that of Staples, the change bowling was not impressive. No fewer than 307 of the 422 wickets taken during the season were secured by these bowlers, viz., Voce 139, Larwood 103, and Staples 65. Hardstaff gained the well merited honour of being selected to play in the England v. South Africa Match at Leeds, and the Gentlemen v. Players Match at Lords, and also as a member of the M. C. C. Team to Australia and New Zealand. All connected with the Club must rejoice in the successes in Australia.
During the season the following first appearances for the County were made: - J. B. Hall, W. E. G. Payton, W. A. Sime, Knowles (J) and Jones (D).
For the first time since the war there has been a change of Captaincy, and the team was under the respective control of Messrs. G. F. H. Heane and S. D. Rhodes. The Club is deeply indented to there gentlemen for the very able way in which they in turn captained the team. Especially is this the case as regards Mr. Heane, who showed fine form with the bat and in the field at cover point, usually making runs when they were most needed. All Nottinghamshire supporters of cricket were most gratified when he was chosen to play for the Gentlemen at Lord’s, an honour which was richly deserved.
The warm thanks of all members of the Club are expressed to Sir Julien Cahn, Bart., President of the Club, for allowing both gentlemen to take the position of Joint Captains in 1935.
It is expected that Mr. Heane will be available to captain the side in 1936 with Mr. Rhodes in his absence, and again it is due to the generous action of Sir Julien Cahn that this is possible.
The Committee is glad to report that the Club’s relations with every first-class county are of the friendliest nature. Everyone in the world of first-class cricket has been desirous of assisting in restoring the amicable relations of the past, and it is due to the members of the team to say, that they have contributed largely to this happy result by their conduct both on and off the field.
Keeton made a wonderful recovery from the very serious accident which he sustained in the winter. He played several good innings, including two centuries, but it was evident towards the end of the season that he was feeling the strain, and on medical advice he was rested for the last four matches. The Committee is of opinion that it can confidently look forward to his complete restoration to health next summer.
Lilley has again shown most admirable form behind the stumps all through the season and made over 900 runs.
Harold Larwood has been granted a Benefit in 1936, and your Committee is sure that all members of the cricketing public, wherever the game is played, will wish to show their appreciation of the greatest fast bowler of his generation. The match will be that against Yorkshire at Trent Bridge on the 18th, 20th and 21st July next.
At the close of the season Mr. Walter Marshall retired from the position of Ground Superintendent, which he has held for so many years with conspicuous success. All interested in the Club will wish him many good years of health and happiness. At his special request he has been appointed caretaker of the Pavilion and will continue to occupy the house.
Mr. A. C. Widdowson, late Ground Superintendent to the Lancashire County Cricket Club, has been engaged to fill the post at Trent Bridge, to which he is no stranger having been on the staff under Mr. Marshall for many years before taking the appointment at Old Trafford.
Lilley’s Benefit – Your Committee begs to report that the total sum realized from all sources was £1138-9-1. The anticipation that in view of exceptional personal circumstance, this Benefit might prove a record was, unfortunately, not realized. Rain on the opening day of the match v. Yorkshire materially affected the gate; the net yield of the fixture, after paying match expenses and Entertainment Tax, being only £150-11-8d. Your Committee decided to make this up to £300 by a contribution from the Club funds of £149-8-4 in accordance with a precedent which has prevailed for many years. The sincere thanks of the Club are due to all those who, in many ways, have done their upmost to ensure the success of the Benefit for a great and worthy cricketer, and a loyal servant of the Club.
Finance.- The Accounts for the year show an excess of expenditure over income of £395-15-9.
It must be pointed out that last year’s figures included £1,700-10-0 as received in respect of the South African Test Matches, and a very handsome sum received from the President, Sir Julien Cahn, in respect of a large number of new members.
A deficit in respect of next year’s accounts must be anticipated.
It is hoped that the Nottinghamshire public will realize this fact and by giving greater support make the loss as small as possible.
It would be regrettable if the Committee, owing to lack of funds, were obliged to curtail expenditure on the ground staff, which has yielded such good results in years gone by.
The Club and Ground Second Eleven teams played several matches during the season under the Captaincy of Mr. J. K. Lane, and in his absence of Mr. E. A. Marshall. The Club is greatly indebted to these gentlemen for their valuable services. The expenses in connection with these matches were £124-3-8.
The Committee regrets to report the deaths during the year of Mr. F. I. Fox, who played in two matches for the County in 1890, Alick Handford, who made several appearances during the years 1894-1898, and of Ald. J. E. Alcock, J. P., a most valuable member of the Committee since 1922, and, since the close of the season, of Mr. T. S. Pearson Gregory had for many years been a most generous supporter of the Club. He was President in the year 1902, and had served as a member of the Committee for many years.
Trent Bridge was again the venue of a Test Match, that against South Africa on 15th, 17th and 18th June. Unfortunately the public had not then realized what a strong side they were, and interest in the first Test Match was lacking. In addition, the weather was unpromising, and there was no play on the last day. The financial result was not, therefore, as good as might have been expected from previous experience of Test Matches at Trent Bridge. In preparation for this match an expenditure of over £500 was incurred in respect of new and improved lavatory accommodation; in addition approximately £500 was spent in providing other improvements and in rendering the stands and buildings in prefect condition for this important occasion.
The Presentation to Mr. A. W. Carr, referred to in the last Annual Report, details of which have been sent to all members, will be made at the next Annual Meeting.
Next season, in addition to 14 home and away matches in the County Championship, matches will be played against All India at Trent Bridge, and Cambridge University at Cambridge.
It may be of interest to record that the old pavilion, the property of Messrs. Brindley & Co., Ltd., the owners of the Trent Bridge Inn, has been demolished. This building was erected about 1850 and was generally used by professionals prior to the erection of the present pavilion in the year 1885, and an earlier one on the same site.
Sir Julien Cahn, who was elected President of the Club on the nomination of His Grace The Duke of Portland at the last Annual Meeting, has been assiduous in performing the duties of the office. In addition, and apart from rendering it possible for Messrs. Heane and Rhodes to be available as Captains, he has assisted the Club financially in a most generous manner. We are glad that Sir Julien is desirous of continuing his active interest in the Club, and he has been proposed as a candidate for the Committee.
The Committee wishes to record its thanks to the Club’s Auditors, Messrs. Derbyshire & Co. and to the Club’s Solicitors, Messrs. Freeth, Rawson & Cartwright, for their valuable assistance given honorarily in connection with the special meetings of the members regarding the alteration of the rules and election of the Committee held early in 1935.
Three of the Trustees of the Club, Mr. T. Warner Turner, Lord Belper and Sir William N. Hicking, resigned in the early part of the year. The Westminster Bank Ltd., have kindly consented to act in their place jointly with the continuing Trustee, Mr. C. W. Wright. The Committee begs to record the gift of a fine oil painting of James Grundy, the famous Nottinghamshire bowler, presented with other gifts, by Mrs. James Grundy, widow of his grandson; also additions by various donors to the Pavilion collection and the library.
Signed on behalf of the Committee, H. A. BROWN, Secretary.