The Trigger Finger of Stan Channer

To many current Ley Hill members, players like Stan Channer, John Rance and Keith Richardson are simply legends of a bygone era. Ian Watts recently wrote to this web site with his memories of playing alongside these undisputed giants of the game.
 

Many, many moons ago I played for Ley Hill alongside my older brother (by 6 years) David Watts. I recall the fabulously hot Summer of 1976 and the Queen's Silver Jubilee year of 1977. Other names from the sides of the time included: D. Richardson (forever giving up smoking), K. Richardson (surprise!), J. Rose (Captain), Stan Channer, Dave Channer, Kevin Burrows, Peter Pearce, Ken Partington, Bill Phillips, John Rance and Doug Krelle.

The first attacking shot every played in cricketI had the pleasure of visiting the area a couple of weekends ago (I now live in Gloucestershire) on my motorbike and I enjoyed watching a few overs. A few weeks before my brother had visited the club with a friend and noted that on an honour roll he had been credited with a score of 100 against Woodlands in 1977. He was good enough to tell me as in fact that score was recorded by myself, I.F. Watts! There is also some doubt in my mind whether it was truly 100 as I recollect Stan Channer who was umpiring at the time gave me out LBW as the ball was drifting down the leg side - I thought on 99! However on balancing the score book perhaps another run was found and credited to me (and I am happy to claim it!). Stan, wicket keeping, once called back an opposition opener who was given out caught in the slips when he noted that that the ball had not deflected of the bat but of the stumps! The stumps had been turned by a member of the club, perhaps Bill Phillips, and the groove for the bails was rather too deep!

Cricket as it is meant to be playedAlso in that year, on my birthday in fact August 11th, I note that the record sixth wicket stand of 114 is credited to P. Churchill and J. Nicholls. The Nichols in question is R. Nichols (one L) son of John (deceased) and Mary Nichols of White Hill, Chesham. As you are probably aware P. Churchill is now a dentist in Chesham. Both of these gents were contemporaries of my brother and Kevin Burrows at Dr Challoner's. I am pretty sure that they were called in at the last minute for this game and neither of them had played for years, and I think they may never have played for Ley Hill again.

I do hope that this is of interest to you. I am delighted to see that village cricket is alive and well in Ley Hill.